The addition of blinkers and a change in riding style has catapulted the Keith Dryden-trained Braviano into winning form.
The lightly raced five-year-old chases a hat trick of wins in the Tathra Cup (1000m) at the Sapphire Coast on Monday.
Canberra based Dryden opted to fit blinkers to Braviano prior to the gelding contesting a 1000m Class 1 on his home track on November 27.
The result was stunning with Braviano tracking the leaders before careering away for a 3-1/2 length win.
Braviano then stepped up to an 1100m Class 2 event at Queanbeyan on December 15 and bolted in by a clear two lengths.
“Guy Walter had Braviano before I got him,” Dryden said.
“He needed a wind operation and Guy suggested to the owners he would be better placed out of Sydney.
“Because he’d had the operation, we decided to ride him from behind, have one crack at them and with the blinkers added, everything has come together.
“He was a bit of a hard going bugger before that. Now he saves himself better.
“He’s up in class tomorrow but his past couple of wins have been impressive.
“He bolted in at Canberra and at Queanbeyan. Once he got clear, he went right away from them.
“He’ll be ridden quiet again tomorrow and I expect him to hit the line hard. I think he can win again.”
Dryden describes Braviano as a lean, mean, fighting machine.
“He’s not a big gross type, more athletic,” he said.
“I don’t do a lot with him in between runs. He just trots and canters around the block so to speak and I only take him to the track once a week.
“I let him slip up a few furlongs Saturday. He worked strongly.”
Braviano is raced by a group including Sydney-based Wayne Oxford and the Redbank North syndicate, headed by Jamie Middleton. It was Middleton who recommended the horse be transferred to Dryden.
Braviano has recorded three wins and six placings from 15 starts.
Dryden said the gelding could spell after Monday with the plan to have him back racing over winter on softer tracks which the son of Falbrav relishes.
AAP TURF
