All Set For A Brett Quartet
Some things in life just seem to feel right. An old favourite pair of jeans, the comfy chair, your favourite song.
For astute Grandchester mentor Tony Brett it may well be the Group One Winter Carnival Cup that is the perfect fit.
Brett is chasing his fourth straight victory in the race at Albion Park this Thursday night and has two runners in the $75,000 to-the-winner event.
“It has been a very good race to us,” Brett told ARG.
“We have won it the last two years with Glen Gallon and Iso Octane won it in 2011. I think we have had some other good results in the race too, I just can't remember.”
In 2014, Brett will rug up second-favourite Flash Reality from box eight as well as Benarkin from box five.
Flash Reality has hardly put a foot wrong since his owner Marlene Ellis asked Brett if he would be interested in training the 34kg back dog.
“He has been the ultimate professional ever since he arrived here, I can't fault him.”
Flash Reality has not missed a place at Albion Park in his short career which includes six wins from nine attempts at the venue. He went within a whisker of lowering the track record there when he stopped the clock at 29.58.
Brett explained how he came to train Flash Reality.
“The owner Marlene Ellis had asked me if I would be interested in training a little bitch called Shot Glass if she kept improving. I'm always interested if someone asks you to train a fast dog.”
“I had spoken to a few people about the bitch and they all asked if Marlene had asked me to train the black pup she had, it was showing a lot of promise. He turned out to be Flash Reality. A few months later she did ask me and I jumped at the chance.”
At just 31 months of age, Flash Reality looks to have a big future and Brett hopes that he can head south later in the year for some of the riches on offer.
“He is good enough to compete with the top dogs and the increased prizemoney for the Melbourne Cup could not have come at a better time.”
“As you know, the hard part with fast dogs is keeping them in one piece, so for now we will head towards the National's and then go with the flow from there.”
Brett's other runner is Benarkin, a multiple group placed stayer who resumed in last week's heats after a month break.
“It was a forced rest. He split his webbing in the Winter Chase and had to miss out on running in the Group One Gold Cup. He has done well to make the final. He ran on well last week considering the small amount of work he has had. He is not as fast as the top dogs but should be finishing well.”
Come 8:44pm on Thursday night it is quite possible that we could see the dominance of Tony Brett in the Winter Carnival Cup extend yet another year.