It might be a day of firsts for the connections of Bravo Centurion when Western Australia’s hottest horse goals to repel the japanese invasion and lengthen his picket fence within the Nov. 30 Winterbottom Stakes (G1).Â
Luke Fernie and Alan Bansemer, respectively the coach and breeder of pace machine Bravo Centurion, will each be bidding to make their group 1 breakthroughs within the AU$1.5 million characteristic at Ascot Racecourse.
Fernie will launch a three-pronged, home-track assault within the Winterbottom, together with his stakes-winning mare Laced Up Heels and 5-year-old gelding Man Crush additionally representing the horseman, who grew to become the fourth technology of his household to take up coaching after aborting a quick profession as a tradesman.
However having received six races on the bounce, culminating in his 3 2/4-length romp within the Prince Of Wales Stakes (G3) at the beginning of the month, it’s undoubtedly Bravo Centurion who carries probably the most momentum into the Winterbottom as he seeks to go two higher than stablemate Ripcord, a minor placegetter behind Overpass within the corresponding race 12 months in the past.Â
Bjorn Baker’s cash spinner heads the betting markets forward of the rejuvenated Western Empire and James McDonald’s mount Girl Laguna, who will try and proceed Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald’s run of group 1 success in Perth after the steady claimed the Railway Stakes (G1) Nov. 23 with Port Lockroy.Join BloodHorse Each day
The probabilities of Overpass, who has three wins from his three forays to Perth, going back-to-back within the Winterbottom have been dented when he drew the skin alley. Â
Sadly for Fernie, Bravo Centurion fared little higher and the 4-year-old will eyeball the defending champion from barrier 15. Nonetheless, given his explosive gate pace Fernie feels the vast draw should not show too large a hindrance for Bravo Centurion, who will as soon as once more be partnered by his common rider Chris Parnham.
“He is normally so quick out of the gates so so long as he can leap shortly once more on Saturday, hopefully he can cross the horses inside him with out utilizing up an excessive amount of petrol,” Fernie instructed ANZ Bloodstock Information.Â
“He made a large number of them final time within the Prince Of Wales, that is clearly a a lot tougher race with the likes of Overpass and Girl Laguna heading over, but when he can replicate that efficiency then he is obtained each probability. He was robust on the finish of that race so I do not assume the step as much as 1,200 meters might be a difficulty for him.Â
“He cannot do something greater than he is carried out to date in his profession, so though we respect the opposition as a result of they’re very well-credentialed horses, we definitely do not worry them. Given his type he deserves a crack at a gaggle 1 race, and we have all the time hoped he may get to that stage as a result of he is proven loads of capability from the primary time he walked by way of the steady doorways.”
The AU$40,000 Fernie parted with for Lot 282 on the 2022 Magic Thousands and thousands Perth Yearling Sale represents excellent worth, given Bravo Centurion’s racetrack returns are simply shy of AU$300,000 from his eight begins up to now.
