Thursday, 11 November 2021

Brocklesby Stakes Stars - Mind Games

For many, the emphasis of Doncaster's William Hill Lincoln meeting will be the handicap mile, while HCE will focus on the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes, which heralds the start of our two-year-old season. To celebrate the Flat season, we remember a number of talented two-year-olds who have not only won the Brocklesby but gone on to mark themselves as truly talented individuals. Read this year's analysis on 28th March 2015, 1:25 Doncaster. High-Class Equine - the home of two-year-old racing. 



Mind Games


Puissance (6.4f) — Aryaf (CAN) (Vice Regent (CAN) (8.8f)

Trainer J Berry
OWNER: Robert Hughes (Shropshire)


2nd foal, half-brother to Able Fun, 1m winner at 2, Prince Ary, 10f winner at 3, & Quiz Show, 1m winner at 3, later dam of smart sprint 2yo Right Answer; dam unplaced at 2-3, half-sister to quite a useful miler Peartree House

 
On the 24th March 1994, Mind Games won the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes by a neck from Jobran, trained by Gay Kelleway, at 4/1 joint-favorite. Jack Berry - the renowned trainer often noted for his red shirts - had unveiled one of the most talented horses from the vast string. Berry was well known for his early-season dominance of two-year-old races. This son of Puissance ran seven times at two, winning his first three races with a ready success taking the Norfolk Stakes (Group 3) at Royal Ascot over 5f. He suffered his first loss (5th) when competing at Leopardstown (IRE) in the Heinze 57 Phoenix Stakes (Group 1). Mind Games continued to mark himself as a top-class two-year-old racing at Group level and narrowly losing by a short head in the Flying Childers (Group 2).
 
A successful career at 3 & 4 saw him race from Listed to Group 1 level, winning a further four races, with the Temple Stakes (Group 2) at Sandown being a notable success. Mind Games raced at Group 1 level on nine occasions but never won at this level albeit finishing 4th in the Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) at York, beaten by two lengths behind Pivotal. 
 
Berry's star raced once as a five-year-old before being retired to stud.
 
In his career, Mind Games raced 20 times, winning 7 races and won total prize money of over a quarter of a million pounds and an official rating of 112.

Photo: Pixabay free for commercial use and no attribution but given