Search

show me:

Hobart hot streak to continue for Brunton on Sunday

3 minute read

Recent racing in Hobart has been dominated by Premiership leading trainer Scott Brunton and that trend appears set to continue for the nine-race card on Sunday.

Trainer : SCOTT BRUNTON
Trainer : SCOTT BRUNTON Picture: Steve Hart

In Brief

  • Big numbers for leading trainer in Hobart on Sunday.
  • Hela to extend her unbeaten run to seven.
  • Former import ready to show his best.


In the two Hobart meetings since Ladbrokes Hobart Cup day, Scott Brunton has trained seven winners across 15 possible races and when you consider his partner Tegan Keys has trained a pair of winners of her own in that period, pickings have been slim for the other trainers looking to race in the south of the state.

Despite scratching a few runners early from the program on Sunday, Brunton has 16 runners entered across eight of the nine races with the only exception being the 2YO handicap to open the day.

The undisputed headline act for the Brunton team is exciting three-year-old filly Hela who will start a very short priced favourite for her seventh consecutive win in the Ladbrokes Benchmark 84 Hcp (1600m).

The daughter of Night of Thunder – Smooth Return toyed with similar opposition at the previous Hobart meeting three weeks ago when she was sent out a $1.09 chance.

Brunton already had Sunday's assignment planned for his Listed winner before that previous result, and should things go as expected on Sunday, a tilt at the Group 1 Australasian Oaks in South Australia on 2 May will be the target.

"I'm very lucky that we can give her a preparation here to go to it (the Oaks), I think that's a massive factor," said the Seven Mile Beach-based Brunton following Hela's win on 28 March.

"I think she's absolutely exceptional. She's as good a chance I've ever had going into a Group 1 I reckon," the trainer added.

Hela has a clear ratings edge on her rivals for Sunday's race with punters likely looking to exotics to find some value given the expected prohibitive odds on offer.

Last start winner Reite Den Blitz is another runner from the Brunton camp who will attract interest from bookmakers, she's one of three horses Brunton will saddle up in the Hygain Class 1 Hcp (1200m).

The three-year-old filly was an overdue winner of her maiden last time out at start nine but with the second horse Maggie's Quest coming out and franking the form on Good Friday, she shapes as the likely favourite in a race that includes two other last start winners, Yarra Master and Techno Awards.

Brunton's team is down to one in the Carlton & United Breweries Open Hcp (1200m) following the scratching of Ruettiger, leaving the well-travelled Lim's Cruiser as the only stable representative.

The eight-year-old gelding has raced in Australia, Singapore and the United Kingdom and will be having his third run in Tasmania on Sunday.

"He did a tendon injury in England, so he's been off the scene a long time," said part-owner and Hall of Fame jockey Stephen Maskiell.

"He's a big gross horse so he'll just need the racing to find his best and we expect him to improve with every start," added Maskiell with his charge beaten less than a length despite finishing fourth of five last start.

With over $1.8 million in prizemoney in the bank, Lim's Cruiser is certainly the best credentialled horse in the race and should be suited by the rise to 1200m.

Sunday's nine-race program will be live hosted on TasracingTV by Jacob Bevis with the first race scheduled for 12:10.

 


Racing and Sports

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au