Talented mare Brook Road is a chance of returning to Brisbane for the 2014 Just Now Quality at Doomben on December 13 after she recorded a maiden win at black type level in the Travel Associates Classic on Saturday.

Brook Road held off a fast-finishing Tinto to win the Travel Associates Classic at Doomben on Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Brook Road started the Travel Associates Classic as a clear favourite and jockey Jim Byrne was able to settle the God’s Own mare just behind the leaders in the early stages of the Listed event.

Byrne waited until the 300 metre mark before he asked Brook Road for an extra effort and she showed an impressive turn-of-foot when she received a gap to score a comfortable win from the fast-finishing Tinto and Playtime.

Lees stable representative Mel Eggleston said after the Travel Associates Classic win that Brook Road could head to the spelling paddock for a break before a 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign, but the Just Now Quality in under a fortnight is another option for the four-year-old.

“It’s a pretty big thing for a lightly raced mare to come up here and beat our best mares and I think Kris has got some nice races in mind for her next year,” Eggleston said.

The Travel Associates Classic win was the first for Brook Road since she joined the Lees stable after she finished second behind Avoid Lightning in the Group 3 The Nivison (1200m) and third in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1400m).

While nobody could take credit away from the win of Brook Road, the majority of attention following the Travel Associates Classic was focused on Tinto after the Queensland Oaks winner worked home extremely strongly to run a close second over a distance that is well short of her best.

Trainer Rex Lipp was always confident that Tinto could produce a strong first-up effort and he confirmed that the Red Dazzler mare would likely have one more race start before she contests the Magic Millions Stayers Cup (1800m) at the Gold Coast on January 10.

“To be honest, that run didn’t surprise me in the least,” Lipp told AAP.

“She’s still pretty big and fat but that hit-out will do her the world of good.

“There’s another fillies’ and mares’ race here in a fortnight over 1350 metres but she’d probably get the 59.5kg again.

“Another option is the Bernborough Handicap at home in Toowoomba over the mile then she can step up to the 1800m metres at the Coast.”