Tony Brett Targets A Top Week On The Track
Before the end of the weekend, Queensland conditioner Tony Brett may snare two interstate Group trophies.
Beginning well from box three, the daughter of Surf Lorian and Queen Lauryn was too strong for the Janette Finneran-trained Edge, storming home down the outside to score by two and a half lengths in a slick 29.96s. Brett, who also trains fellow finalist and litter sister Miss Lauryn, was pleased with the efforts of his tenacious brindle chaser
“She went really well. It was a good night down there, plenty of people. The owner (Leonard Antonio) outlaid plenty of money to buy Queen Lauryn pups, as you could imagine, so to see him get a return was very fulfilling”, Brett said.
“Coming to the home turn I could see her winding up and I thought then that they wouldn't hold her out”
Going into the race, punters did not show much love for the 27 kilogram bitch- sending her out at $10. However, with a good beginning, Brett knew that she had the talent to be competitive against the classy line-up.
“She tends to want to get a bit wide in her races and she needed to jump to be any chance. She can jump, which she did on Tuesday night, but she can also miss it a little bit”
“I went down knowing my race would be run and won within the first ten metres. If she came out and ran wide, which she did, but was still able to hold the front I knew she would be a good chance. The other runner I had, Miss Lauryn- her sister, she doesn't have as much acceleration but she tends to come home pretty strong. It was a case of who managed to get the run through and did everything right and she (Regal Lauryn) was just too good”.
Brett has also drawn comparisons between the two bitches and their champion mother- a winner of 28 races including five Group events (2008 Group 2 Bogie Leigh Queensland Futurity, 2008 Group 1 Solo Sapphire Classic, 2009 Group 1 Cartwright Property Gold Cup, 2009 Group 3 Darwin Cup and the 2009 Group Two All Stars Sprint). Although they may not be quite as accomplished on the racetrack, Brett said that they do share similar racing styles.
“She (Regal Lauryn) races a lot like her mum- she has a little bit of a flat spot through the second section and then she starts to get wound up again. I knew if she could stay with him (Edge-leader), probably two or three lengths off him, that she could be right there at the finish even though she still tracks wide.
“The litter before this one she had a dog called Harry The Great and he equalled the 331 record at Albion Park. She has thrown on but these two girls have probably been the best and they are probably the closest to the way she raced”.
Brett believes that they should both be able to continue on and become competitive little bitches in some upcoming feature events. In particular, he believes that Miss Lauryn will turn into a handy stayer.
She (Miss Lauryn) ran second in the Darwin Cup and Regal Lauryn won the Eric Thompson Maiden, which is the biggest maiden at Albion Park for the year, and she won the Ipswich Young Guns- they are not Group races but they are the bigger sort of races up here in Queensland”
“Now she has knocked this one off she has a nice resume behind her. She is the type of girl that could be a group dog if it wasn't for her bad habits, but unfortunately that's just the way she races. If things go her way she looks very good but, if not, she tends to find a bit of trouble and can look very ordinary- she is a tough one to train”
“The other sister, Miss Lauryn- that didn't win, in the coming months I think she could turn out to be a really good stayer”
“They'll both run 600, no dramas, and I'm pretty confident Miss Lauryn will run 700- I just don't know whether this girl (Regal Lauryn) will. We have just got to work out whether we keep her over the 500 or whether to step her up. I reckon, come the end of the year, a race like the Sale Cup over the 650 is where they will be”.
“Until then, the Brisbane Cup at the end of the year for Regal Lauryn and we have probably got to look for better races for her now because, like I said, when she jumps she has got the ability- to break 30 at Lismore on Tuesday night was a really good run”
The Grandchester mentor is now looking to add another feature to an already successful week- this time at the highest level. On Saturday night, the sunshine state's golden boy, Glen Gallon, will contest the prestigious Group 1 Sky Racing Topgun at The Meadows as he aims to become Australia's highest stakes earner at what will also be his final race start.
“We mapped out a way we would like to finish him up just after he won the Brisbane Cup and that was the aim- to make the Topgun. It was great to get an invite and then to make the final eight and have him go out in this race”
Brett said the son of Flying Stanley and Incoherent is in terrific order ahead of his racing swansong.
“He is excellent. Since he got beaten about a fortnight ago we've just sort of mapped it out and he is primed and ready. He has got to be able to get out of the boxes a bit better than normal so we've done all the work in that department and just freshened him up a little bit- he just seemed to lack a bit of spark at his last couple at Albion Park”
While Brett says that Glen Gallon can never be discounted, he also acknowledges that it is a sensational field. The astute trainer considers fellow Queenslander Punch One Out as the biggest threat to the winner of 37 races
“Punch One Out- I really know how good this bitch is and if you give her an inch I don't think there is any dog that can beat her. If I could back a dog now for the Shootout in a couple of weeks, she would be it. I think she is the fastest dog in Australia without any doubt”
“He will be ready to go and if the breaks come his way and it is his turn to win, he will. He is going as good as he ever has. Being in box six in such a great race- he will need things to go his way- but give him half a chance and he won't let you down”.
There is no doubt that Glen Gallon will be the sentimental favourite for many enthusiasts when he aims for his fifth Group 1 win and to take his prizemoney earnings up to almost $770,000. Win, lose or draw he is guaranteed a life of luxury at Brett's home where he will stand at stud.
“We're just going to keep him at home- he is moving from the racing kennels to our backyard, about 50 metres away. He has got to get used to being a pet which will be interesting”
“I will stand him here. He has about ten litters on the ground already and we have sold quite a few straws. His breeding career has taken off really nice. I think he is going to get the numbers and the quality of bitches to get a real chance at the stud game and I think he will make a super stud dog”
“We've never sort of kept any as pets before, but he is pretty special so we decided to keep him here. We put our hands up to keep him here and even if his stud career doesn't kick on he is still going to live here for the rest of his life and he is going to get a good home”.
The invitation-only Group 1 Sky Racing Topgun is race eight at The Meadows on Saturday night and will jump at 9:52pm Victorian time.