Joshua Brown on song for Te Awamutu Cup
Joshua Brown (NZ) (Dalghar) returned to form when runner-up to Tisse at Te Rapa last month, and trainer Lance Gussey is hoping he can go one better on Saturday when he returns to the Hamilton track to contest the UBP Te Awamutu Cup (1600m).
Gussey was pleased with his last start result and said the six-year-old son of Dalghar has trained on well.
“He was slowly building to it, he can turn it on when he wants to,” Gussey said. “I am very happy with him, he is doing everything we have asked of him.”
Gussey’s only concern heading into the weekend is Joshua Brown’s 60-kilogram impost, 3.5kg more than his nearest rival, but he said it is a weight he has carried to victory in the past.
“He carried 60 kilos to beat Rockin Rosie two years ago, so we are hopeful he brings his best on Saturday,” Gussey said.
Joshua Brown won last year’s Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) under a featherweight 53kg, and while he will have to lumber significantly more in the Taranaki feature later this month, Gussey is giving it serious consideration, with a race at Te Rapa a week later another option.
“I would like to (go to Opunake Cup) but we will just see what happens,” he said. “There is a race at Te Rapa a week after (the Opunake Cup) and he might go there just because there is a bigger gap between his races. We will just have to wait and see how he pulls up and how he performs on Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Gussey has been rapt with stablemate Allaces recent run of form, with the Ace High mare breaking through for her maiden win at Pukekohe in May before placing in her next two outings.
She has subsequently headed for a freshen-up and Gussey is eyeing a potential spring return for the rising five-year-old.
“I am very happy with her, she has really turned it on for us,” Gussey said.
“We have turned her out for a break just because she has been in for so long and we will probably bring her back for the spring. Depending on how Josh goes, we might do the same with him just because I think the winter is going to drag on into the spring this year and we might get a Group race with him.”
