Kaidan Brewer steers Guru Fight to victory (Pic – Selangor Turf Club)
Sporting Post
SAJA graduate and former Sporting Post-sponsored jockey Kaidan Brewer secured his maiden Group 1 victory in a thriller at the Perak Turf Club in Malaysia on Sunday.
In a finish that mirrored the grit and tenacity of his namesake, Guru Fight outlasted a star-studded field to claim the Gr1 Perak Derby run over 2000m.
An elated father Andrew Brewer, who is still looking after Kaidan’s racing business and is a pillar of support, said that the victory marked a career milestone for the 22-year-old.
Kaidan steered the Simon Dunderdale-trained galloper to a perfectly timed triumph.
In a tactical battle, Guru Fight carried 54.5kg—a weight Dunderdale initially found ‘less than ideal’ due to the absence of several top-rated entries. However, the four-year-old son of Kermadec proved the trainer’s instincts right regarding his stamina.
The early pace was set by Gum Khor, who swept to the lead past the winning post for the first time. Brewer kept Guru Fight in a prime stalking position, shadowed closely by the odds-on favourite Banker’s Two Six and Man Of Action.
As the field turned for home, the pressure intensified and Kaidan clicked up a notch on Guru Fight to level up with Gum Khor at the top of the straight, with Winning Stride looming dangerously in third. By the 300m mark, Guru Fight had poked his head in front, establishing a one-length lead.
The final 100m tested every ounce of the winner’s resolve and jockey’s determination.
Despite ‘running on empty’ according to Brewer, Guru Fight held off a late surge from Winning Stride to secure the win by a half-length.
“I’ve ridden him many times and have won 4 races on him since my relocation to Malaysia and he always feels a bit lazy,” Brewer said while celebrating his first Group 1 success. “However, he was very alert today—maybe because he was in a new environment.”
Trainer Simon Dunderdale was quick to credit Brewer’s experience and maturity as a young jockey in highly pressured moments with the win.
“He (Brewer) comes from a country where the majority of races are over middle or longer distances,” Dunderdale remarked. “This sort of race is ideal for him. He rode a perfect race.”
