Racing
City trip for Brandjam
Brandjam will be Flemington trainer Glen Thompson’s first runner in three weeks when he steps out at Caulfield.
Trainer Glen Thompson is looking for better luck with his next trip to the races.
Thompson has not had a starter since June 7 when Benagil ran third in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm.
However, Thompson made the 220km trip to Sale on Wednesday and was due to saddle Monte Cassino in a maiden race at that track.
Unfortunately for Thompson, and connections, the meeting was abandoned after the third event on the eight-race card with Monte Cassino due to line up in race number four.
Thompson heads to Caulfield on Saturday with Brandjam to contest the Remembering Robbie Laing (1440m), a horse which also happens to be Thompson's most recent winner.
Brandjam remained in Thompson's care following the death of Mike Moroney earlier in the year and the trainer is looking to repay the faith of owners Chris Dziedzic and Lynn Cole from Kariba Racing.
"It would be great to get another winner for Chris and Lynn from Kariba Racing as they have been massive supporters of mine since going back out on my own," Thompson said.
Thompson had high hopes for Brandjam who was beaten on debut by the promising Winnasedge before scoring his maiden victory over Taken who has won four on the trot, including his last two at Flemington.
"He won his maiden at The Valley, so we tried him in some better races after that," Thompson said.
"It was getting towards the end of his first prep, and he was still a colt.
"He changed really quickly from not being interested in the girls to being quite colty in the space of a week and his last couple of runs showed that.
"He's come back in really good order as a gelding. His first run was good and his win at Cranbourne last time was impressive enough to warrant giving him a chance in town while he's still three."
Brandjam led throughout in a crossover nose band when successful over 1200m at Cranbourne on May 30 and Thompson said the rise in trip on Saturday is a little query.
"The query is probably the 1400 (metres), but I thought he was strong to the line at Cranbourne," Thompson said.
"It was either go out to the 1400 or come back to the 1100 (metres), so I thought we might as well give him his chance now while we can.
"He's not a big horse, but he's got a big heart and tries hard, so it should take him a long way.
"He's going to have to get some cover and relax as he does everything a little bit quick at this stage, but if he can find a bum and switch off a little bit, I'm sure he can run it out."
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