Power Beau Springs Surprise in City Of Marion Stakes
Karaka 2022 graduate Power Beau (Brazen Beau) defied 60-to-one odds to claim his first black-type victory in the A$120,000 Listed City Of Marion Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday, but the performance came as no surprise to his owner-trainer Wayne Brown.
Purchased by Busuttin Racing and Patella Bloodstock for $180,000 from Phoenix Park’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, Power Beau has now had 23 starts for seven wins, seven placings and A$202,340.
Despite being one of the outsiders of the 11-horse field, Brown had the utmost confidence that Power Beau would do him proud in the City Of Marion Stakes.
“I rang my sister and brother-in-law through the week and said I thought this horse could win,” he said. “If you look at his sectionals the last time he raced, when he was three and four deep and had his head in the air, he still ran home in 32.8 seconds.
“We dropped significantly in weight for this race and we were getting seven kilos off the topweight. I said to Will (Price, jockey), ‘Don’t look at the price. This horse will go well.’
“I purchased the horse off the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable. He had a bit of travel sickness when we first got him, and I spent three nights sitting up with him and making sure he was alright. It’s all worth it now.”
Price gave Power Beau a perfect run, pushing forward from his wide gate and taking up a handy spot in second behind the front-runner Compelling Truth (I Am Invincible).
Power Beau drew up alongside that rival at the top of the straight, with other challengers lining up across the track to make their bid. But it was Power Beau who kept lifting and fought them all off, going on to win by a length and a quarter.
“This horse was trained to a tee today and executed it perfectly,” Price said. “He began very well, and then I was happy to let the leader go with its early speed. We got a lovely run in a race that was run at a nice, high cruising tempo. We were able to slot in behind, get cover and then start serving it up at the top of the straight. We know he doesn’t lie down.
“The horse stuck his head out and won well. He did it the hard way, tracking the leader all the way, and was too strong down the straight.”
