Winter Championship favourite Our Chain Of Command cruises home in his heat last Friday night
Kiwi import Our Chain Of Command didn’t exactly endear himself to the natives at his first start for the Dean Braun stable.
The four-year-old son of Julius Caesar went around an odds-favourite in an M0 stand at Tabcorp Park, but galloped away and had to settle for third placing.
It was a costly defeat, but the gelding hasn’t wasted any time trying to redeem himself. He rebounded with a 1:56.8 win at Tabcorp Park then impressively won one of last Friday night’s Winter Championship heats at the same venue.
The gelding who Braun only purchased after he failed to find the owners their preferred two-year-old will start a warm favourite in tonight’s $25,000 decider after coming up with barrier one.
“The owners wanted me to find a nice two-year-old but I couldn’t find one, so I went and drove this one and I really liked him,” Lara-based Braun said.
“I told them he was a horse who would do a really good job for what he is, with the country cups and those sort of races in mind for next season.”
Our Chain Of Command made it six wins from 23 starts when he overcame the outside-front-row alley to record a 1:58.2 mile rate, which included a 27.8sec final 400m.
Stirling Charmer also clocked a 27.8sec final quarter in a 1:58.6 heat success and he has barrier three for the final. Other heat winner Elixir was the fastest qualifier, but she’s drawn the outside of the back row (13).
On Any Day (two), Dream Deposit (seven) and Atlas Alliance (10) are other classy types engaged, but Braun said the dream gate was the ace champion reinsman Chris Alford has up his sleeve aboard the speedy beginner.
“There are some other nice ones who have drawn handy, but I don’t think they’ll trouble him out of the gate,” Braun said. “He’s got plenty of gate speed and I’m sure if Chris wanted to hold the top he’s got enough speed to do so.”
Our Chain Of Command presents Braun with a big chance of a feature double. His star trotting mare Heyzeal resumes in the $20,000 Harness Breeders Vic Lightfoot Laurels.
The trotting mares’ event is her first engagement since finishing eighth behind Sundons Gift in the Inter Dominion final on February 6, but Braun said she’s forward enough to win.
“She had eight weeks in the paddock and she’s been in work a long time,” he said. “She’s done a stack of work, she’s had two trials and is fairly forward, so she’ll give a very good account of herself I’m sure.”
Heyzeal will start alongside star four-year-old Arizona Blue off 10m in the 2760m stand at 7.12pm, in which Thepowerofhealing is the 20m backmarker.
