After securing his third Group success of the year, Middleham Park Racing’s BRAVE EMPEROR is now set to bring an unforgettable season to a close in Italy in November.
The globe-trotting gelding will take his chance in the valuable Group 2 Premio Vittorio di Capua in Milan following his trademark bold performance at Dusseldorf in Germany on Sunday 1st October.
The remarkable son of Sioux Nation scored his eight success in 14 career starts in the Group 3 Grosser Preis der Landeshauptstadt over the extended mile in the hands of regular partner Luke Morris.
His trainer Archie says: “Brave Emperor was tough and showed his class again at Düsseldorf. Luke gave him a great ride and he gave his owners with Middleham Park Racing another fantastic day.
“He’s been the most consistent horse this season, winning four stakes races including three Group race wins. We’ll now look forward to going to Italy for his last race of the season.”
Brave Emperor’s win had special significance for Middleham Park, who celebrated their 1,500th success in their now familiar sky blue silks.
Morris took up the running over a furlong out to justify favouritism in decisive fashion and go one better than his gallant second in a Group 2 at Baden-Baden in Germany a month earlier.
Morris was also in the saddle when Brave Emperor won the Group 3 Prix Daphnis – Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage – Prix Famille Saleh-Selman over a mile in testing conditions at Deauville in France in August.
Back in April, he secured the first of his Group 3 wins at Krefeld in Germany for Morris after winning a Listed race at Cagnes-Sur-Mer last winter.
Tom Palin, of Middleham Park, adds: “He was supplemented for the Dusseldorf race and we hoped he could be the horse to achieve our landmark success. It’s extremely rare for a horse to win three Group 3s in a year so thank you to Archie and his team and to Luke for such a successful partnership with Brave Emperor.”
Archie’s international flagbearer was snapped up for just £19,000 at Goffs UK Premier and Silver sale as a yearling – a bargain price for a multiple Pattern race winner.
By Simon Mapletoft
