Big money winner takes a shine to Ellerslie

Hong Kong millionaire Brilliant Shine coped admirably with testing conditions at Ellerslie to open his New Zealand account.

The well-travelled son of Guillotine made light of his topweight to win the JRA Trophy on Saturday by a wide margin from the early pacemaker Admiral.

“It’s taken us a while to sort things out with him - he was quite fired up when we first got him - but he settled well today and with 60 kilos it was a good effort,” said Peter Williams, who prepares Brilliant Shine with his wife Dawn.

“Kevin Crampton, the blacksmith, said he’s been coming here for 40 years and he’s never seen it this wet.”

Brilliant Shine won a trial in New Zealand before joining Bjorn Baker’s Warwick Farm operation and the gelding was successful for the expatriate Kiwi trainer.

He then transferred to Dennis Yip’s Hong Kong stable and won a further six races to take his career earnings beyond the seven figure mark.

“His best performances have been over 1400 metres, although he has won at 1800,” Williams said. “I’m not sure where we’ll go next, we’ll see what happens when we get him home.”

Brilliant Shine travelled comfortably in second spot to the turn and quickly asserted his superiority in the run home to have six lengths to spare at the post.

“He’s had a few problems and with 60kg on a track like that it was a terrific effort,” rider Mark Du Plessis said.

“He’s a good horse and this race will give him a lot of confidence. Hopefully, it’s onwards and upwards from here.”