3 minute read
While Bransom may be stepping up in Class again, connections of the flashy gelding are confident he will be up to the task in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1000m on Saturday.
The son of Brazen Beau was impressive when he won his last start in a Class 4 race over the same trip on 1 June and while he has yet to win above that company, the four-year-old gelding did run third in a Class 2 race (1100m) in December last year.
Although the highlight of the 10-race meeting on Saturday has attracted nine quality nominations, including another last-start winner, Ejaz and Polytrack specialist Illustrious, Bransom looked well-weighted with 56kgs.
Trainer James Peters thought the strong field will be a good test to see how far his Polytrack sprinter can go.
"I haven't had him for long," said Peters of Bransom , who was under the care of ex-Kranji trainer, Stephen Gray, at his first 13 starts.
"Though his two starts for me were in Class 4, I saw he placed in Class 2 company for Stephen.
"So we know he can measure up at this level and seems to go very well on the Polytrack (four out of his five wins were on the all-weather surface), but this Class 3 field looks to be a strong one.
"Pacific Vampire looks good, Illustrious is a (Poly)track and trip specialist and General Command is dropping back to Class 3.
"But given the speed in the race, it should give us the opportunity to take a sit and see how we go when it gets serious late."
The steering job will be handed to jockey Marc Lerner after Bransom's regular partner Bruno Queiroz incurred the wrath of the stewards for careless riding after his win on Windfall last Sunday.
"Marc will ride this week as Bruno is suspended (for one day)," explained the English conditioner.
"Hopefully we draw a nice gate and Marc can get some cover.
"I thought his (Bransom) win last start was good, especially after he had issues at his first start for me (atrial fibrillation after running last in a Class 4 race over 1000m on 4 May).
"But touch wood, he has showed no signs of any problems since. After pretty quick fractions early, I was impressed with how he hit the line at his last start. He also pulled up really well.
"We picked this race out as it suited, but since it was going to be six weeks between runs; we gave him a couple of quiet weeks.
"Then, we ramped it up and gave him an easy (barrier) trial the other day (finished third to Illustrious in trial no 2 on 4 July) just to get him ready.
"The owners (Bransom, Team Cheval and Goldenhill Stable) have been patient and hopefully, they get some reward on Saturday."
Of his nine other runners on Saturday, Peters thought to keep it simple for Last Supper in order to see the three-year-old win again.
"Not changing anything with him (Last Supper)," he explained after the son of Grunt won at his first Polytrack test in a Class 4 Division 2 race over 1100m on 16 June.
"(Jockey) Daniel (Moor) stays on and he's (Last Supper) basically in the same race; so we're keeping things simple with him."
Meanwhile, Spieth Heroine broke her maiden win for Peters at her 15th start last Sunday and he was relieved.
"Finally!" he said after the three-year-old daughter of Spieth ($11) won the Maiden race (1400m).
"She's not the easiest to be honest, that's why I put winkers on her and it was a good ride by (jockey) Krisna (Thangamani) that got the job done.
"In saying that, she picks up a cheque more often than not (placed seven times prior to her first win) and so more than pays her way.
"Hopefully the penny drops with her and we will look for a nice 1600m race in Class 5 for her.
"She should have some good confidence from that win and can go on with the job."
