Yellow Brick ready for Sydney test

By Glenn Davis

A simple gear change could be the key to another Queensland success in the $2 million Group 2 Sydney Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

The father and daughter training partnership of Tony and Maddysen Sears is hopeful their star sprinter Yellow Brick can claim the 1200 metre feature to repeat the win of the Robert Heathcote-trained Rothfire last year.

The recently retired Rothfire went on to claim his second Group 1 victory in the Doomben 10,000 in May following his Sydney Stakes victory.

Yellow Brick won the $1 million The Archer at Rockhampton in May before two runs at Group 1 level in the Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap during the Queensland winter.

However, he rediscovered his best form after a gear change by winning his last start in the Group 3 W.J. Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm in June.

“Wet tracks beat him in those Group 1 races, but I thought his Stradbroke run on a heavy track was a very good run,” co-trainer Tony Sears said. 

“He has always found it hard to settle in his races, so we put a crossover noseband on him for the first time when he won the Healy last time.

“It certainly helped him.”

Tony Sears believes Yellow Brick will be close to his top for his comeback after having trialled three times.

“He trialled twice at Doomben and Deagon, then he ran against Spicy Martini in a hit-out at the Gold Coast,” he said.

“He’s fit and ready to go, but he’s up against the toughest of the tough in Sydney.

“You’ve got to be a very good horse to win in Sydney and you need a few things to go your way.”

Sydney jockey Sam Clipperton has been booked to ride Yellow Brick for the first time.

“He hasn’t won in Sydney yet, but he did run third in the Five Diamonds at Rosehill, which was worth $2 million,” Tony Sears said.

“He’s won two races worth $1 million so far in The Archer and the Magic Millions QTIS race this year and I’m told he’s the third-highest prizemoney earner in Queensland behind Buffering and Rothfire.”

The seven-year-old Yellow Brick was bought for $20,000 as a yearling and has earned $4.12 million in prizemoney with 11 wins and nine placings from 32 starts.

Yellow Brick will have one more Sydney start in the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes over 1300 metres at Randwick at the end of the month before returning to prepare for the Magic Millions QTIS race at the Gold Coast in January.

Fellow Queenslander Grafterburners will join Yellow Brick in the Sydney Stakes after an eye-catching fourth in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes, which was won by glamour mare Tempted at Randwick earlier this month.