Written by Paul Vettise

Gary Hennessy is hoping for more of the same from Brutal (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) at Moonee Valley on Saturday when the colt bids to retain his unbeaten record. The Matamata horseman has a vested interest in the ongoing success of the 3-year-old, who runs in the Listed McKenzie S.

He purchased Brutal’s dam Alberton Princess (NZ) (Golan {IRE}) at Karaka in 2016 for $75,000 with a specific purpose in mind. “I got her and Lady Alberton (for $65,000) from the same family to both go to Ocean Park,” he said.

“It clicked well and it’s a very tidy family. The older full-sister (Talaria) to Alberton Princess won a trial about a month after I bought them and then won a stakes race on debut.”

Hennessy part-owned and trained Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park) to win multiple Group 1 events including the Cox Plate, which propelled him to New Zealand Horse of the Year honours before his retirement to Waikato Stud.

“Both mares have yearling colts by him and Lady Alberton is in foal to Ocean Park and has gone back to him,” Hennessy said. “Alberton Princess is empty and I’ve sent her to Darley to go to Ribchester.”

A stylish debut victor for Team Hawkes at Caulfield, Brutal was bred by Anne Storey and her mother Ruth Kerr-Taylor prior to Alberton Princess’ sale and he realised $220,000. He was sold under Mapperley Stud’s banner.

The dam was a Group 3 placegetter and the pedigree features the Group 2 winners Sir Alberton, Alberton Star and Te Akau Rose and the Group 3 winner Cavalry Rose.

Tried and true approach

Meanwhile, Hennessy is hoping to emulate the deeds of his former stable star when Ocean Emperor (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) opens his campaign in Saturday’s G1 Tarzino Trophy. “I would prefer to follow the same thing we did with Ocean Park and after this go over for the Underwood Stakes and use that path into a Cox Plate start,” he said.

“I couldn’t be more confident with him and he just needs the luck in the running. He’s still a colt and some Australian black print would stand him in good stead.”