Brutal wins Bisley Workwear Premiere Stake Group 2, $500,000 at Randwick, 1200m.
Having his first start since winning the Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick on April 6, the classy Team Hawkes-trained fouryear-old Brutal scored an impressive first-up win.
He was smartly away and settled nicely outside the leader (Home Of The Brave) at a reasonable tempo. He challenged that runner at the home turn, got to the front at the 200m and then proved too good in the closing stages to score a narrow but very good win.
Home Of The Brave went to the front and battled strongly when challenged for (long neck) second in a very good effort at his second run back.
Classique Legend raced in fourth place, moved up on turning for home and kept fighting on well in the sprint home for third.
Graff had a nice trip in third place on the rails and then held on for (2.7 lengths) fourth. Osborne Bulls settled in last place in the five-horse field, made a wide move at the home turn, momentarily looked a chance halfway down the straight and then battled on for (2.9 lengths) last.
