Former NSW country galloper Brave Ali fooled those watching the pre-race parade when he sweated profusely before winning at Doomben on Saturday.
Brave Ali was formerly trained by Chris Martin at Tamworth but after winning at Doomben two weeks ago was transferred to trainer Tony Gollan in Brisbane.
The gelding was as short as $5.50 in the betting ring but blew to $8.50 after punters noticed he was a muck lather of sweat in the parade ring.
It made no difference as Brave Ali led most of the way to beat Secret Garden ($7) by a half neck with a length to Collar ($5.50) in the Kirks Handicap (2030m).
However, stable foreman John Fleming revealed that unlike the case with most horses when Brave Ali sweated badly, it was a good sign.
“Apparently when he sweats like that and gets up on his toes he races the best,” Fleming said.
Brave Ali scored his 10th win on Saturday and will chase more Brisbane staying races in the next few weeks.
Apprentice Tegan Harrison continued her good run since outriding her city allowance aboard Brave Ali.
Trainer Tony Sears made the right decision when he sent two-year-old Sovereign Son to Brisbane instead of tackling a feature race at Toowoomba.
Sears had six runners in Toowoomba on Saturday night at the Weetwood Handicap meeting and had intended running Sovereign Son in the JJ Atkins Stakes (1000m).
“But I felt he would be better placed at the 1200 metres in Brisbane and it worked out that way,” said Sears after Sovereign Son came from last at the 600m.
