Te Akau's Twin Brierly Assault

Edward Sadler - Racing.com reports:

The tangerine army is off to the 'Bool, with Te Akau set to have runners in the jumps events on all three days of the May Racing Carnival.

Trainer Mark Walker is set to be double-handed in the Brierly Steeplechase on the opening day of the carnival, as he'll saddle up both Leaderboard and The Mighty Spar.

Leaderboard has been in excellent form this season, having won both of his starts over the fences and the stable plans on running him twice across the three days of the carnival.

"His two jumps wins now have almost been like a barrier trial for him, they've left him alone in front, he's dictated and quickened away from them," said Ben Gleeson, Te Akau's Melbourne-based assistant trainer.

"He's essentially had four jumps trials now. We've turned the screws on him this week and really tightened him up, he'll head into the Brierly nice and fit.

"Ultimately, this is a run to lead into the Grand Annual on the Thursday but the way he's jumping and performing, he should be in it right up until the finish line."

Stablemate The Mighty Spar took a real shine to Warrnambool when he previously raced there at the end of March and star jumps jockey Steven Pateman has retained the ride on him.

"The Mighty Spar loved Warrnambool the first time around, he just got chased down on the line in his first-up run, it was very gallant and Steve said he showed a really good loving for the track, just the undulations and the tight corners, he loved Warrnambool," Gleeson said.

"The sign that he's sticking with him is a good one and I think he's going to have a bit more turn of foot than Leaderboard at the finish, but it's jumps racing and you never know with the weather and everything else."

Gleeson said that The Mighty Spar won't back up from the Brierly into the Grand Annual Steeplechase, as the stable has a target race for him at Casterton instead.