Co-trainer Tom Dabernig has revealed that he has a big opinion of Shining Brooke, but he believes that the promising filly will need plenty of luck in running to record a maiden victory at Group level at Morphettville tomorrow.
Damien Oliver has been booked to partner Shining Brooke in the 2015 National Stakes at Morphettville tomorrow. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Shining Brooke made her racing debut in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington on November 8, but she was never able to get into the race and she pulled with respiratory issues before she was sent to the spelling paddock.
The Hinchinbrook filly returned to racing with another disappointing effort in the Swettenham Stud Handicap (900m) at Sandown on April 1, but she put it all together when she was settled right on the speed before finishing strongly in the Emsely Lodge Maiden Plate (1300m) at Geelong on April 28.
Dabernig told Racing Ahead that he believes that Shining Brooke could perform at the highest level of racing as a three-year-old during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, but feels that Damien Oliver will need to produce some magic to get the two-year-old home in the National Stakes tomorrow.
“We are chasing black type,” Dabernig said.
“We have drawn a bit of tricky gate there also and she will need a bit of luck from there, but she has definitely got the ability and she has the making of a really nice three-year-old in the future.
“She is a really nice filly and D Oliver is a big bonus.”
Shining Brooke will face nine rivals in the 2015 National Stakes and Lee Freedman-trained Strykum and Godolphin juvenile Badajoz are rated the horses to beat with Ladbrokes Australia.
Strykum made his racing debut with a fourth place finish in the Goulburn Murray Maiden (1009m) at Seymour on December 18, but she stamped herself as a horse to watch with a strong win in the Listed Queen Adelaide Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville on May 2.
Badajoz made a winning started to his racing career in the Micway Cold Logistics Maiden (1100m) at Hawkesbury on April 16 and he had absolutely no luck in running when he finished fourth behind the talented Black Vanquish in the Listed Thoroughbred Club Cup (1200m) at Caulfield on May 2.
Strykum is currently available at 2015 National Stakes odds of $2.50 with Ladbrokes and he is a narrow favourite from Badajoz ($3.50), Prince Of Brooklyn ($8), Atalanta Miss ($8.50), Counter Pulse ($8.50), and Shining Brooke ($12).
