Winner: Poor Judge (Royal Academy-Outward Display)
Race: BRC Bribie Handicap LR (1200m)
Sold for: $130,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Widden Stud as agent
Buyer: Steve Brem
Earnings: $157,500
Owner(s): P Tjoeng
Trainer: Norm Hilton (Toowoomba)
Poor Judge continued his dramatic rise through racing’s ranks with a comprehensive win in the listed Bribie Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm today.
Prepared at Toowoomba by Norm Hilton, Poor Judge has an impressive strike rate having won five of his past six runs.
Overall the promising four-year-old son of Royal Academy has won eight of his 17 starts. He’s also been a minor placegetter on four other occasions.
Confidently ridden by Chris Munce, Poor Judge sat just off the speed before pouncing on the lead in the straight and racing clear.
At the post the $2.70 favourite held a three quarter length margin over the runner-up Leapfrog ($15), while a similar margin back in third place was Dalzar ($13).
Hilton told AAP that the gelding would almost certainly have this next run in the listed Weetwood Handicap at his home track in a fortnight.
“This was a step up up for him but he did it well and he keeps improving,” Hilton said.
“He’ll have his next run in the Weetwood and then if he’s still feeling good we may look at the better winter races with him, including the Stradbroke.”
A former Australian Champion Bull Rider on the rodeo circuit, Hilton doubled his stakes tally following his breakthrough success with Bold Glance in stakes company on ANZAC Day last year.
A $130,000 purchase by Sydney based bloodstock agent Steve Brem at the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Poor Judge is the only runner for his dam Outward Display.
The Thunder Gulch mare, who won five races including two in Sydney, is a half sister to two stakes performers including Proud Player.
Poor Judge is also a three quarter brother to the Group Two Todman Slipper Trial Stakes winner Royal Courtship.
The win provided Poor Judge’s sire Royal Academy with his 157th individual stakes winner.
Meanwhile, consistent galloper Steel Lips continued his great recent run with a powerful win in the Easter Cup (1800m).
The Steele Ryan prepared six-year-old son of Sequalo cruised home to beat the favourite Rothera by a length.
A $45,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, Steel Lips is now the winner of eight races and earner of over $210,000.
The stakes performer is one of seven winners from his dam Bent Street – a sister to Regent Steel and half sister to Steel Sculptress, the stakes performed dam of Eyes of Steel.
PICS – Dan Costello.
