Backed as if unbeatable, the 2yo Mikki Isle (JPN) filly Brok Café took on her elders in the Brave Smash @ Yarraman Park Maiden Hcp (1300m) at Newcastle on Tuesday, and despite a brief scare, it was plain sailing.
Ridden by Donovan Dillon fort Paul Messara, Brok Café launched with a withering burst from worse than midfield before taking a sharp left-hand turn when hitting the front. Once straightened up, Brok Café was strong to the line in defeating Snow Star (Bullet Proof) by one and three-quarter lengths with He Is The Kiss (Dream Ahead) a short-half-head back in third.
"She has a lot to learn. She did something similar in a trial the other day, hit the front, then wanted to run off the track," assistant trainer Leah Gavranich revealed.
"She is green and new, and Donovan rode her a treat."
A homebred for Arrowfield Stud's former marketing manager Frank Pollio, Brok Café is the second winner from as many to race for the unraced Hard Spun (USA) mare Le Regine's.
Arrowfield Stud consigned a Pariah half-brother to Brok Café to the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast in January, where he left the ring unsold after failing to make his $90,000 reserve.
Out of a sister to dual Listed winner and Group II MVRC Alister Clark Stakes runner-up Ebony Night and a half-sister to Listed winner Hurry Upel, Le Regine's has a weanling filly by Pariah and was covered by Admire Mars (JPN) last spring.
Brok Café comes from Mikki Isle's third and final Australian crop (JPN) and is his third 2yo winner of the season from ten runners.
That quickly became four 2yo winners for Mikki Isle (JPN) when the Marc Conners-trained Manhattan Baby overturned the odds-on favourite Starmae over 1100m at Bathurst.
