Sixties Groove capped off a successful prep at Eagle Farm on Saturday winning the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) in impressive fashion for trainer Kris Lees.
The form lined up for the Irish six-year-old who had placed in his previous three starts prior to the win. Backing up after running second in last week’s Group 2 P.J. O’Shea Stakes (2200m) at Doomben, jockey Damien Oliver enjoyed a gun ride down the middle of the straight to earn his third Brisbane Cup win.
Moving up on the inside of the leading Grey Lion, who went on to finish a gallant second, Sixties Groove’s brilliant turn of foot helped him find the line as he won his first start since last year’s Moe Cup (2050m).
After coming up short in the Doomben Cup, Sixties Groove saluted for trainer Kris Lees claiming the 2019 Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Photo Credit: Ultimate Racing Photos.
“He’s been honest as the day is long. Brilliant ride off Olly, we drew an awkward gate we went right back at the 600m I was wondering myself where are you going to go but he kept improving, finding the runs and the horse was good enough to take them” Lees’ stable rep Cameren Swan said after the race.
“He’s been very honest which has been pleasing, but the Doomben Cup was another good run also. We’re just happy to get this for the owners and everyone involved.”
While punters celebrated the return to form, there was no such luck for crowd favourite The Candy Man, who saw his five-race win streak come to an end. The awkward draw posed plenty of problems for the five-year-old, who found himself three-wide over the journey without much luck.
As for Sixties Groove, Australian Bloodstock’s Jamie Lovett said connections had big things in mind when they first purchased him.
“This is the first time he’s actually been out to a trip since I’ve owned him, we bought him thinking he could be a Caulfield Cup horse, and well, you never know.”
