A race-to-race double for Tony and Maddysen Sears as the stable star Yellow Brick staked a claim for the $3,000,000 Stradbroke Handicap on June 15, following his win in Saturday’s Listed Nuturf Spear Chief Hcp (1500m) at Eagle Farm.
Ridden by James McDonald, the 4-year-old son of The Mission came with a sweeping run to hit the front soon after straightening. On tired legs in the closing stages, Yellow Brick defeated the Capitalist gelding Wategos by a (long) half-length, with the Fastnet Rock gelding Coastwatch the same distance back in third.
The Group III Gold Coast Guineas winner, Yellow Brick, advances his record to seven wins, five seconds, and a third from 15 starts with earnings of $1,528,850.
“I’m a bit emotional. Things didn’t go according to plan when he went to Sydney, and he’s hit wet track after wet track ever since,” Maddysen Sears said.
So, to see him do that today was pretty special. He probably got to the front a little bit quicker than J-Mac would have liked, but he rode him like the best horse in the race, which is what he is. Our intention is to go to the Stradbroke, but we’ll just see how he is over the next 24 to 48 hours. Hopefully, this win gets him in, but it’s just great to see him back.
It’s very exciting to think we might have a live chance in Queensland’s biggest race. He would get 51 kilos on his back, so he wouldn’t know himself. But we’ll see how he goes over the next few days, and if he doesn’t get a run to the Straddie he’ll go to the Tatts Mile, which is a pretty good back-up option. He always pulls up well, he’ll go to the farm for a bit of a rest and he’ll bounce back into the stables but we’ve never backed him up before, so that’s the query. But whatever happens, we have a Stakes double to celebrate today.”
James McDonald has little doubt Yellow Brick would make his presence felt in the Stradbroke.
“I think he’d be a serious chance with 51 kilos on his back. He’s a very strong galloper and the pace and pressure would suit him,” McDonald said.
“The beauty is that you can position him anywhere. If they went hard up front, he’d be a very strong finisher for sure.
“He’s a beautiful horse. If I’d ridden him before, I probably would’ve better understood him and ridden him differently because he surprised me with how quickly he went when I asked him to. He was a sitting duck out front, but they couldn’t catch him, so the performance was outstanding.”
Tony Sears Racing/Paul Moroney Bloodstock shelled out $20,000 for Yellow Brick from the Waylon J Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
He is the third stakes-winner and fourth winner overall from as many runners for the High Chaparral (IRE) mare Magical Mist, following Group III Rough Habit Plate winner Ballistic Boy (Smart Missile) and Group III Premier’s Cup winner Splendiferous (Pride Of Dubai).
Purchased for $60,000 by Twin Hills Stud/G1 Goldmine at the 2020 National Broodmare Sale, Magical Mist was a $775,000 buy for Yulong at the 2023 National Broodmare Sale, carrying a Maurice (JPN) colt.
Alabama Express covered Magical Mist in December.
Yellow Brick is the lone stakes winner for Aquis Stud’s Group 1 winning Choisir stallion The Mission, which stands for $4,400 in 2024.
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