Branciforti overdue a change of luck

[Wandering Eyes]

Capable synthetic performer Branciforti (NZ) (Belardo) is presented with an opportunity to turn her form around on Wednesday as the clock ticks down on her racing career.

The daughter of Belardo will again step out on the polytrack in the Cambridge Equine Hospital Handicap (1550m) and a change of fortune is due to come the six-year-old’s way.

“It’s been a really strange preparation because she’s been working great for the last couple of months,” Te Rapa trainer David Greene said.

“Nothing seems to have gone right on raceday so hopefully we can turn that all around.

“We had targeted the race at Awapuni ($100,000 Polytrack Championship, 1400m) from a long way out and I was really happy with her, but she never really got into the contest at all.”

Branciforti finished midfield and was then unplaced in the Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge and most recently on the all-weather track suffered an interrupted run in the straight.

“We’d love to get another win with her as she’ll be served after this race. It’s just been very frustrating, but that’s the way it goes sometimes,” Greene said.

Branciforti will be ridden for the first time by apprentice jockey Rihaan Goyaram, whose claim will bring her weight down to 58kg.

“She’s a very good synthetic horse (four wins) and with her rating it makes it a bit harder to place her on the grass,” Greene said.

Raced by breeder Sir Peter Vela, Branciforti is out of the Pins mare Huluava and is a half-sister to stakes winners Jay Bee Gee and William Wallace and to the dam of the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) winner Pignan.

Meanwhile, Greene is looking forward to the return to feature race contender First Five (NZ) (Almanzor).

The son of Almanzor has fashioned the tidy record of five wins from 15 starts and hasn’t raced since he finished runner-up in an open sprint on his home track to close out his autumn campaign.

“He’s coming up great and will trial at Te Rapa on September 23 and the plan is for a couple of quiet trials and run him in the Legacy Lodge Sprint (Listed, 1200m) at the start of November,” Greene said.

“We definitely have Group ambitions with him this preparation and he should be at the top of his game this season now he’s bigger and stronger.”

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