Rising four-year-old Brahmos has played his part in Craig Williams’ premiership push with a win on debut at Sandown.
Williams’ victory on the John Sadler-trained Brahmos on Wednesday has taken him to a share of the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership lead alongside apprentice Beau Mertens with three meetings remaining.
Mertens had a frustrating day with five seconds and two thirds from his seven rides.
Trainer John Sadler said his son Tom would have been aboard Brahmos for his debut in the Resimax Group Handicap (1300m) had it not been for an improper riding suspension incurred at Flemington last Saturday week.
A $420,000 yearling, Brahmos has taken until late in his three-year-old season to make it to the races but Sadler said the owners’ patience had been rewarded.
Brahmos ($4.40) settled just behind the speed and Williams was able to angle out at the 350m mark before the gelding picked up to beat Bons Away by 1-1/2 lengths.
“I was very impressed with the way he handled himself,” Sadler said.
“He got a little bit wayward in the mounting yard before the race but from the time they jumped he just travelled like he had done it many times before.
“He always looked like he was going to be a winning chance.”
Sadler described Brahmos as “a big, dumb kid” despite almost turning four, and thanked former trainer Peter Moody.
“He (Moody) bought this horse and the owners paid a lot of money for him. They’ve been extremely patient,” Sadler said.
“He’s fully matured now.
“Thanks to the owners’ patience and it’s been rewarded today.”
After Tom Sadler’s suspension, Williams spoke to John Sadler which led to the ride on Brahmos.
“He said to come down and have a sit on the horse and he told me Tom has a very big opinion of the horse and when I heard that I really took notice,” Williams said.
“I had a sit on him last week and I liked the way he went.
“He had to have the race go well for him but credit to John and his team because he was very well prepared to win this race.”
