Making his career debut in Saturday's Super Vobis 2-Y-O Hcp (1200m) at Caulfield, the Team Hawkes-trained Brutal routed a competitive field of juveniles by upwards of five lengths in a brilliant display of speed.
Sent straight to the front by Dwayne Dunn, the son of O'Reilly rated in sensible fractions in the earlier stages before opening up 300 metres from home and putting the race to bed in a matter of strides.
After missing the start, another first starter Ronan's Rock (Fastnet Rock) made up many lengths along the rail to edge out the favourite Humma Humma (Denman) by a half-length for second. (photos Grant Courtney )
We thought he could win but I don't know whether you expect them to win by four or five and do what he did.
He's an O'Reilly and quite often the O'Reilly's need a bit of time.
Hawkes said there was a significant update in the colt's pedigree that was not in the catalogue when they purchased him as a yearling in New Zealand.
"The full-sister (Talaria) had won (a Listed) race at two," Hawkes revealed.
"He's always shown ability and we could have run him last prep but we wanted to put him away and give him a bit more time."
Winning rider Dwayne Dunn said Brutal was sure to take plenty of benefit from his race debut.
"He showed a lot last preparation but to Team Hawkes credit they tipped him out," Dunn said.
"I was a little bit disappointed they didn't take him to the races but he needed the time.
"He's a kid that has got so much more talent to come through natural raceday experience."
Consigned by Mapperley Stud top the 2017 NZB Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka, Brutal was knocked down to Hawkes Racing for $220,000.
He is the fifth foal of the stakes-placed Golan mare Alberton Princess who is a three-quarter-sister to Group III ARC Eclipse Stakes winner Lady Alberton and a half-sister to Group II Matamata Breeders' Stakes winner Te Akau Rose (Thorn Park) and to the stakes-placed Dancing Bridges (Danske) (the dam of stakes-winner Testarhythm) and to Alberton Rose (the dam of Group III winner Cavalry Rose).
Alberton Princess was sold for $75,000 at the 2016 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale when carrying a Sacred Falls colt.
That colt was sold to David Ellis for $170,000 at this year's yearling sale at Karaka.
Alberton Princess has a weanling colt by Ocean Park and was served by the Cox Plate-winning son of Thorn Park again last season.
Brutal is one of 76 live foals from the 18th and final crop of the Waikato Stud stalwart O'Reilly who died on the final day of 2014.
