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Hawkesbury trainer Gary Frazer is preparing to step his rising star Browden into the big time in Sunday's $100,000 Goulburn Cup.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Browden has raced only five times, reeling off four successive country wins since a Hawkesbury failure at his first start in September to stamp himself as one of the best prospects to emerge on the country circuit in recent times.
His winning sequence began with a maiden win over 1300m at Orange on September 21 followed by a C1 win over 1200m at Goulburn on October 2.
He then returned to Orange for a C2 win over 1400m on October 15 before putting himself in the Goulburn Cup picture with classy win under 58kg in the Crookwell Cup over 1600m at Goulburn on November 4 when he produced the power packed finish from midfield that has been a feature of each win.
Browden, a robust gelding by Starcraft, has since won a Hawkesbury barrier trial over 1000m on November 16.
Frazer, who trains Browden for Beryl White, is waiting to see if Browden will make the final field for the Goulburn Cup (1600m) after a big list of 25 horses were nominated for the feature.
The four-year-old will be on the limit of 54kg and well down the ballot order due to his low benchmark rating in open class.
However Frazer expects Browden to be a big threat if he gains a start as he will again retain apprentice David Pisani to utilise his 1.5kg allowance.
"He'll get the limit and after David's claim he will get in pretty well with 52.5kg," Frazer said.
"He deserves his chance in a race like this. He's always shown ability and has kept improving this preparation."
Frazer, out of luck in last year's Goulburn Cup when second with Scottish Border, is happy to stick with Pisani as the apprentice has ridden Browden in all his wins and has developed a fine understanding of how to ride the big gelding.
Guy Walter, who has trained four Goulburn Cup winners since 2003, is set to again play a big hand with his four entries led by last start Warwick Farm winner Brightest, Forarainyday, Zauberflote and Tiger Territory.
Other top metropolitan stables represented include Gai Waterhouse (Kinnersley), John Thompson (Isopach), Kevin Moses (All Legal), Anthony Cummings (Quick Peek), Jason Coyle (Scream Machine), Con Karakatsanis (Sailor's Farewell) and Rick Worthington (Sainthood).
Last Saturday's Rosehill winner Bay Window and Alma's Fury represent top Kembla Grange trainers Gwenda Marwkell and Bede Murray while the local hopes rest with Court Connection and Rambling On, trained at Goulburn by Danny Williams.