A talented two-year-old colt in the Danny O’Brien stable, Brave Design was a maiden going into the $160,000 Listed BRC Oxlade Stakes (1200m), but with three placings and a fourth from his previous four starts, all in Group and Listed class, the dashing bay always looked a likely contender.
Brave Design was a $150,000 Magic Millions purchase for his trainer from the Yarraman Park draft at Magic Millions and was a successful pinhook having been sourced by Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) for $120,000 from the Milburn Creek draft at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale (pictured below)
Given a good ride by Jordan Childs, he appreciated getting back on a good surface and hit the line hard to reel in speedy filly Isti Star, a last start winner of the $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic.
Brave Design drew clear to win by a length and a half and has now banked over $232,000 in prizemoney.
Brave Design bounced back from his last start fourth in the bottomless heavy ground of the G3 BRC Sires Produce Stakes won by Cool Archie, but O’Brien had no regrets about taking the softer option of the Oxlade Stakes in preference to the G1 JJ Atkins.
“He’s been a colt that has been super every time he has gone to the races. We were very keen to get a win on the board with him,” said Danny O’Brien.
“We had the option to go to the Atkins but we thought two things – the 1200 today and a weaker grade was an opportunity for him to get on the board and win one.
“The Sires’ (won by Cool Archie) was run in testing conditions that day and he came through it very, very well. He’s loved it up here in Queensland as a lot of our Victorian horses do.
“We may run him again. There is a 1400-metre race here on Tiara Day. Then a little freshen up before he goes to Melbourne.”