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By Ray Hickson

There’s an important box trainer Clint Lunholm wants ticked at Wellington on Sunday before he sets his sights on the Country Championships with Brutal Love.

Trainer Clint Lundholm (Pic: Janian McMillan).

In his 14 starts to date the gelding hasn’t been tested at 1400m, the distance of both the regional qualifying race and the Final, and that’s his mission in the KFC Wellington Handicap (1400m).

The four-year-old notched his second official career win when successful at Dubbo two weeks ago.

“I always thought he would run it and now he’s deep into a preparation it’s a perfect opportunity to try then we can make a plan heading towards the Championships,’’ Lundholm said.

“He’s got a bit of X-Factor about him. We had an ordinary preparation with him then he’s hit some good tracks and he’s put a bit of form back on the board."

Lundholm won the 2023 WRA Country Championships with Listen To The Band but injury prevented him from contesting the Final, which was ultimately won by the horse he beat in Sizzle Minizzle.

Brutal Love was earmarked early on by Lundholm as a Highway horse. He scored his first win this time last year at Gundagai but was subsequently disqualified.

He ended that prep with a Class 1 win at Orange in January but things went awry after a gutsy first-up placing on a wet track.

“He was first-up with 62.5kg and I think it took too much out of him,’’ Lundholm said.

“It took a few runs to pick him back up and get him on top of the ground. Then off he went. He’s racing well again now and that’s the main thing."

The Dubbo trainer is quietly confident the 1400m won’t be an issue for Brutal Love after he showed a lot of stamina in his last start win on his home track where Jake Pracey-Holmes asked him to sustain a long run.

“Jake thought he was on Phar Lap the other day, he took off before nominations,’’ he said.

“He was still strong enough with the big weight and got the job done. I’m hoping the 1400m around Wellington will suit him down to the ground.”

Coincidentally, Brutal Love will be taking on one of his possible Country Championships rivals with Wellington Boot winner Comongin engaged.

Some of the owners of Brutal Love own Comongin, who is trained by Brett Robb, so things could get interesting if the pair settle down to fight it out.

“It’s going to be a bit of an arm wrestle but I think I’ve got the right horse,’’ Lundholm said.

It’s been quite a preparation for stablemate Always Fiorente as he lines up for his 15th start for the campaign in the LSS Locksmiths & Security Solutions Handicap (1600m).

The gelding had his first run for the stable in May and will be chasing his fourth win for the prep after scoring at Dubbo on November 4.

“He’s a very consistent type, a nice little country horse, he’s won three races this preparation and a handful of placings to go with it,’’ he said.

“He’s been in work a long time but he’s tough, we don’t overtax him.

Brutal Love wins at Dubbo on November 1

“He’s drawn really well and he’s found a nice race where he can be a chance if he can hold his form.”

Clint Lundholm on Swedish Glitter (race 1): “The shine’s come off her a bit, I had very high hopes for her as a young horse. Her last run at Dubbo had a lot of merit. They nearly broke the sound barrier early and we were only found out the last bit. Back to the 900m, a little bit of an awkward draw but they’ll want to be quick to catch her down the hill at Wellington.”

On Keadool (race 5): “He’s won two this prep, he has missed a run in between since Coonamble but I don’t think that will hurt him. He’s a good fresh horse, he’s won at Wellington and the only thing against him is the barrier draw.”

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Wellington meeting