Talented stayer Hume emerged as a contender for the feature staying contests of the Brisbane Winter Carnival with a strong win in Saturday’s Group Three Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) at Doomben.

Renowned trainer of stayers Brian Smith was delighted to see one of his stable stars back to his best.

“I’m just so glad the owners have been very patient with him,” an emotional Smith said after the race.

“I’ve never lost faith in him and I begged his owners to give him another go.”

“He showed us what he’s capable of in Melbourne. He ran second to the eventual Melbourne Cup winner (in Shocking) in the Lexus.”

“I didn’t know if he was ready to come back but I had a gut feeling. I’m a gut trainer and felt he had been improving so I put him in this race.”

Smith said he would adopt and “weight and see” plan with Hume before deciding where he will run next.

He is a good chance of running in the Group Two Brisbane Cup over a mile and a half at Eagle Farm on June 9.

Hume has turned out an exceptional money spinner for his connections after being purchased by part owner Barry Condon for $22,000 at the 2009 Magic Millions Summer Carnival Thoroughbred Sale.

The son of champion New Zealand sire Zabeel was presented at the sale by the Williams Racing Stables after campaigning for that stable in Victoria.

Since joining Smith, Hume has also won the Tattersall’s Cup at Group Three level as well as chasing home Shocking in the Group Three Lexus just a few days before that horse scored a famous win in the Melbourne Cup.

One of a staggering 142 stakes winners for the Cambridge Stud champion sire Zabeel, Hume is the feature winner of three produced by Lolette.

A daughter of Arazi, Lolette is a ful sister to Apache Star – the stakes performed dam of Hong Kong based stakes winner New Mexican-Golden Sun.

Lolette is also a half sister to the Del Mar based stakes winner Duke of Freen.

Other stars in the family include international group winners Rebecca Sharp, Mystic Knight and Obsession and Aussie based black type winners Walking or Dancing, Irongail, Kidnapped and Deledio.

Winner: Hume
Breeding: Zabeel-Lolette (Arazi)
Race: BRC Chairman’s Handicap G3 (2000m)
Sold for: $22,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Summer Carnival T’bred Sale
Vendor: Williams Racing Stables
Buyer: Barry Condon
Earnings: $394,175
Owner(s): CT Condon, Mrs ML Condon, BJ Condon & Mrs MJ Condon
Trainer: Brian Smith (Eagle Farm)

PICS – Dan Costello.