The striking Exceedance colt Brave One made an exciting debut in the Petaluma Hcp (1000m) at Randwick when turning over boom colt Mayfair.
Ridden by Zac Lloyd for Michael, Wayne, and John Hawkes, Brave One travelled sweetly on the bridle while Tim Clark was niggling all the way to hold the lead on Mayfair.
Typically, for a Tulloch Lodge trainee, Mayfair did not give in without a fight. Still, the sturdy son of Fastnet Rock had to bow to Brave One by three-quarters of a length, with the honest Shalaa (IRE) filly Winning Proposal one and a quarter lengths back in third.
Michael Hawkes is a huge fan of the stable's former star pupil, Exceedance
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uo;I have to give Zac credit; I thought it was a brilliant ride,” Michael Hawkes said.
“This bloke just oozes class, looks a picture, and has been trialling brilliantly.
“We paid a bit for him at Easter, being by first season sire Exceedance, a breed we know well. Anyone who listens to me knows I can’t get enough of them. I rate them highly, and this bloke is up with the best of them.
“He has been a slow maturer. He might have a freshen-up, and we will take things slowly. He has a lot of class and oozes appeal.”
Consigned by Vinery Stud to the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Brave One was a $300,000 purchase for Hawkes Racing.
He is the second winner from three to race for the class Northern Metor mare Runway Star, who carried the Vinery silks to six wins highlighted by the Group III SAJC Proud Miss Stakes and two runnings of the Listed SAJC Matrice Stakes.
Coincidently, Runway Star was a $300,000 Inglis Easter yearling purchase in 2012.
A brother to Brave One was a $330,000 purchase for Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Vinery Stud draft at the Magic Millions in January.
A half-sister to the Listed VRC Sunlight Classic winner What You Need (Supido), Runway Star is a granddaughter of the Group 1 William Reid Stakes winner Wrap Around (Bletchingly).
After missing in 2022, Runway Star was covered by Russian Revolution last spring.
