Brittany Graham – What’s caught my eye this week?

[Wandering Eyes]

Presenter-driver-trainer Brittany Graham knows a thing or two about racing on both sides of the Tasman and now that the Queenslander is working for Trackside in this country she’s (reluctantly) agreed to write a weekly column.

By Brittany Graham 

As the harness racing scene really starts to heat up, here is what has caught my eye this week.

Black Booker

War Chief was exceptional on debut in the first heat of the Woodlands Sires Stakes for two-year-old colts and geldings behind Cyclone Rebel and appears to have a very bright future.

Drawing gate 12, the big son of Captaintreacherous was spotting the leaders close to 10 lengths with a lap to go before charging home to only be beaten a length. He tracked the eventual winner, before tipping extremely wide on the turn and doing his best work in the last 100 metres.

He recorded the quickest closing sectionals of the race and gives all impressions that he will improve from the debut run and a better gate next time. He also lacks for nothing in the breeding department and operates out of the right stable (Purdon and Phelan).
 
Trial Star

Treasure Cove was of many eyecatchers at the Rangiora trials on Wednesday as part of a star-studded line up.

A two-time winner from 13 career starts to date, the Stonewall trainee has seemingly enjoyed a mid-season break after making a mistake at his last start in the Kotare Downs Rangiora 3YO Stakes back in May.

I noticed some gear changes to try and iron out some of his previous tractability issues, and he went to the line under a strong hold in a quick last section. Returning on a kind enough rating of 45, he should find himself in the winner’s circle at short notice if that trial was anything to go by.
 
Australian News

Kevin Seymour has confirmed that ‘Operation New Zealand Cup’ is officially underway with his superstar pacer Leap To Fame.

While it has been a long-term plan, the enticement to stay home for the revamped Queensland Summer Carnival including the Blacks A Fake and Sunshine Sprint was a topic of contention.

The now richest standardbred of all time in the Southern Hemisphere is only a fortnight away from trialing before he targets the Victoria Cup on October 18 at Melton.

‘Larry’ is doubtful to have a preparatory race start on New Zealand soil, instead likely heading to the Cup Trial to get familiar with Addington Raceway.

His stablemate Aroda is once again nominated after taking his place in the 2024 edition of the great race, however, would need to improve his current ranking 23.

More likely to join his stablemate is star three-year-old Fate Awaits who is being targeted towards The Velocity and New Zealand Derby post his luckless Eureka 9th last Saturday at Menangle.
 
Milestone Watch

After his successful steer aboard stable runner The Night Agent in the last at Alexandra Park last Friday night, Scott Phelan now sits on 599 career driving successes.

He will partner Im Sandra Dee as his lone drive this weekend when the in-form filly takes on a Nevele R Fillies heat as race 6 in Auckland on Friday night.

Despite taking a back seat for regular stable driver Zachary Butcher more often than not these days, Phelan is operating with a very healthy UDR of .254 in the sulky this season.
 
Best of the Weekend

Belle Neige is a trotting mare in excellent form, in search of three straight victories at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

With an excellent mobile record and plenty of prior gate speed, she should be able to maintain the gate advantage over her main market rival Matty A.

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