Brisbourne to feature on Cox Plate Day

LOCAL horseman Ben Brisbourne will have two runners at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day. Inexperienced three-year-old filly Grizinger Pod ($23) will take on race three’s $175,000 listed Symal Crockett Stakes, while stable star Suparazi ($13) will feature in race eight’s $400,000 group two Allinta Energy Crystal Mile. While both are seen as outside chances, Brisbourne said it’s exciting to have two runners in action on one of spring racing’s premier days. “It’s what we all strive for, having runners on days like these,” Brisbourne said. “It’s nice to be going there with two horses who have a chance, they’ve got genuine claims. “It’s going to be great to turn up on such a big day but it would be even better to get a result.” Grizinger Pod burst onto the racing scene with a debut victory at Bendigo in May and then went on to finished under two lengths back in a two-year-old handicap at Flemington. She was then spelled and has had one official trial and two jump outs in the lead-up to tomorrow’s first-up run where she will jump from gate one with Craig Williams in the saddle. “She’s a nice filly and we’re at that time of year where we want to know where we’re sitting with her so we’ve thrown her in the deep end,” Brisbourne said. “She was far from disgraced last start in a race that’s had some good form come out of it so she’s not out of the question. “We just want to find out whether she’s at that stakes grade or if we should lower our sights a bit. “Her trials and jump outs have been impressive, she’s gets an in-form jockey and a good barrier so you never know.” For Suparazi, the seasoned campaigner isn’t out of the question for a place either after a flashing second place finish behind one of the country’s rising sprinters in Jimmysstar in the listed Weekend Hussler Stakes at Caulfield two weeks ago. Ciaron Maher’s Jimmysstar is the current favourite for November 16’s group one Rupert Clarke Stakes. Suparazi has drawn barrier eight with Jy McNeil booked to ride. “He’s been super all prep,” Brisbourne said. “This is a lead up run for his grand final on Melbourne Cup Day in Sydney, the $3 million Big Dance so we’re just looking to put the finishing touches on him fitness wise. “It’s probably not ideal that he’s running in a super competitive group two but in saying that he hasn’t been missed in the market and is currently a 12-1 chance so there’s been some respect around his last couple of runs. “He was really good last start and ran the same last 600m sectionals as Jimmysstar who is the favourite for a group one in a couple of weeks. “It’ll be a tough race tactics wise and he mightn’t have luck when he needs it but he’s in super order.” The $3 million Big Dance race is a special conditions feature run at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day each year where Suparazi gained entry through winning the Snake Gully Cup. The son of Super One is on the fifth line of betting for The Big Dance, currently an $11 chance and Brisbourne is looking forward to the occasion. “It’s amazing the improvement he’s made in the past 12 months,” he said. “To go from the Snake Gully Cup to being a genuine chance in a $3 million race is pretty crazy. “He’s training well, has been super every start this prep, will get a beautiful weight and is fourth or fifth in the market. “It’s nice to train a horse for a target race like this and it’s also nice that we won’t be going to make up the numbers.”

Brisbourne to feature on Cox Plate Day

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