By Ray Hickson
Consistent sprinter Brudenell is the early favourite for the $300,000 The Warra (1000m) and jockey Dylan Gibbons said that doesn’t surprise him given his record and massive drop from what he was carrying last time in to 52.5kg.
Dylan Gibbons (Pic: Bradley Photos)
The gelding, $5 with TAB on Friday, won first-up at 1100m last preparation and resumes in Kembla Grange's feature sprint since an all the way win under 59kg at Rosehill over 1200m in August.
“He’s a pretty good sprinter on his day and goes like a rocket fresh, he’s going to have that opportunity with 52.5kg on his back so he ticks a lot of boxes,’’ he said.
“They can work around us from his barrier, he’ll be able to use his speed and hopefully sprint well fresh again.”
Gibbons is looking forward to another ride on Our Orator in the TAB Highway (1400m) after the Bathurst-trained galloper surprised him with a luckless sixth at Rosehill two weeks ago.
He was one of only two horses in that race to break 34 seconds for the last 600m after Gibbons was forced to go back to last from the outside barrier.
“I found the back of Reece (Jones on the winner) who kept finding runs but I was needing him to really burst through to create a run for me,’’ he said.
“I didn’t really get a crack at them until near the 50m, who knows what would have happened if I’d got a crack sooner. I was there full of running.
“I was a bit surprised for him to come from that far back and finish as close as he did, especially around Rosehill. If he could reproduce that he’d be a chance.”
Unfortunately, Gibbons lost his ride in the $1m Illawarra Mercury Gong when Spangler was scratched on Friday morning with a vet certificate.
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Kembla Grange meeting