Brer Ready to Step Up

The Informant reports:

After making a big impression in his first three starts over country, promising jumper Brer is ready to take on the big guns in a steeplechasing campaign that begins with tomorrow's (Saturday) Ken & Roger Browne Memorial Steeplechase at Te Rapa.

The seven-year-old China Cat gelding has had three starts over the big fences for two wins. After finishing fourth in his first start in the role late in the 2013-14 season, he recorded back-to-back wins by wide margins during the 2014 Grand National carnival at Riccarton. He won a maiden steeplechase by six and a half lengths, then added a 0-1 win steeplechase by five and a half lengths.

High hopes were held for him this time last year, but he had to be put aside with a series of niggling soundness issues. All has gone well this preparation however, having warmed up with two solid performances on the flat.

Brer appeared at the schooling session at Te Rapa last Friday and made a big impression, jumping boldly for his raceday rider Daniel Miller and looking right at home over the steeplechase country. Now his trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards are aiming him at upcoming Prestige Jumping Races.

“He certainly took to steeplechasing very well in his last campaign,” Autridge told The Informant. “He's a very good jumper and quite a fast one as well.

“He looks very good at the moment. He's done some nice work leading into this and we're looking forward to seeing how he goes on Saturday. But when you've got these steeplechasers having their first start in a campaign, it is always a little bit of a question mark.

“We've been happy with how he's gone in his couple of runs on the flat and the way he's been coming up. He was impressive when he schooled at Te Rapa. He's a really good jumper.

“The plan is to have a go at the Waikato Steeplechase. He seems to be a horse who comes up pretty quickly, so he should be ready to perform in some of the early features.”

The $20,000 race over 4000 metres has drawn a field of 10, including the John Wheeler-trained pair of Tobouggie Nights and Athenry.

Tobouggie Nights is a winner of five steeplechases and more than $400,000 in prize-money. In 2014 he won the Pakuranga Hunt Cup and finished second in the Great Northern Steeplechase. He struggled to recapture that form last season, but he appears to be suited by the conditions of tomorrow's race.

His steeplechase rating of 85 is clearly the highest in the field but under the conditions he will carry 68 kilograms, equal topweight alongside the 74-rated Brer.

Athenry is still a maiden steeplechaser but showed his quality with a second placing in the 2014 Grand National Steeplechase. He missed the entire winter last year and tomorrow's race will be his first start for 378 days, but he has had a trial to prepare him.

No Quota has won three steeplechases, including a victory over this course and distance in September 2012.

Old Redfeather, Sinista and Straight Furrow are previous winners at Te Rapa, while Goosebumps, Mister Deejay and Marvon Downs have recorded placings at the track. Old Redfeather, now with Warren Lund, and Marvon Downs also showed up well at last week's Te Rapa school.