Howie Brilliant In Vet's Medley Final

CLAREMONT veteran trainer Leon Brazendale landed his second Vet's Medley title in 22 years when the promising Howie's My Bro was successful in Thursday's final at Hobart over 599-metres.

 Despite finishing sixth in the opening heat of the three-week series, the son of My Bro Fabio and Crazy Maniac was still able to grab a berth in the feature, after trouncing Spirit Flame to win a 461m heat convincingly last week, running a slick 26.08 from box two.

The blue chaser joined leading series point-scorer Sacred Way in the time-honoured decider, and as a $6.50 chance from box two, proved too strong in the closing stages, scoring by 4 ¼ lengths in 34.24.

Watch Howie's My Bro take out the Vet's Medley Final at Hobart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFjM9slswI0&feature=youtu.be

Brazendale's first Vet's Medley success was with Emily's Flyer back in 1997, going through the series undefeated at the former showgrounds circuit.

"It's great to get a win like this – the dog is definitely bred to stay," stated Brazendale.

"My wife Pam and I have recently moved from our property at New Norfolk to something smaller at Claremont, it was starting to get harder looking after 38 dogs when you don't always have help around you. Now we just have three kennels in the backyard.

"Howie's My Bro has shown to be rather strong, he has a quirky nature which means you want to see him on the pace, the dog has carried some niggling injuries but they're well behind him now."

Howie's My Bro has now won four of 26 starts – Thursday his maiden victory over the 599 metres.

"It has taken our dogs some time to settle into the new surroundings, but that's all good now," added Brazendale.

"I've got the litter sister Howie's Lioness here and she is almost ready to return to racing, I gave her a slip up Brighton this week and I couldn't be happier in the way she has pulled up.

"I've been in the dogs now since I was 18 and trained my first winner at the TCA. Racing has been good to me over the years although I'm not getting any younger; we've had plenty of success and lots memories to look back on."