New Zealand
Joshua Brown continuing Gussey family legacy
Joshua Brown’s victory in last month’s Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) was more than 30 years in the making for the Gussey family, and on Saturday he will be seeking to add to his burgeoning record in the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
The Dalghar six-year-old was bred by Ronald Gussey, who trained for more than three decades, and while he recorded eight victories on the track, a stakes win remained elusive.
It would be as a breeder that he would realise that dream, but he wouldn't be there to see it, with the Cambridge horseman passing away a couple of years ago.
His son, Lance Gussey, picked up the mantle and took out his trainer's license to carry on his father's legacy.
He has struck gold with Joshua Brown, who has taken him on a sentimental journey, winning four of his 14 starts, including his first tilt at stakes level in the Opunake Cup.
"I am living his dream," said Lance Gussey, referring to his father's love of racing. "People go their whole lives and not get that far (stakes win), I know my Dad did."
Gussey said Joshua Brown bounced through his Opunake Cup victory, and he has been itching to get back to the races.
"He came out of that like he hadn't even really had a run," Gussey said. "It has been a little hard to keep him quiet in the last month, but he is going well and he is eating up like he needs to."
It will be five weeks between runs, a little longer than Gussey usually prefers, but he said his charge is ready to put in a good showing this weekend.
"I usually space them (races) about three weeks, so this is a bit longer than normal," he said.
"When we did it for the Opunake, he only had two, which worked really well, but it's all a guessing game."
Joshua Brown has drawn barrier nine for Saturday and will be partnered once again by Lynsey Satherley.
"I am very happy about that (draw)," Gussey said. "We are just praying for a little bit more rain, but apart from that I am looking forward to it."
Following Saturday, Joshua Brown is set to return to Te Rapa next month to have his first tilt at elite-level in the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m), a distance Gussey believes will be more to his liking.
"I think he is preferred at the mile," Gussey said. "I think the 1200m is a little bit short for him, so we thought we would put him in this one and see how he goes."
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