Tanabi Bromac will be hoping to add to his two Country Cup wins next season.
Experienced Elmore trainer Keith Cotchin will go into Friday night’s Tabcorp Park meeting at Melton with high hopes for Tanabi Bromac in the SBG Accountants and Business Advisors Captain Sandy Free For All.
The horse many will remember for his Group 1 Alabar Victoria Derby triumph at Moonee Valley in 2008 has his sights set on returning to the spotlight after being struck down with illness over summer, whilst he was campaigning in Tasmania.
“He ended up coming home, he got crook just before his main aim the Tasmanian Championship but he got a really bad cold, we just couldn’t get him quite right, I think he ran fifth but he was well below his best,” Cotchin said.
“There was a couple of races over there we thought suited him so we went over because it was a bit hard over here at the time.
“Then we gave him his first two runs back in Tassie because we thought it was a little bit easier to start him there than here,” he said
The seven-year-old has slowly found form this prep following an encouraging second in Hobart he returned to Victoria for the Metro Printing Melton Pacing Cup. He ended up one out and three back in the run and when he got clear at the top of the straight he sprinted home well for sixth.
“He’s coming along, I’m sure he will improve from this start too, he’s still a bit big but hopefully we’ll be right there,” Cotchin said.
There are no grand plans for the Live Or Die gelding however Cotchin is keen to continue campaigning him and believes he has a future in Victoria.
“We’ll just keep poking along then hopefully freshen up for the Country Cups next year,” he said.
If Tanabi Bromac is able to land the prize Friday night then driver Scott Dyer will get a little more in his kick thanks to Paul Dobson (director) and SBG Accountants and Business Advisors.
“I thought this race represented a great opportunity to do something just a little bit different,” Dobson – who also owns the city-based firm – said.
“So it’s a pleasure to announce that SBG will kick in $500 for the winning driver.”
A foundation member of Harness Racing Victoria’s prestigious coterie group; the Pegasus Club, Dobson has enjoyed a fruitful association with the sport and is an owner/breeder of the Group 1 placed filly Blazeaway Macray.
Dobop will line up in the Group 1 Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series for three-year-old fillies and although she has opened $51 with TAB Sportsbet she isn’t without a hope according to Cotchin.
“She hasn’t had a decent draw in the whole series; she’s a nice honest filly.
“There’s a lot of pace on but she will be thereabouts, it’s going to make it tough especially the way the draws fallen for Clayton (Tonkin) and Emma (Stewart), their horses are drawn well and they’re going very well,” he said.
The bay filly by Modern Art still has improvement left to give and although she is in a Group 1 in her classic year, she is likely to train on as an older horse.
“She’s come a long way this time in, she’s got good gate speed and I think she’ll improve once she has a break and comes back,” Cotchin said.
Completing a trifecta of hopes for the Elmore horseman is Patchitupbaby in the Group 2 Pegasus Club Tatlow Stakes Final for two-year-old fillies.
Although she is still a maiden, the daughter of super sire Art Major has run second in the Group 1 Australian Pacing Gold for two-year-old fillies and never been far out of the money.
“She can be a little bit moody, she didn’t go quite as good as we think she should have when she was caught outside horses,” Cotchin said.
Cotchin also pointed to Patchitupbaby’s lead up run to this which was won by Frith who is likely to start second favourite in this race.
“She over raced at Maryborough the other day and wasn’t entitled to get home but she got home strong so we hope if she settles a little bit better she can be right in it,” he said.
“She’s got the ability but it’s just a matter of her learning to put it altogether, on her day she is a very nice filly.”
Patchitupbaby has opened at $8.50 with TAB Sportsbet.
