In a season where it has been hard to warm to most of the staying three-year olds, the Peter Moody-trained Brambles has made a late surge that was rewarded with a Group 1 success in Saturday's Chanel Seven Queensland Derby (2400m), reports www.breednet.com.auJust as he did in the Grand Prix Stakes (G3) a fortnight back, Brad Rawiller surged Brambles to the lead shortly after the start. The son of Savabeel kept up a relentless gallop to turn back the challenge of Queensland Oaks (G1) winner Quint

In a season where it has been hard to warm to most of the staying three-year olds, the Peter Moody-trained Brambles has made a late surge that was rewarded with a Group 1 success in Saturday's Chanel Seven Queensland Derby (2400m), reports www.breednet.com.au

Just as he did in the Grand Prix Stakes (G3) a fortnight back, Brad Rawiller surged Brambles to the lead shortly after the start. The son of Savabeel kept up a relentless gallop to turn back the challenge of Queensland Oaks (G1) winner Quintessential(Fast 'N' Famous) by one and a quarter lengths to give Waikato Stud the quinella. The Robert Smerdon-trained Westsouthwest (Darci Brahma) was a game third ahead of the Gai Waterhouse-trained Tohunga (Zabeel) to give New Zealand-breds the first four.

"We were able to get across pretty good without being really pestered but he didn't really switch off as good as what he did at Doomben," Rawiller told Sky Racing World.

"I gave him a little bit of a breather from the back but from the 600 or 700, he started to click into gear and you can't hold him up, you have got to go with him."

"I was worried at the 300. I thought 'now we need to see your guts buddy' and he just kept giving. He is a tough horse," Rawiller said.

Peter Moody praised Rawiller's initiative on the promising stayer.

"It was a good tough effort, a terrific judged ride from Brad and a good tough effort from the horse," Moody said.

"I was confident, they were under pressure on the turn chasing him and it was very well judged by Brad

"He has climbed the mountain each time this horse. He had done a tremendous job to improve as the prep has gone on."

The victory took the overall record of Brambles to 5 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds from 10 starts for earnings of $574,338.