Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Trainer Ben Brisbourne can see the silver lining in Suparazi’s task from a wide barrier in Saturday’s Group 2 $2 million The Ingham (1600m) at Royal Randwick.

Trainer Ben Brisbourne (Pic: Racing Photos)

The six-year-old has been placed behind Ingham favourite Gringotts in both the Big Dance and The Gong and Brisbourne said the race shape and who has drawn around him are sources of some encouragement that he can turn the tables.

And, it's often said the Randwick 1600m is one of the fairest starting points in racing.

Suparazi, $21 with TAB on Wednesday, sat three wide with cover worse than midfield before running Gringotts to three-quarters of a length at Kembla Grange.

“Unfortunately the barrier hasn’t been that kind to us this time around but Gringotts has plenty of weight again and it looks to me like there’s going to be more pace on in this race,’’ Brisbourne said.

“(Gringotts) might not have it as easy toward the front of the field with the 60.5kg.

“At least he’s not going to end up getting boxed in. A few of the horses drawn around us are horses we want to follow into the race anyway.

“Inside barriers are always favourable it’s not the end of the world. He’s trained on super and everyone’s very happy with him.”

If Gringotts is the measuring stick for The Ingham then Brisbourne said his gelding has to be in the game given their recent clashes.

Blake Spriggs has his second ride on Suparazi in the race, he was itching for a rematch following The Gong, and Brisbourne said while he’s not getting a huge advantage with only an extra half a kilogram the margin has closed each time they’ve met.

“We got within 0.8 lengths last start and we’re improving with every run, unfortunately Gringotts is as well,’’ he said.

“We’re getting close and now the jockey has had a sit on the horse he’s got confidence and I can’t knock him at home.

“He’s put plenty of prizemoney in the bank this preparation without winning. His last two runs have been very solid, it’s a competitive race with Group 1 winners and plenty of horses in form which you’d expect for a $2 million handicap.

“But it is a handicap, we have the light weight and a good pressure race so with our run style of running home there’s a chance.”

Stablemate Rocket Tiger is no stranger to Randwick, having scored at his second race start when a two-year-old some four year ago.

Now six, he’s had 11 starts for Brisbourne with a win at Bendigo in August the highlight, and the trainer expects improvement on his first-up run in the Saddles At Mount White Handicap (1200m) where Spriggs will also ride.

Suparazi runs second in The Gong

“We’ve only had him for one prep and it took me a fair while to work him out,’’ he said.

“In his first-up run he was lacking a bit of fitness but in the month between runs we’ve tweaked some things with him and I’ve been really happy with him the last week or 10 days.

“He’s definitely got one of these handicaps in him this summer.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting