Brinks for Bridge 99 FM Cup

September 28, 2023
BRINKS, ridden by Reyan Lewis, strides to the winners’ enclosure after winning the Winston ‘Fanna’ Griffiths OD Classic for three year olds and Graded Stakes over nine and a half furlongs at Caymanas Park last year.
BRINKS, ridden by Reyan Lewis, strides to the winners’ enclosure after winning the Winston ‘Fanna’ Griffiths OD Classic for three year olds and Graded Stakes over nine and a half furlongs at Caymanas Park last year.

Sitting at 119lb in Saturday's Bridge 99 FM Cup at seven furlongs, BRINKS should get a great start from his wide draw to have the field in his cross hairs before Omar Walker shows his mount's ace, sustained speed, leaving the half-mile marker, killing any chance topweight SISTREN TREASURE might harbour of a rally in the stretch run.

BRINKS continues to be the most disappointing graduate of last year's classic-placed runners - yet to win an overnight-allowance race in eight tries - going off as the favourite in six of his previous nine events amid a no-hope, race-filling run among open-allowance company in August.

However, he is at his best when able to control the tempo of his races, which should be the case with no matching speed capable of upsetting his rhythm.

The imported runners in Saturday's event - CHAMPION BUBBLER, TAURUS BOY and SISTREN TREASURE - have proven inconsistent. CHAMPION BUBBLER and SISTREN TREASURE, both fillies, tend to run a good one every other race, whereas TAURUS BOY is often erratic at the start.

I REALISE has looked sharp at exercise, clocking a solid 48.0 for furlongs, galloping out the mile chute. However, BRINKS is race-fit, having run six times during I REALISE's absence, including his two most recent efforts, a battling third to LUKSOL and POWER RANKING at a trip short of his best on last and fair third behind STOMP THE RHYTHM in his previous race.

Local-bred I REALISE has strong claims to back class, impressively winning four races last season. However, the Northern Giant-Regina Royale gelding hasn't raced since April 29 when outclassed in third place by last Year's St Leger winner, BLUE VINYL, at a mile.

Using BLUE VINYL as a marker, the St Leger winner had beaten BRINKS two weeks prior, but by only three and three-quarter lengths, whereas he had demolished I REALISE by 11 lengths.

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