New SW for Russian Revolution – Brudenell Wins Bel Esprit

Tara Madgwick - Saturday Mar 16

Russian Revolution added a new stakes-winner to his tally at Caulfield on Saturday when the last  race on the card, the Listed MRC Bel Esprit Stakes (1200m), was won by the Kris Lees trained gelding Brudenell.

Brudenell arrives in time to win the Listed Bel Esprit - image Reg Ryan / Racing Photos

Brudenell has been working nicely through the grades and then was tipped in the deep end last start when finishing a good fifth in the Group I MRC Oakleigh Plate.

Advertisement

Dropped back to Listed class for this assignment, he was well ridden by Mark Zahra to pounce late and grab Maharba to win by three-quarters of a length.

“I spoke to Kris this morning and he said just have the cosiest run possible because he's not that strong over 1200 and it just worked out perfect,” said Mark Zahra.

"Things changed around with the fence being off but I was able to just conserve the whole way and just had to run down Maharba and he was good late. He out-fought Maharba."

An $80,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Lees Racing / Tasman Bloodstock from the Glastonbury Farm draft, Brudenell runs for a big syndicate of stable clients and has the overall record of nine wins from 17 starts and prizemoney just shy of $670,000.

Bred by Macquarie Stud, he is the best of two winners winner for Knit ’n’ Purl, a winning More Than Ready (USA) daughter of Group III winner Zingalong from the family of Group I winner Inspirational Girl.

Knit ‘n’ Purl has been a regular visitor to Newgate sires and has a yearling colt by Flying Artie that made $160,000 at Inglis Classic this year when bought by Lees Racing / Bahen Bloodstock and had a colt last spring by Capitalist before visiting Anamoe.

Brudenell is the 11th stakes-winner for Newgat Farm's Russian Revolution, who has seven entries for Inglis Easter.

Advertisment

Race Result - Sportsbet Bel Esprit Stakes LR 1200m

Caulfield Track: Good(4) Time: 1:09.81
1
Brudenell
- 4g Russian Revolution (AUS) x Knit 'n' Purl (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: M Zahra 58.5
Russian Revolution
2
0.8
Maharba
- 3g Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Blizzardly (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Jordan Childs 54.5
Pride Of Dubai
3
0.9
Rey Magnerio
- 4g Magnus (AUS) x Luchardo (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: H Coffey 54.5
4
2.1
Bank Maur
- 4h Maurice (JPN) x Banksia (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Richard Laming Rdr: Ethan Brown 58.5
5
2.3
Sweet Ride
- 4h Deep Field (AUS) x How Sweet It Is (AUS) (Foxwedge (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 57.5
6
2.4
Indian Pacific
- 7g Zoustar (AUS) x Rosarino (AUS) (Perugino (USA))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: J Mott 59
7
3.2
Flying Crazy
- 5g Flying Artie (AUS) x Forever Crazy (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 57.5
8
3.6
Crosshaven
- 6g Smart Missile (AUS) x Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: B Mc Dougall 57.5
9
4
Umgawa
- 5g Shamus Award (AUS) x Express Central (AUS) (Undoubtedly (AUS))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: B Shinn 56
10
5.5
Mathletic
- 5g Kingman (GB) x Manerbe (USA) (Unbridled's Song (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Jamie Kah 54.5
More Reading...
Unraced First Season Sires Trial Report
It’s been a pretty steady start to spring in terms of 2YO races and we are still waiting to see a first season sire post a winner, but there has been action aplenty at the trials which would indicate the pre-Christmas period is set to ignite.
Inglis Digital Purchase Iron Hawk to Tackle G3 TAB Mile
Harness racing trainer Barry Purdon bought Iron Hawk last year with New Zealand Cup Week in mind, and now the moment has arrived, with the stakes performer set to tackle the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on Wednesday.
Racing Industry Mourns Much Loved Izzy Neale
The thoroughbred racing industry is devastated tonight following news that apprentice jockey Izzy Neale, aged 22, has tragically died as the result of a race fall at Warren on Sunday.
Doing Time Wins $100,000 Sprinters Challenge at Riccarton
Lee Callaway shared many jockeys’ rooms with Chris Johnson throughout his riding career, so it was only fitting that the Waikouaiti trainer took out the inaugural running of the Chris Johnson Three-Year-Old Sprinters Challenge (1200m) at Riccarton on Wednesday with Doing Time.
Southern Highlands Thoroughbred Week is Out of the Gate!
Celebrating 140 years of racing and thoroughbred culture, Southern Highlands Thoroughbred Week presented by GROW Southern Highlands will span three weekends, from 19th November to 6th December.
Remembering Sunline – The Queen of the Cox Plate Before Winx
From our vantage point in 2026, we can look back at modern Cox Plate history and marvel at how quickly the years are passing.
Brudenell Wins Listed Abell Stakes
Russian Revolution gelding Brudenell was sent out favourite for the Listed MVRC Abell Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night and was rewarded for consistency with a three-quarter length win.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 10
Here is the full list of 16 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2027 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1881 entries for the 2027 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Remembering Northerly – The Greatest Caulfield Cup Winner This Century
It's Caulfield Cup week, and what better moment to revisit the life and times of one of the greatest - if not the greatest - Caulfield Cup winner of the modern era.