On a weekend when the World Cup blanketed news out of Brazil, Vinery shuttler Big Brown sired his 8th stakes winner in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night. CLICK THROUGH TO WATCH THE RACE.
Big Wildcat (4c Big Brown – Secret Wildcat by Forest Wildcat) won the Group 3 Grande Premio Presidente Vargas (1600m) on turf at Gavea Racecourse which is just 5km south of the Maracana Stadium.
Millionaire colt Darwin completed a black-type double for Big Brown when he won the Listed Belgrave Stakes in Ireland on Sunday.
Big Wildcat (USA) controlled the Rio race under a tight hold up front. Carrocel Encantado (Elusive Quality) issued a brief challenge at the top of the straight but jockey Alex Mota had a lap full of horse and accelerated to a 4 length victory.
Meu Chuck (Pioneering) was another 6 lengths away in third place.
Big Wildcat is prepared by Gavea great Teophilo Oliveira and has won 4 of his 14 starts. He was also placed in the Grande Premio Gervasio Seabra G2 in May and Grande Premio Presidente Da Republica G1 in June.
The Big Brown colt is a homebred for Brazilian pharmaceutical entrepreneur Marcos Simon who has a string of horses in training in California, Argentina and Brazil. Foaled in Kentucky under Simon’s Winner Silk Inc. banner, he was exported to Brazil where he is the current flag-bearer for Silks Stud Escorial.
Simon, 70, has raced several champions in South America and his best USA galloper has been Farda Amiga (Broad Brush) who was a Group 1 winner of the Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes in 2002.
He bred Big Wildcat by using Big Brown over a sister to G1 Acorn Stakes winner Forest Secrets.
Big Brown (USA) returns to Vinery for a $16,500 (inc gst) service fee this year.
