Mark Riley rates Of The Brave as potentially the best horse he has trained after the colt made a winning start to his career in the Debutant Stakes at Caulfield.
Of The Brave mustered speed from his inside draw in Saturday’s Listed 1000m race for two-year-olds to take up the running and then kicked away under jockey Stephen Baster in the final 200m to win by 1-3/4 lengths.
His victory gave his sire Starspangledbanner a win with his first Australian starter on the corresponding program to where he won the Caulfield Guineas in 2009.
“This horse is not even close to being at his best. I think he’s potentially the best horse I’ve ever had,” Riley said.
“His coat hasn’t come through yet. We ran him today because he has just done everything right. He’s a natural racehorse.”
Of The Brave is out of the mare Runaway Jesse, making him a half-brother to multiple stakes-winning filly Eloping.
Riley, who combined with Baster to win the 1993 Oakleigh Plate and 1994 Newmarket Handicap with Mookta, said Of The Brave would be in the paddock on Sunday with feature races for juveniles later in the season on the radar.
Of The Brave ($4) defeated Miss Idyllic ($12) with Miss Loren ($51) another length away third.
Baster, who is also the regular rider for three-year-old Eloping, said Of The Brave was a pretty smart colt.
“He’s got a fair bit of class,” Baster said.