'Team Sears' hopeful of Group 1 breakthrough

By Glenn Davis

The father-and-daughter training partnership of Tony and Maddysen Sears remain hopeful Yellow Brick can deliver Queensland its second Group 1 winner in a week in the King Charles III Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Champion trainer and new Queensland Hall Of Famer Tony Gollan flew the flag for his home state when Transatlantic won the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield last Saturday.

On a day when Queensland also will be represented by old warrior Rothfire in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes and Spicy Martini in the Group 3 Silver Eagle at Randwick, 'Team Sears' is hoping its third time lucky in a Group 1 for Yellow Brick.

Yellow Brick was an emergency and missed a start in last year’s Group 1 Stradbroke before almost pulling off a historic win at his first attempt at the highest level when second in this year’s Stradbroke, which was won by War Machine.

In his second attempt at Group 1 glory, Yellow Brick beat two home in the Epsom Handicap won by the unbeaten Chris Waller-trained champion Autumn Glow at Randwick on October 4.

Co-trainer Tony Sears wasn’t disappointed with Yellow Brick’s Epsom performance when beaten just over four lengths.

“It was okay, but he was three wide and pulling early in the race, so it was hard to gauge,” Tony said.

“He needs a fast pace up front so he can get to the line strongly and he’ll get that this week with Pride Of Jenni in the field.

“It’s a hot field worth massive prizemoney so he’ll need a bit of luck go his way.”

Tony is hoping for a similar fast pace which suited Yellow Brick in his Stradbroke Handicap placing.

“It’s hard to say if we’ve seen the best of him yet and he’ll need a similar speed like he had in the Stradbroke,” Tony said.

Tony has never won a Group 1 but won the Group 3 Grand Prix with Beau Dazzler while he also has claimed two King Of The Mountains with Steady Ready and Yellow Brick as well as the Listed Weetwood Handicap in Toowoomba.

Yellow Brick is stepping out for only the fourth time in his spring campaign and will be ridden for the third time by Jason Collett.

Tony has ordered a break for Yellow Brick after the King Charles and will chase the Magic Millions QTIS race at the Gold Coast in January again.

“He ran fifth in it last year after he returned from a Sydney campaign and that will be his aim,” Tony said.

The King Charles, formerly known as the George Main Stakes, has been a tough race for Queensland-trained sprinters with former champion Vo Rogue (1989) and Planet Ruler (1991) the only winners in 40 years.