BRANDENBURG BATTLES TO SIXTH WIN IN THE RAIN

Brandenburg battled to victory in the Class 4A 1200m sprint in Ipoh today to give trainer Stephen Cook his first success with the gelding in three runs.

“After a third, then a second, the win was a natural progression,” said the larger-than-life trainer.

“It was a tough win and I don’t think he (Brandenburg) is going to win three in-a-row again.”

Cooks was referring to Brandenburg’s hattrick late last year before he took over the horse.

Ridden by Wong Kam Chong, Brandenburg was the first to break together with You Think So who delayed the start cosiderably when he entered the stall and back out several times.

But You Think So still found abundance energy to lead from Brandenburg and Peaky Blinder on settling down.

You Think So led into the straight with Apis moving up second on the outside of Peaky Blinder. Brandenburg was just next on their inside.

You Think So held on to his lead until well past the 100m mark when Brandenburg charged home to beat him by a neck. Apis, who raced three-way early, did well to finish third.

“I was worried about taking the inside run (after the rain) but I could not take the horse to the outside because a couple of horses were already there,” said Wong.

“Nevertheless, he fought on gamely. It was a tough battle.”

Brandenburg, it seems, just loves the Ipoh track.

Unplaced in one run in Singapore, the Better Than Ready entire was sent over to Sharee Hamilton in Kuala Lumpur and failed to show in three starts there before he landed in the yards of Peter Lee in Ipoh.

Brandenburg won his first start for Lee, and after just more run (finishing third) for the trainer, the horse was on the move again, this time to Tan Eng Peow at Sungai Besi.

Brandenburg ran second first-up for Tan, but after three more runs at his home track, he was sent to Ipoh to race and promptly won.

Much later, Brandenburg won in Class 5 on his home track, then defied a promotion to win twice in Class 4 in consecutive weeks in Ipoh, all within the month of November last year.

Despite his hattrick and a subsequent third placing, Brandenburg was transferred to Ipoh again, this time to Cook’s yards.

Today’s success brought his record to six wins in 21 starts.

Cook, who took the opening event with Fight To Win (ridden by Wong), completed his treble for the day when he saddled Silent Boss (Nik Shahronnizam) to victory in the last race.

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