Running a horse first-up on a heavy track is rarely ideal but Ellsberg ensured there were no anxious moments for his connections, leading throughout for an impressive return at Randwick.
The four-year-old boasted good wet track credentials but co-trainer Gerald Ryan was still cautious pre-race given the entire’s heavy frame and lack of recent racing.
Ellsberg ensured those anxieties were short-lived, taking up the running and extending his advantage on straightening to thump his Liverpool City Cup (1300m) rivals by 3-1/2 lengths.
Brutality did best of the chasers, edging out Blue Soldier by a half-head to grab second.
Ellsberg is being set for the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick during The Championships and Saturday’s race was an important part of his program.
“We had to run (Saturday). We want to go to the Doncaster and he will only have one more run,” Ryan said.
“I was a little bit worried having a look at him during the week. He’s a heavy horse, he might sink too far into it, but he skipped over that pretty good.
“He has only run out of a place twice in his life, he was fourth in the Hawkesbury Guineas and seventh in the Golden Eagle. He is genuine.”
Ryan said Ellsberg would have his next start in the Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill in two weeks and tackle the Doncaster Mile at his third campaign run.
“His first-up form is very good, his second-up form is not quite as dominant and his third-up run he bounces back so that will be the plan,” he said.
Ellsberg just missed out on earning a ballot exemption for the Doncaster when he was runner-up to Brutality in the Villiers Stakes.
Winning jockey Tim Clark believes the horse has returned bigger and stronger and has the credentials to make his presence felt in the famous Randwick mile.
“When he can get things to suit and when he can control things like that, especially fresh, he’s awfully hard to beat,” Clark said.
“Obviously just missed out on getting a free ticket into the Doncaster through the Villiers but a race like that is not beyond him this time in.”
