After a length of the straight battle with Leonardo Da Hinchi, Brutal needed to dig deep to keep his unbeaten record intact in Saturday's Antler Luggage Plate (1400m) at Flemington.
Sent straight to the front by Dwayne Dunn from an inside barrier, Brutal found a willing opponent in Leonardo Da Hinchi but kept kicking to eek out a half-head advantage.
Good 'N' Fast was a further one and a quarter length away in third. (photo Grant Courtney)
It was the third win from as many starts for the son of O'Reilly who was coming off a victory in the McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley.
It was assumed Brutal would continue of a Caulfield Guineas path although co-trainer Wayne Hakes said nothing had been locked in.
"We don't know what we will do with him yet. There's the Coolmore (Stud Stakes), there is a Golden Rose next Saturday, there are a stack of options, so we will let him tell us what to do, Hawkes said.
"It's only his first prep and he is going to be a hell of a horse in the autumn.
"The other bloke had us cold two or three times. He's only a baby learning his trade.
"It wasn't easy being out the front and leading today, it's blowing a gale and he had to face it the whole way.
"He's a winner, he's had three starts for three wins and he is still not the furnished article.
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.
