Mustang Mach will stay in Victoria this weekend while stablemate Chancellor Cullen tries to emulate his deeds over in Perth
It promises to be a big weekend for Lara trainer Dean Braun.
First and foremost he’s got Chancellor Cullen contesting the McInerney Ford Four-Year-Old Classic at Gloucester Park in Perth on Friday night, with $82,500 going to the winner of the race, which carries a cracker purse of $125,000.
Braun and Chancellor Cullen have been in Western Australia since last Friday morning, the horse flying out of Melbourne with about 20 thoroughbreds, who will contest the big Saturday program at Ascot this Saturday.
“He travels well,” Braun said.
“I’ve taken him to Sydney and Brisbane and he’s always been good.”
Braun is thrilled to have drawn barrier two with the son of Christian Cullen, but said tactics would be left squarely up to champion reinsman Chris Alford. “That’s his job,” Braun said.
Chancellor Cullen will be shooting for seven straight wins in the 2100m mobile start event.
Twenty-four hours later Braun’s attention will turn to Melton’s Tabcorp Park where he puts the polish on three runners, including his stable star Mustang Mach, who is on the path to the Victoria Cup.
First-up from a spell last week Mustang Mach finished second to up-and-comer Saint Flash, but Braun said his son of Mach Three would be better for the run this time around.
“He’ll be much improved,” he said.
“He’s definitely going to continue to improve with racing. All roads lead to the Victoria Cup at this stage.”
Braun has Saucy Vision in the first at Melton, with Nathan Jack to pilot the Live Or Die gelding making his debut stand-start appearance.
“He qualified good from the stand so hopefully he gets away well and can take up a forward position,” Braun said.
“He was probably a bit disappointing last week (when eighth of nine in the Les Chapman Pace).”
Braun’s final runner for the night will be super-consistent claimer Cosmic Under Fire in the last race.
“He’s going terrific,” Braun said.
“His last run against Mister Grizzly (when second), it was almost mathematically impossible to do what he did.”
And the fact Braun rates Mister Grizzly a good chance in the Legends might just frank the form for Courage Under Fire.
“He (Mister Grizzly) beat them in the Popular Alm Sprint, so he should run a big race from the pole,” Braun said.