Honest campaigner Empire Bay made a welcome return to the winner’s circle when successful in the $75,000 Class 3 Stakes over 1400m on Friday night.
Ridden by Corey Brown, Empire Bay scored by a neck from Hard Stuff (Soo Khoon Beng) with Gold Rutile (Alan Munro) the same margin away in third place.
Running a time of 1min 23.21secs for the 1400m journey, Empire Bay was seen winning his first race since being successful in Class 4 grade over 1400m last November.
After beginning well and looking likely to come across and lead early, Brown eventually took the sit in second place behind Benji’s Empire (Matthew Kellady) who rolled along at the head of affairs.
Benji’s Empire held a four length lead before turning for home with a little under 600m to run but was quickly set upon, firstly by Empire Bay along with Beauty Supreme (Manoel Nunes) and Sulmona (Zuriman Zulkili).
When Benji’s Empire dropped off Empire Bay was left in front and was rallying strongly. He fought off Beauty Supreme and Sulmona with Hard Stuff booting up on the inside and issuing a strong challenge, while Gold Rutile was weaving between runners and finishing off gamely.
However Empire Bay refused to lie down and dug deep to hold off Hard Stuff and the well supported Gold Rutile on the line.
Trainer Michael Freedman said he would like a stable full of horses of the caliber of Empire Bay whom he described as a good “bread and butter type”.
“He’s a good genuine horse,” said Freedman. “He’s not going to be matching it with the Class 1 horses, but he tries his heart out.
“He’s won four of his 15 starts now and has three placings as well and is now up around $200,000 in prizemoney.
“It’s not bad for horse that cost $65,000 as a yearling. He’s more than paid his way and is a real bread and butter horse.
“He’s the type of horse you wish you had a stable full of.”
Freedman said he would now look for a 1600m race with Empire Bay after Brown said the gelding would have no trouble handling the extra journey.
“Corey said the way he fought the race out tonight he would have no problem at all handling the 1600m,” said Freedman.
“He relaxed so well tonight. The leader got out with a good lead, but he was happy to do his own thing.
“As a younger horse he could get wound up, but I was really happy with the way he relaxed tonight and with the way he fought the race out.
“I’ll have a good look at the program and find a suitable 1600m race for him now.”
A four-year-old New Zealand-bred by Iffraaj from Lekker Ding, Empire Bay is raced by Horizon Stable and has won his four races all on the turf surface.
