The three year-old maiden at Newcastle on Tuesday over 1200m had a short priced favourite in Harlem Queen and the daughter of Brutal lived up to expectation when producing a brilliant finish to win running away.
Last seen finishing fourth at Rosehill in June behind boom colt Emirate at her second race start, the Nathan Doyle trained Harlem Queen has had a little break since then and was tuned up with a barrier trial win at Scone last month.
She settled back in the field for Kerrin McEvoy and when angled out wide to make her run Harlem Queen let down with a blistering turn of foot to charge home and win by a length and a half.
A $180,000 Magic Millions purchase for Calibre Racing Group from the Newgate Farm draft, Harlem Queen was bred by SF Bloodstock in partnership with Winstar Farm and Matthew Sandblom and is a half-sister to stakes-placed Lady Harlem being the fifth winner from five foals to race from stakes-winning Fastnet Rock mare Harlem River.
Harlem River produced a filly by Capitalist last spring and is due to foal to State of Rest (IRE).
Harlem Queen is the 11th first crop winner for Brutal and is his third winner of the new season.
Winner of the Group I ATC Doncaster Handicap at three, Brutal is poised to make a big impact this season as his progeny mature and stands at the reduced fee of $16,500.