Bravo Centurion stamped his authority on Perth’s sprinting division with a career-best performance winning the G3 Prince Of Wales Stakes (1000m) by a widening four-length margin at Ascot on Saturday.
The Namerik Thoroughbreds graduate has won six in a row since a Belmont maiden in July including a black-type first in the LR Crawford Stakes (1000m) a fortnight ago. He turned the Group 3 into a one-act affair in front while clocking a sizzling 57.72s to distance the placegetters Saloon Bar (Sessions) and Crippalenko (Maschino).
Bred and sold by Namerik owner Alan Bansemer for $40,000 at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions, he has now earned $295,000 for a syndicate managed by trainer Luke Fernie and part-owner Neil Gill.
Bookmakers firmed Bravo Centurion into a $7 third-favourite for the G1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on November 30. Perth’s premier sprint carries $1.5 million in prizemoney and draws top-class interstate raiders every year.
Sydney star Overpass is the $3 pre-post favourite to successfully defend his Winterbottom crown ahead of champion mare Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) who is on the second line at $5. Her earnings broke through $20 million after winning the Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
“That was unbelievable,” stable foreman Brian Carey said on Saturday. “It was like ‘how far’ when Chris (Parnham) gave him some rein at the 400m. He will go straight into the Winterbottom although Luke might want to give him a barrier trial in between.”
Parnham was winning his fourth Prince Of Wales after going back-to-back with Dainty Tess (War Chant) in 2018-19 and Snowdome (Snowdome) last year. “He’s a different horse to what he was winning the Crawford Stakes,” Parnham said.
“He just keeps raising the bar and exceeding expectations. He’s just a machine with a high cruising speed and he can kick off the corner.”
Bravo Centurion is a 4yo son of former Widden Stud shuttler National Defense (Invincible Spirit) from Comme Ca (Authorized). Bansemer bought into the family when paying $32,000 for his second-dam Tease Me (Encosta De Lago) at the 2011 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Tease Me (Encosta de Lago) was a Sandown Hillside winner and she was carrying Comme Ca at the Gold Coast Sale. Third-dam Flashed (Fuji Kiseki) had won the LR VRC Ottawa Stakes (1000m) on VRC Oaks Day in 2001.