Second in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes last season and fourth in both the Group I VRC Oaks and ATC Spring Champion Stakes, four year-old Brutal mare Harlem Queen has always promised to win a stakes race and got the job done in the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1500m) at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
Trained by Nathan Doyle and ridden by Benjamin Osmond, Harlem Queen was second up from a spell and unfancied by punters, but produced a strong finish to arrive on the line and win by a head in a thriller.
With three wins and four placings from 12 starts, Harlem Queen has won just shy of $500,000 and given she is Magic Millions Eligible connections may look for a suitable race for her at the Gold Coast in January.
A $180,000 Magic Millions purchase for Calibre Racing Group from the Newgate Farm draft, Harlem Queen was bred by SF Bloodstock in partnership and is a half-sister to stakes-placed Lady Harlem being the fifth winner from five foals to race from stakes-winning Fastnet Rock mare Harlem River.
Harlem River has a yearling filly by State of Rest (IRE), but no foal this spring after having a year off.
Harlem Queen is the third stakes-winner for Brutal joining Group I winner Nepotism and Jenni’s Meadow.
The Group I winning son of O’Reilly stands at a fee of $16,500.
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