Brutality wins Group 2 Villiers

15 Dec 2021

Joe Pride's consistent five year old, Brutality, became the latest Willow Park born stakes winner on Saturday, taking out the $750,000 Group 2 Villiers Stakes over the mile at Randwick and booking himself a spot in the Doncaster come April.

 

The 17th stakes winner for Rosemont Stud's emerging star sire Shamus Award, Brutality is the third foal of stakes placed, three time winning General Nediym mare, Star Salute. He was foaled at Willow Park in 2016 for Go Bloodstock's Sir Owen Glenn.

 

Brutality has always shown plenty of ability and has been unlucky not to have earned black type prior to his Villiers win, finishing fourth in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) two starts back, won by Ellsberg, whom he beat into second in the Villiers. Brutality has now won six of his 24 starts, with a further eight placings, and taken his prizemoney over $800,000.

 

Sent for a spell immediately, Saturday's win earned the gelding a spot in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile in April, where Joe Pride said he will need a wet track to be effective. Lucky for him, April is often a wet month in Sydney!

 

Of interest, Brutality is the second Group 2 winner by Shamus Award to come off Willow Park, following Etana, who took out the 2019 BRC Doomben Roses. Etana was prepared for the Magic Millions Yearling Sale at Willow Park on behalf of Bob Hannon, where she sold for $400,000.