Our globetrotting star BRAVE EMPEROR is beginning a well-earned winter break after claiming his fourth Group success of the year in Italy this month.
Middleham Park’s standard bearer scored for the first time at Group 2 level when winning the €250,000 Premio Vittorio di Capua in Milan, supplementing three Group 3 victories and a Listed win in a remarkable year overseas.
Archie says: “It was a fantastic result in Italy, finishing off an amazing year in style. We will give him a short holiday and then gear him up for international options in the Spring.”
His proud trainer is rightfully looking forward to bigger targets next year for the three-year-old son of Sioux Nation, who was giving Middleham Park their 100th winner of the year.
“Up in class again, he was the most impressive he has been all year,” adds Archie. “The ground was very hard work but he toughed it out well. When he got into gear he really took off and quickened up.”
Luke Morris, who has now won six races on the gelding, also paid tribute. “He really stretched away and I thought it was an improved performance. He never lets anybody down and next year we can look at a step up in grade, perhaps.”
Middleham Park’s syndicate manager Tom Palin adds: “Brave Emperor just keeps on giving for his owners, taking them around Europe and having a fine time. We must thank Luke, travelling overseas just to ride him on many occasions and all credit to Archie and his team for a simply tremendous campaign.”
Brave Emperor began the year winning a Listed race at Cagnes-Sur-Mer in France before taking a conditions race on the All-Weather at Kempton Park.
The following month, in April, Brave Emperor won the first of his three Group 3’s at Krefeld in Germany and followed that up over a mile at Deauville in August.
His hat-trick at that level was complete after a mile success at Dusseldorf in Germany, just over a month before his breakthrough success at a higher level in Italy. That four-length verdict took his earnings to just over £320,000.
Brave Emperor, who has also been placed in a Group 2 in Germany and a Group 3 in Sweden this year, was snapped up for Middleham Park for just £19,000 at Goffs UK Premier and Silver sale as a yearling.
By Simon Mapletoft
