With a recent breakthrough in Group Two company under his belt, Wangaratta’s Ben Brisbourne keeps the momentum alive by targeting further juvenile triumphs.
He’ll venture lightly raced filly Salann into Randwick’s Listed Fernhill Mile (1600m) this coming Saturday, potentially following up in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) next week.
By Shamus Award, Salann’s introductory run was the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Flemington, powering home for second behind flashy winner Satono Glow.
Brisbourne, pleased with her sharp Tuesday breeze-up, holds firm on the mile assignment for the filly.
“We were just seeing how she’d gallop, but she galloped a treat so we’re just confirming all the things now,” Brisbourne said.
“She galloped over 1000 metres, quickened up the last 600 with an older horse as a bunny and got to the older horse real easy, and that wasn’t the impressive part, it was when it took the rider half a mile to pull her up.
“She got home super on debut, we knew that 1200 (metres) was going to be on the sharp side for her, we were just hoping to see her finish going forward and picked up a stakes placing on her debut, and she’s trained on well.”
Shifting from an early impression of Salann as a speedy juvenile, Brisbourne now anticipates her affinity for extended trips.
“We always thought she was a jump-and-run two-year-old and she was sort of our sharper type,” Brisbourne said.
“But the more we’ve been getting through the jump outs and the trials, the more the feedback was she’d be a lovely 1,400-metre horse and beyond.”
Having scooped the Group 2 VRC Sires (1400m) courtesy of Grinzinger Heart at generous odds, Salann eyes a reversal should they cross paths in the Champagne.
“I think she’s going that well, and we’ve got in the back of our minds that if she is as strong a stayer as we think she is as a two-year-old, if she ran well, she’d go into that with the view of backing up the following week in the Champagne,” Brisbourne said.
“Grinzinger Heart is great as well, she’s trialling Wednesday at Wagga and she goes to the Champagne as well.
“Last year we only had maybe one or two two-year-old runners, this year we haven’t really got the stock either but the two we’ve got to the races are stakes level already.
“I’d love a hundred yearlings to walk into the stable every year but it just doesn’t happen so we’ll try and do the best with what we’ve got.”
Tyler Schiller picks up the ride on Salann, who is a $8 prospect in Fernhill Mile all-in wagering.
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