Tony and Maddysen Sears are eyeing a big Queensland weekend, with Yellow Brick set to represent the Sunshine State in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday—24 hours before the Brisbane Broncos face Melbourne in the NRL grand final.
Yellow Brick is the lone Queensland-trained runner in the feature mile, and if he can reproduce his bold Stradbroke Handicap finish, co-trainer Maddy Sears believes he’s right in the mix.
The six-year-old rattled home to finish second to War Machine in the Stradbroke, and Sears—who rides him in much of his work—insists the gelding is tracking just as well now.
While a midfield run in the Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) may read plain, she said circumstances were against him after he settled closer than ideal with 59.5kg, yet still stuck on within three lengths of the winner.
“He raced way too close in his last start,” Maddy Sears said.
“We weren’t disappointed. It was probably the best he’s ever finished being up on speed.
“He can’t finish off like that, especially with that weight.
“We’re hoping he gets the same run he did in the Stradbroke. He was very good in the Stradbroke so hopefully that happens again on Saturday.”
Yellow Brick drops to 55.5kg for the Epsom Handicap (1600m) and from gate 11 is expected to be ridden conservatively to unleash his trademark late surge. Based in Sydney since his last run, he’s pleased the team with faultless work.
“He is ready to go. He had a really good hitout (on Tuesday) morning in company. I’m really happy with him and he has come through the run really well,” she said.
Form from Brisbane’s winter features is well represented: New Zealander Pier, who won The Wayne Wilson (1600m) in June, Queensland Guineas winner Depth Of Character, and Verona Rose, who was midfield in the Queensland Oaks (2200m), all take their place.
History is on the side of Guineas graduates—Kolding (2020) and Private Eye (2022) both completed the Queensland Guineas–Epsom double—and Depth Of Character’s co-trainer Annabel Archibald says this has been the plan all along.
“He is building nicely and we’ve set him for this race. It’s not an afterthought,” Archibald said.
“I think he’s a great chance. We’ve all got to beat the favourite (Autumn Glow) but she’s got a hurdle to overcome with the draw, although she is certainly the benchmark.
“But it’s an Epsom, it’s a handicap and we’re there on the minimum with a horse who loves the mile.
“He’s a Guineas winner over a mile. He ran second in The Coast over a mile. He wasn’t too bad that day in the Guineas but he is a much better horse now than he was then.”
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