The Group 2 $250,000 Mitavite BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on May 26 is next for today’s Gold Coast upset winner Sesar.

Jockey Corey Brown, above, was on the favourite and third placegetter Lean Mean Machine in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic at the Gold Coast. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Winning jockey Brad Pengelly was able to bring Sesar with a well-timed run in the straight to grab victory in the Group 3 $125,000 Moreton Hire Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast.

Sesar was having his third race start and coming off a last start second at the Sunshine Coast to score at the nice double figure odds of $16, holding out the more fancied Boomsara ($5.50) who tried had in the straight.

In third position was the $2.80 favourite Lean Mean Machine who had no luck in running after being slow to leave the barriers and then had to do wide on the home turn.

Trainer Steve O’Dea said that Sesar had improved with every run and is now keen to step him up in class again into the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.

A good performance in the Sires’ Produce will give O’Dea plenty of ammunition to have a shot at the Group 1 $600,000 J.J. Atkins Plate (1600m) at Doomben on June 9.

“It was big thrill,” O’Dea said.

“His run was super at the Sunshine Coast. At his first run in a race he worked to the line okay at Doomben.”

“Obviously showed good improvement into his second run on the big track and I thought he was a good chance today with plenty of pressure on up front.”

“He had to take advantage of those runs when they came on the inside and it was a good win.”

“He is definitely on an upward spiral and he was always going to improve from each run and he has done that and it was really good to get him to win today.”

“We will probably have to look towards going to the Sires now with him.”

“We have nominated him for the J J Atkins. He is a little bit immature yet but no doubt he is going to improve and hopefully we can get him through to the Sires and the J J Atkins.”