Tanabi Bromac proved a class above his rivals in the Horsham Cup
Last year’s Wimmera Mail-Times Horsham Pacing Cup was an important BIG6 Hunter Cup lead-up and this year’s event could prove just as significant if Tanabi Bromac’s performance in the $50,000 feature is any indication.
The Keith Cotchin-trained five-year-old stamped himself a genuine contender for the $400,000 Group 1 at Moonee Valley on February 6 with a track record-breaking win in Sunday night’s 2700-metre Group 2 handicap.
His 2:00.2 mile rate slashed 1.6 seconds off the time I Am Sam set winning last year’s Horsham Cup and made him exempt from the ballot for the BIG6 Hunter Cup.
Elmore-based Cotchin said Tanabi Bromac’s performance made him think that perhaps he could go one better than I Am Sam, who went on to run second in the Hunter Cup following his Horsham win.
“It’s easy to say that you think they’re just starting to come right, but he’s come out and proved that (he is) today and I’ve got no doubt, hopefully if nothing goes wrong, that he’ll continue to improve,” Cotchin said.
“He seems to handle the stand well and everything is going in a positive direction towards the (Hunter) Cup. It will have to because he’ll be up against some really nice horses, but at least we’re there now.”
The son of Live Or Die, who started the $3.80 second favourite, simply ran his rivals ragged at Horsham.
Star reinsman Gavin Lang, who was in search of a fifth Horsham Cup, pounced straight on the early lead after pinging away from barrier five after which he was never headed.
I Am Sam, the 20m backmarker and $3.50 favourite, worked his way to the “death” during a 60.6-second first half of the last mile, but it was apparent at the end of a 28.2-second third split that he wouldn’t be going back-to-back.
Tanabi Bromac’s ability to back up those quick splits with a 28.5-second final quarter got him home from Tear It All Away ($15), who began tardily and then led up the three-wide line but still finished second, 6.8m from Tanabi Bromac.
Notaswethort ($6.50), who hitched a ride on Tear It All Away’s back, was 1.9 metres away in third spot, while I Am Sam, although under pressure a long way out, held down fourth place, albeit more than 12m from the winner.
Disappointment of the race was Maffioso ($5.20), who enjoyed a lovely run on Tanabi Bromac’s back but dropped out to finish second last. He subsequently failed a post-race vet’s examination and was stood down for 30 days.
Cotchin said he knew Tanabi Bromac’s rivals were in trouble once he led.
“Once we got to the front I thought she was all over,” Cotchin declared. “I couldn’t see us getting beaten.
“You can never say that you’re going to smash track records and things like that, but I was fairly confident that he’d win today because it was his chance to stand up and be counted.”
The night’s co-feature, the $10,000 Conch Deville Horsham Trotters Cup, produced an upset result with the Daryl Crone-trained Sharendoo Lass getting home as a $19 chance.
