Brave Brambles back in winning form

Brambles proved veterinary advice wrong when he returned to winning form at Flemington on Saturday. The WS graduate had looked a young horse on the way to the top when he won the Gr 1 Queensland Derby in 2012, but was then struck down a succession of tendon problems.

Managing owner, OTI co-founder Terry Henderson said vets initially declared Brambles would not race again before a steady rehabilitation program got the son of Savabeel back to the track. The six-year-old is now likely to step up to 2000 metres next time out with a target the Gr 3 JRA Cup at Moonee Valley. “It’s great to see him back winning and hope we can aim him higher again,” said Jeff O’Connor said, racing manager for trainer Peter Moody.

Purchased out of WS’s 2010 Premier line-up in 2010 for $100,000, Brambles is a brother to the Australian Listed winner Lopov with their dam the winning Pins mare Prickle. She is a sister to the black type winner Legsman and the Matamata farm’s potent family of the six-time Group One winner Slight Chance.