Karaka Graduate Bermadez in Winning Form at Flemignton

Media Release - Saturday January 20

The Mike Moroney-trained Bermadez was back in the winner’s circle for the first time since May 2022 with a hard-fought victory in the Howden Australian Guineas Day, 2 March (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

The seven-year-old son of Tavistock loves the vast spaces of Flemington and needed every inch as he collared Beehunter and Suparazi in the shadows of the post with the trio more than five lengths clear of their rivals in a small field.

Bermadez scores a determined Flemington victory under Jye McNeil Photo: Bruno Cannatelli

Bermadez has been in good form this campaign, finishing runner-up in all three starts prior to Saturday’s victory.

Punters sent the gelding out a $2.05 favourite on the strength of his second placing in the A$300,000 Coastal Classic (1700m) where he chased home the in-form Holymanz.

Advertisement

Despite Suparazi and Beehunter stealing a march on Bermadez, Moroney said he was confident the consistent galloper would reel in his rivals.

“I thought when he got to the outside he would pick them up because he has done that before where he arrives late,” Moroney said.

“He has never won by very big margins and I was quietly confident he still had a chance of picking them up.

“I’d like to have a go at 2000m with him now. We had a go (at the distance) in the Ballarat Cup but it was very wet and it was at the end of a long preparation.

“He’s in the right stage of his preparation now to have a go and I think it will be his right trip now that he has got a bit older. He did take forever to pick them up today and I think he is in the right form to have a go at it now.

“We will find the right open or Benchmark race for him and it would be nice if it was here at Flemington on his preferred track.

“He is pretty lightly raced horse for one reason or another. He had a lot of immaturity things go wrong as a young horse and I think there is still at least another 12 months of good racing in him.”

Bermadez was plagued by shoulder problems earlier in his career and has now won seven of his 29 starts with a further six placings and has career earnings of A$805,750. Three of his victories have come at Flemington.

Bermadez was purchased out of Inglewood Stud’s 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $280,000 by Paul Moroney.

Gus and Bianca Wigley’s Inglewood Stud will offer 14 yearlings at the forthcoming Karaka Yearling Sales with 11 in Book 1 and three in Book 2.

Out of the Anabaa mare Pikea, herself a sister to Group Two winner Dances On Waves, it is the family of four-time Group One winner Preferment, who stands at Brighthill Farm. – NZ Racing Desk

 

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Howden Australian Guineas Day, 2 March (Bm100) 1600m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:36.99
1
Bermadez
- 7g Tavistock (NZ) x Pikea (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Jye McNeil 57.5
2
0.2
Beehunter
- 7g Toronado (IRE) x Safe (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: J D Sadler Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 53
3
0.4
Suparazi
- 5g Super One (AUS) x Arazi Belle (AUS) (Arazi (USA))
Tnr: Ben Brisbourne Rdr: Carleen Hefel 56.5
Inglis Gold Yearling Sale $2,000
Seller: Stockwell Thoroughbreds, Diggers Rest
Buyer: R Schultz
4
5.2
Mahamedeis
- 9g Magnus (AUS) x Elusive Magic (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: L Currie 57
5
6.4
Port Guillaume
- 7g Le Havre (IRE) x Keira (FR) (Turtle Bowl (IRE))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: H Coffey 57
6
9.2
Sissoko
- 5g Australia (GB) x Love Excelling (FR) (Polish Precedent (USA))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 56.5
More Reading...
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Knight's Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
One To Watch - Geelong
The market suggested that the Mike Moroney-trained Bermadez would be hard to beat when making a belated career debut over 1250 metres at Geelong on Friday and he didn’t disappoint.