Trainer Jason Warren has labelled Brooklyn Hustle the best two-year-old he has trained after the filly overcame a tardy beginning to win on debut at Moonee Valley.
Sent out the $5 favourite in Saturday’s Buildsafe Plate, Brooklyn Hustle was the slowest into stride over the 1000m trip and still in last position at the 400m mark.
Jockey Beau Mertens saved ground on the fence rounding the hometurn before racing away to a two-length win from Yes Yes Yes ($6) with Oh So Rewarding ($8) a half-length away third.
Warren said the filly will return to her owners property at Rosemont Stud to be freshened before building up to Victoria’s top two-year-old race, the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield in February.
“The team at Rosemont do a terrific job,” Warren said.
“They’ve got a water-walker down there and then she’ can go out in the paddock during the day.”
Warren said Brooklyn Hustle hadn’t missed the start in any of her jump-outs or trials before Saturday’s debut and arrived at Moonee Valley confident the filly would run well.
“I said to Beau she’s very good, but I just don’t know how good she is,” Warren said.
“I think she’s the best two-year-old I’ve had, but I’ve had nothing to benchmark her against.
“The best I can benchmark her against are some of the two-year-olds Lee Freedman had when I was with him.
“I’m can’t say she’s as good as Alinghi, but she’s the best one I’ve had.”
