Brave Emperor all heart in Road to Kentucky Derby Conditions race at Kempton

Brave Emperor was maintaining his winning attitude for trainer Archie Watson. By the Scat Daddy stallion Sioux Nation, the bay gelding had finished first in his past five starts, but he was demoted to second for causing interference in a handicap at Southwell on Jan. 26. Brave Emperor rebounded last time out in the Feb. 12 Prix de la Californie at Cagnes-sur-Mer and made it officially two straight here.

Under jockey Luke Morris, who captured last year’s prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), Brave Emperor attended the pace set by Killybegs Warrior. He pounced at the top of the stretch, then had to work to put away the stubborn Killybegs Warrior.

Just when Brave Emperor was finally gaining the upper hand, he was accosted by Alzahir, and Tenjin erupted wider out. The trio fought it out to the wire. Alzahir, finishing strongly between foes, pressed Brave Emperor the hardest.

But Brave Emperor was all heart. The 3-1 second choice kept his head in front, completing the mile on Polytrack in 1:39.76.

Alzahir took second by a half-length from Tenjin, with a gap of two lengths back to Killybegs Warrior. Slow-starting Coco Jack wound up fifth, followed by disappointing 2-1 favorite Lieber Power and Metal Merchant. The respective second through fifth are eligible to receive Derby points on an 8-6-4-2 scale, but they are not currently Triple Crown-nominated.

Brave Emperor’s scorecard stands at 7-5-1-0. Bred by Caroline Hanly and Sean Ronan in Ireland, he is out of the Holy Roman Emperor mare Roman Gal, who is a half-sister to multiple Group 1-placed stakes scorer Salouen.

The European Road winner will be determined by the grand finale, the April 1 Cardinal Conditions race at Chelmsford offering points to the top five on a 30-12-9-6-3 structure.