Brucie takes aim at northern jumping features
Already a major player in the Central Districts and South Island during his breakthrough winter campaign, Brucie will now turn his attention to the northern region’s end-of-season jumping features.
The son of Raise The Flag began the year as a maiden steeplechaser but has rapidly risen through the ranks, placing in the Manawatu Steeplechase before winning the Wellington Steeplechase in early July.
Brucie then headed south for the Grand National Carnival at Riccarton, finishing fourth in the Koral Steeplechase before producing a gallant performance in the $150,000 Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) a week later.
The Raymond Connors-trained and part-owned gelding led for almost the entire marathon and fought strongly when $1.90 favourite Lord Spencer ranged alongside in the straight, going down by just a neck after a stirring battle. Almost 11 lengths separated the pair from the third placegetter.
“Obviously we would have liked to have won the race, but we had to be really pleased with that performance and proud of the horse,” Connors told RaceForm. “He wasn’t beaten far.”
Brucie has come through his southern campaign in good order, encouraging Connors to press on towards two more Prestige Jumping Race assignments at Te Aroha.
The first is Sunday’s $75,000 The Valley Toyota Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4300m), followed by the $200,000 Ben & Ryan Foote Racing Great New Zealand Steeplechase (6200m) on September 20.
“He seems to have come through the Grand National run and that trip pretty well, so we’re happy to carry on with him,” Connors said.
“Sunday will give us a bit of a better idea of how we’re tracking towards the other of the big steeplechases.
“It’s a good chance for him to have another look around the steeplechase course at Te Aroha. He had a race there last year and didn’t go any good (pulled up in a 3500-metre maiden steeplechase), so we’re hoping that was just a one-off and he might fare a bit better this time.
“Billy Marshall gets on really well with him, so we’re happy to have him on again.” - RaceForm
