The winners have started to flow for Flemington trainer Simon Zahra, who is these days training solo after more than two decades working together with his cousin Matthew Ellerton.
With the partnership splitting at the beginning of December, Zahra had to wait until the four-year-old daughter of Contributer, Benefactress, saluted at Geelong on Thursday to get his solo career off the mark, and quickly added to the tally at Caulfield on Saturday.
Five-year-old stayer Brilliant Venture was a dominant winner of the James Hurley Handicap (2380m), with the son of Zacinto given a perfect trip behind the leader by Jamie Mott, before skipping clear of his rivals to win by just under three lengths.
Brilliant Venture registered his fifth career victory and relaxed beautifully under Mott after drawing the inside barrier.
“It was very comfortable,” Mott said.
“I’ve watched his last couple (of runs) in the blinkers and he has been over doing it a bit in his races but once I got him into a rhythm he spat the bridle out and I grew more confident as the race went on.
“I just needed a little bit of luck on the corner to get out but once I did he put a space on them and won really well.
“Simon has done a fantastic job with him and he presented in great order today, it’s probably the best he’s relaxed in a race and if he can perform like that and switch off in his races over this trip with the turn of foot he’s got he’s got, he’s in for a few good runs.”
Bred by Brian and Lorraine Anderton of White Robe Lodge, Zahra purchased the handy stayer as a yearling at the New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Sale for $22,000.
Group Three placed as a three-year-old, Brilliant Venture has won A$244,550 in prizemoney and stems from a hardy White Robe Lodge family, with his dam a sister to multiple Group Three winning stayer Inferno, who is in turn the dam of Smokin’ Romans.
Consistent gelding Dirty Deeds backed up after finishing eighth behind impressive winner Gracias Amigo at Flemington on New Year’s Day to provide Zahra with a double.
The New Zealand bred son of Dundeel out of the Fastnet Rock mare Purple Vein was ridden perfectly by apprentice Josh Richards to land his fourth career win.
“He towed me into it nicely, I just had to pick him from the 600 (metres) and he started travelling nicely I just needed somewhere to go but then we got a lovely run through,” Richards said.
Dirty Deeds was bred by Taylor Bloodstock & Marketing Ltd and has now won A$180,300 in prizemoney.
