First Stakes Winner for Bramshaw

A great result for the well-known pedigree enthusiast and author Kristen Manning when homebred Quilate finished powerfully to claim Wednesday's $150,000 Group III Ladies' Day Vase (1600m) at Caulfield.

With Hell Or Highwater cutting out quick fractions in front, Beau Mertens on Quilate found he had just two behind him on the home turn.

When it looked as if Flying Jess and Prompt Response would fight out the finish, Quilate descended on them in the last 50 metres to win by a half-neck from Flying Jess with Prompt Response a half-head back in third.  (photos Grant Courtney)

The 5yo Mick Kent-trained mare advances her record to 5 wins, 3 seconds and 4 thirds from 18 starts with earnings of $211,315. 

Mertens said he has had quite a bit to do with the winner.

"I know her very well, I've won on her before, I've got a good feel of her now and I know how good she' going by riding her in trackwork.

"After her win last start with Ethan Brown aboard, I thought she went really nicely and she put them away quite good today.

"I was a bit worried straightening up, she came off the boil a bit quicker than I anticipated but to her credit, she really fought it out.    

"She's a homebred for Kristen Manning, she a lovely owner, really takes pride in her horses, so I was happy she stuck with me today. She's a very passionate horse person and it's a great thrill to ride a Group III winner for her.

Quilate comes from the fourth crop of 31 live foals sired by the unraced Encosta de Lago stallion Bramshaw a half-brother to Danewin and Commands from the famous Eight Carat (GB) family.

Eight Carat features again on the dam-side of Quilate as she is out of the unraced Miss Peligrosa whose sire Dangerous (Danehill) is a half-brother to triple Group 1 winner Viscount and a brother to Listed winner Helsinborg out of the stakes-winning Sir Tristram mare Antwerp a granddaughter of Eight Carat.

But the Eight Carat influence does not end there.

Miss Peligrosa is out of the Generous mare Jersey Cream whose granddam Wycombe is a half-sister to Bramshaw, Commands and Danewin.

Kristen Manning backs her judgement and is no slave to fashion. Miss Peligrosa was one of only three mares to visit AJC Australian Derby hero Don Eduardo (NZ) in 2016 and she delivered a filly on August 25.

It goes without saying that Don Eduardo is a grandson of Eight Carat (GB).

Quilate becomes the first stakes winner for Bramshaw who now stand at the Quarell family's Bionic Lodge in Longford for a fee of $2,200.