Trainer Michael Brennan is hoping for a vastly different outcome with veteran pacer The Bucket List in tomorrow night’s Westral Timber Blinds Pace (2130m), after he galloped out last Friday night.
The eight-year-old’s past two runs have both been in standing starts, but he is back in a mobile start tomorrow night, which is shaping up as one of the more intriguing events on Champagne Classic night, and there is plenty of confidence among the Brennan stable.
The Bucket List was beaten 15m as a $1.65 favourite last week off a 40m start, but Brennan said he wasn’t disappointed with the effort.
“His run after galloping was phenomenal,” Brennan told TABradio’s The Sports Daily.
“I would hate to think what he ran his last mile and a half in just to tack on.
“Obviously he will be back last from barrier nine.
“If we get a tow into the race…he can win.”
The Bucket List will be driven by Shannon Suvaljko for the first time on Friday night, taking over from Gary Hall Jnr, who takes the drive on the Justin Prentice-trained Major Reality.
Meanwhile, Miss Sangrial will round out her preparations for next week’s WA Oaks when she lines up in the Westral Outdoor Patio Blinds WA Oaks Prelude (2130m) tomorrow night.
It was Champagne Classic night last year where Miss Sangrial finished second to Cott Beach in the two-year-old event, and one year on, Brennan said he expected the filly to be nearing her best form tomorrow night.
“She’s absolutely flying,” he said.
“Come next week, she is going to be the forgotten horse.
“She gets the chance for, hopefully, some open air this week, and next week she will be ready to go.”
Miss Sangrial has gate two tomorrow night, while two fillies who have already stamped their WA Oaks credentials Liberty Rose and Our Angel Of Harlem have drawn awkwardly in gate five and nine respectively.
Brennan will also take Miss Sangrial’s younger brother Sangue Reale back to Gloucester Park for just his second start at the track in the Group 2 Champagne Classic (2130m).
The gelding is on the third line of betting with TABtouch for the $50,000 event at $9.50, behind Its Rock And Roll ($1.34) and Itz All About Magic ($6.50).
Brennan said it was unlikely he would be able to improve on his second placing in the race last year, and admitted it would take a lot for Colin Brown’s Its Rock And Roll to be beaten.
“Unless Its Rock And Roll gets crossed, I think we are all running for second,” he said.
“He’s a very talented horse.
“He’s running super times without being able to win a race.
“He keeps running into one that is out of the box.”
Tim Walker
