21 nominations for BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes

The first four placegetters past the post in the Champagne Classic are among the twenty-one nominations of the Group 2 $250,000 Mitavite Australia BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Champagne Classic winner Blueberry Hill, white, and runner up Wicked Intent, blue, are among the nominations for the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Champagne Classic winner Blueberry Hill, white, and runner up Wicked Intent, blue, are among the nominations for the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.

The Liam Birchely trained Blueberry Hill and Pepperano finished first and third in the Group 2 $175,000 Bollinger Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben on May 9 while Chris Munce’s smart colt Wicked Intent split that pair with the Chris Waller trained Counterattack filling the fourth spot.

Birchley has also nominated maiden two year old Havasay.

Blueberry Hill has only been beaten once from four race starts when second two runs back to Big Tree in the Group 3 $125,000 Moreton Hire Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on April 25 before bouncing back with a win in the Champagne Classic.

Wicked Intent was having his first run back in the Champagne Classic since running sixth to Le Chef in the $2m Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 10 and Munce is certain the colt will take a lot of benefit out of the run.

The majority of the year olds lining up in the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes will continue on to the Group 1 $600,000 BMW Australia J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Doomben on June 6 but Munce is already looking forward to the Spring.

“I have got a dream … I’d love to take him travelling in the spring,’’ Munce told The Courier-Mail.

“I want to see him run well and be strong in the Sires before deciding whether to push onto the JJ (Group 1 JJ Atkins).

“Regardless, I would love to travel him to Sydney or Melbourne after he has had a decent break. I think he deserves a crack at a really good race.’’

Pepperano also performed well in the Summer with a second in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic and resumed for a win over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast before her Champagne Classic third.

The Waller trained Counterattack will no doubt be better suited with the step up in distance on Saturday and will also head to the J.J. Atkins two weeks later.

Typing, from the stables of Sunshine Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick, is also an improving type who scored a two lengths win over In His Stride, also nominated for Saturday, in the Listed $100,000 Channel 7 Dalrello Stakes (1200m) at Toowoomba  on May 2.

Canberra trainer Nick Olive has nominated two youngsters for the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, Single Gaze, who ran ninth to Blueberry Hill in the Champagne Classic, and Bring A Secret who scored a last start win in the a 1250m Canterbury maiden on May 13.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.