Chris Alford will be seeking to join Anthony Butt as the most successful Hunter Cup driver
Dean Braun forfeited a shot at back-to-back Group 1 wins with Our Chain Of Command last week, but his decision could reap a reward in this Saturday night’s $425,000 Group 1 BIG6 Hunter Cup at Tabcorp Park, Melton.
The Lara trainer deemed standing start practice in the $20,000 The SKY Racing Pure Steel more important than a crack at the A-graders under mobile conditions in the $125,000 PETstock Ballarat Cup, a move he hopes will pay dividends in the standing start Hunter Cup.
“I had him nominated for both and had a look, but while The Pure Steel was the easier option it was also a stand (start) and I thought we’d take the stand into the stand the week after,” Braun said.
“I could have probably run him in the mobile and he would have run well, but I just thought it would be best if we kept him settled for the stand.”
The son of Julius Caesar is now in line to emulate last year’s Hunter Cup champion Bondy, who also claimed The Pure Steel, after a narrow but authoritative win. The 2:03.6 mile rate was moderate, but did include impressive closing 400m splits of 28.2 and 27.8secs.
It made it seven straight wins for the five-year-old, who roared through the grades at Melton before recording a first-up win in the Group 1 Tasmania Cup on Boxing Day.
His only Australian defeat was at his first start for Braun, when third in a stand, but the trainer took responsibility for that and said the gelding would relish the 3280 metres of the Hunter Cup, in which he will start from barrier five.
“He was a bit fresh that first start here, it was probably my fault, but he’s had about four trials since and never missed it (the start). He began pretty good the other night,” Braun said.
“Chris (Alford, driver) said he thought he was a bit flat 100 out, but then when they came to him he just clicked into another gear. He’s one of those horses who only does what he has to do.
“The distance doesn’t concern me one little bit. He’s a great stayer and he’s got great manners.”
Despite bringing the Bondy formline into Saturday night’s race, which will be run at 9:30pm, Our Chain Of Command is at $17 in the TAB Sportsbet market headed by 10m backmarker Im Themightyquinn.
Victory would be especially sweet for Alford, who would join Anthony Butt as the most successful driver in Hunter Cup history. Alford has previously tasted success aboard Paris Affair (1999), Mont Denver Gold (2003) and Sting Lika Bee (2007).