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 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.
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
