Joe Pride was happy with Brutality’s preparation leading into his Villiers Stakes win 12 months ago, but he is even more upbeat this time around as the horse prepares to defend his title in the rebranded feature.

Now known as The Ingham (1600m) and worth $2 million, the summer feature has never been won by the same horse twice.

Brutality will be out to create history at Randwick on Saturday by becoming the horse to break that hoodoo and while he hasn’t saluted since last year’s renewal, Pride says the six-year-old has never been better.

“He is clearly going at a career-best level, it’s just unfortunate he hasn’t really had his opportunity yet,” Pride said.

“His runs have been great and it would be amazing to go back-to-back in the Villiers, or now The Ingham.

“The sectionals he has been running have been outstanding. He is definitely going better than ever and he looks better than he has ever looked.”

Brutality raced on three consecutive Saturdays when landing his biggest career-win last December.

This year’s program has been slightly different – he contested The Gong (1600m), storming home for an eye-catching fifth, before being given a two-week break into his final lead-up run last weekend when a fine fifth in the same benchmark 88 race he contested 12 months ago, lumping 64.5kg.

“I tried to get him into The Gong last year but he was an emergency and didn’t get a run, whereas this year he actually got in there,” Pride said.

“Plenty of recent racing is the key to this horse, he thrives on racing.”

Ideally, Pride would like a rain-affected track for Brutality and while that is unlikely to eventuate, the gelding has proven adept on good ground without winning.

“The Gong was firm and he ran really well there so he can, but at that level you want everything in your favour,” Pride said.