Brantley aiming for hat-trick while commentators duel

[Chief Stipe]

Dave Macdonald.

It will not matter to trainer-driver Terry Chmiel who calls Brantley home at Forbury Park, so long as they are calling him home for hat-trick of wins.

The 3yr-old, who Chmiel prepares with wife Glenys, will attempt to back up his recent wins at Timaru and Nelson in the Jason Teaz And Davey Mac Medley Mobile Pace on Thursday night.

Teaz and his commentating colleage, Dave McDonald, will take turns calling the event to celebrate the meeting being Teaz’s last as Otago’s full time commentator. 

Brantley has burst back in to winning form with his recent back-to-back victories.

Chmiel said it has been a case of the horse being rewarded for his consistent efforts this term.

“All of his runs this year have been not too bad,” the trainer-driver said.

“There has only been one time he has missed a cheque – when he missed away on the first day at Nelson [recently].”

Brantley was particular impressive in his last start win at Timaru.

The Art Major gelding was last at the 400m, before producing a powerful finish to win by two lengths.

Brantley looks to face a tougher test on Thursday night, but Chmiel thinks he is up to it. 

“He is in a good touch of form and he has got a bit of ability, so he won’t be out of it.”

The combination of his powerful finishing burst and meeting a small field looks in Brantley’s favour.

 “He has got a lot of speed, so it doesn’t matter if he gets back, because he can run home over top of them.”

“Being a small field, he shouldn’t be too far away from them.”

Brantley steps up in class from his last start victory and meets several in form runners at Forbury Park.

Race rival, No More change, added to her strong record at the track with an impressive win there, last week.

Honour the Bet, Kotare Elite and Hannity add to an intriguing and competitive 2200m contest. 

Brantley could start the weekend off well for his family with victory on Thursday night.

His close relation, star filly Princess Tiffany, will start at microscopic odds in the group 1 Queensland Oaks at Albion Park on Saturday night. 

Brantley is a half brother to Dancing Diamonds, the dam of the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen trained filly.

Both pacers are by Art Major.

The Chmiel stable start one other runner at the Forbury Park meeting in Pilch.

The 3yr-old beat race rival Woodlea Shawn in trial at Rangiora, last week, ahead of what will be his first start since May.

“He has come back good, he might need another run under his belt, but the trip away will make him,” Chmiel said.

“He is a horse that has disappointed me, I though the was a lot better than what he has been.”

“He has had a lot of issues, but hopefully we are on top of them, now.”

Chmiel will take three outside drives at Thursday night’s meeting.

They include Lei Miss in race 2, G T Reactor in race 6 and Edie Jaccka in race 8. 

Lei Miss clearly looks to be the strongest chance of the trio.

“She went good there last time and was unlucky at Rangiora on Sunday,” Chmiel said

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