Ima Brazen One earns deserved win
Ima Brazen One (NZ) (Brazen Beau) earned a deserved victory in front of her large group of owners at Otaki on Saturday when taking out the Jennian Homes Handicap (1200m).
The Mike Breslin-trained mare was beaten by just a neck when first-up at Woodville last month when hampered by a falling horse, but she wasn’t to be denied on Saturday following a top ride by in-form apprentice jockey Toni Davies.
Davies pushed Ima Brazen One to the front from barrier rise and the five-year-old daughter of Brazen Beau travelled comfortably as she dictated terms to her five rivals.
Davies asked the mare for her best halfway down the home straight and she found a nice kick to hold out a stern challenge from Legally Binding, who chased hard but couldn’t get closer than half a length at the winning post.
Ima Brazen One is one of several runners raced by the In To Win syndication programme that has been put together by former jockey Tineke Balcombe, with Balcombe on hand to celebrate with a large group of smiling owners after the race.
“I think she really deserved that win and we were quietly confident,” Balcombe said.
“Last start she should have won as she clipped a fallen horse and still managed to fight on when she probably should have chucked it in.
“She has matured a bit now and ran hard to the line.
“She has been like a bull out of a gate in the past, especially around at the start, but now she will likely head back to the tie-ups and stand as quiet as a lamb.”
Davies paid tribute to the grit and determination of her mount.
“When she gets left alone like that she really knuckles down and nothing was going to cross me,” she said.
“She is getting better the older she gets and it is all about just getting her settled then leaving her alone and she skipped away nicely.”
The victory was part of a winning treble for Davies, who also rode Shameless Star and Riverplate to win the Cavallo Farm & Chris Rutten Bloodstock Three-Year-Old (1200m) and Listed James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) respectively.
Bred by Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, Ima Brazen One was purchased for $100,000 out of Cambridge Stud’s draft at the 2022 Karaka Yearling Sales and her career record now stands at six wins from 20 starts and more than $150,000 in earnings.
