27 May, 2004
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Great Western trainer Julieann
Brumby is hopeful rather than optimistic about her chances of winning Sunday
afternoon?s $18,000 Elgas Tontine Pacers Series Final at Ararat.
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Brumby co-trains smart four-year-old Doyawantitagain who
will start from barrier four in the prestigious 2195-metre mobile event.
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Doyawantitagain has performed
well in three runs this preparation, finishing second at his first start for
eight months in a Tontine Series heat at Terang.
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He then filled second position in
a quarter-final of the event at Hamilton before earning his place in the final
with a solid second placing in a semi-final at Geelong last Sunday afternoon.
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On that occasion, the son of
Vestalba Rainbow chased home the smart Cashel Uisce who is yet to taste defeat
in seven race starts and will be favourite for this weekend?s final.
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Brumby said Doyawantitagain, a
half brother to former stable star Off The Old, had delighted connections with
his performances throughout the Tontine Series.
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She explained that the
troublesome gelding had had a chequered career path, and interrupted preparation
in the lead-up to the time-honoured provincial championship.
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?He raced twice as a two-year-old
before contracting a serious lung infection which almost claimed his life,?
Brumby recalled.
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?He returned to racing as a late
three-year-old and ran very well through the Australasian Breeders Crown Series
but then developed a problem in a fore leg,? she said.
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Brumby said while the vets had
difficulty diagnosing the exact injury, they discovered a shadow which they
thought may have been a cracked bone and the horse subsequently spent four
months in the spelling paddock recuperating.
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?We had set him for the Tontine
Series, but about three weeks prior he developed bruising in his back feet,?
she said.
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?As a result, he had a very
rushed preparation and at the moment, he?s racing on pure ability because I?m
still not 100 percent happy with him.?
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Brumby said Doyawantitagain faced
a tricky barrier draw in the Tontine Final and she is not sure where the horse
will be in the early stages.
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She also concedes that he faces
an uphill battle in his bid to end Cashel Uisce?s brilliant winning streak.
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?I think he?s a really top horse,
and we probably had our chance to beat him at Geelong last weekend.
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?But we sat on his back and he
was just too good for us, so I?d be surprised if we can reverse the result,?
she said.
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?I don?t think people will see
the best of Doyawantitagain for another month or so when I can completely iron
out his problems.?
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Brumby and her husband Paul
prepare a team of 12 horses from their Great Western stable.
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Paul is responsible for the care
and education of five youngsters while Julieann concentrates her efforts on the
racing team which also includes Coptyarightwhack, a good winner at Horsham on
Monday afternoon.
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The $18,000 Elgas Tontine Series Pacers Final will be run at 3.45pm
(AEST) on Sunday.
