Fresh Ima Brazen One defies chute record
Jess de Lautour • October 26th, 2025 5:53 PM
Trentham’s 1200m chute had posed a query for talented sprinter Ima Brazen One in previous starts, but that all changed when the mare made every post a winner in Sunday’s Rothley Sprint (1000m).
The daughter of Brazen Beau had missed a top three finish in all three of her prior attempts down the unique dog-leg track, but resuming in a new preparation she was still tipped as the horse to beat, closing a $3.30 favourite ahead of Debit ($4).
In the hands of Masa Hashizume, the mare showed her customary early speed to cross and lead, settling into a good rhythm with Lhasa and Fancy Like Lass in the trail. She was slightly wayward coming onto the course proper, but once straightened, she gave a good kick and put a margin on her rivals.
The challengers were coming hard late, but Ima Brazen One had the winning buffer and held on bravely to score from placegetters Lhasa and Chajaba.
While she handled the chute on this occasion, her trainer Mike Breslin indicated he will be looking elsewhere for future options.
“I knew she was ready to run a big race, she was probably as forward as I’ve had her to resume,” he said. “She still didn’t do things that well across the junction, but when Masa angled her back to the rail, that helped.
“I still don’t think, at a good level, that the chute or a straight-six like Riccarton would be her go, so I’m keen to get her up to Ellerslie and give her a go right-handed around there to see how she copes.
“I’m hoping to do that before Christmas, then we can see if she’s good enough to go back up for a race like the Concorde (Gr.3, 1200m).”
Bred by Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, Ima Brazen One was a $100,000 purchase by her trainer at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales in 2022 and has subsequently earned $118,460 for In To Win Brazenly Syndicate, managed by Tineke Balcombe.
In the previous race, the Grahams Painters Sprint (1000m), the In To Win silks were to the fore once again aboard a Breslin runner, this time with promising four-year-old Kosta.
Aided by a no-panic ride from Samantha Collett, Kosta settled back in the field and weaved his way through up the straight, showing a stunning late burst to catch the favourite Toronto just short of the line.
The son of War Decree had been a frequent figure in the steward’s report last preparation, but looked every bit the professional in his first-up outing.
“He’s always been an athlete, the head just hasn’t fallen into place,” Breslin said.
“We rode him quietly in his trial the other day amongst horses and he showed that he was starting to learn. Sam rode him in that trial and was very keen to ride him raceday, which gave me a bit of confidence.
“I knew that he would sprint well in a fresh state, and the good thing about that is he gets off the bridle a little bit. If I gave him another trial and went straight into a 1400m race, he may just get up on the steel.
“He’s shown in his two wins that he’s got a great turn of foot, and today, he probably wasn’t entitled to win as easily as he did.”
While he sprinted stylishly fresh, Breslin is hoping to see Kosta over a middle-distance trip in time.
“I honestly think he’s a 2000m horse with some more time and education,” he said.
“He’s by War Decree out of a High Chaparral mare, so it’s a staying family. He’s a real athlete, it’s just a matter of getting his head to follow.”
In To Win and Chris Rutten Bloodstock outlaid $80,000 to secure Kosta at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2023 Ready To Run Sale from the draft of BMD Bloodstock.
