Mornington trainer David Brideoake will launch a strong two-pronged attack on Saturday’s RM Ansett Classic on his home track with mudlark Dance With Her and dry tracker I’m Jake.
The Mornington track was rated a heavy (8) on Thursday after around 30mm of rain overnight which favours honest mare Dance With Her.
“Dance With Her is the wet tracker and on affected ground her chances keep improving,” Brideoake said.
“But the track may improve depending on the weather and if it does I’d expect I’m Jake to look even more promising.
“I’ve got a little each-way haven’t I?
“They are both running though and I expect them to go pretty well.
“I don’t think (I’m) Jake is at his best on rain-affected ground but we’ll just take it as it comes.”
I’m Jake was second-up when he finished a five-length eighth to Caulfield Cup favourite December Draw in the Group Three Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield last Saturday week.
Brideoake said the Pins six-year-old could go to the Group Three Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 19 if he performed very well on Saturday.
The former New Zealand-trained gelding won over 2600m at Flemington in April and was third to Rusticated over 2800m there two weeks before finishing runner-up to Niwot in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m), again at Flemington, on May 21.
I’m Jake is among the entries for the Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Brideoake said he was surprised at how long Dance With Her has managed to stay up and in form this preparation considering she has had 15 runs since mid-February and run every month since.
The Al Maher five-year-old has won five races in that time including three in town, has been placed six times and hasn’t finished outside the first four in her past 13 outings.
“She has a good (on-pace) racing pattern and absolutely grows a leg in the wet,” Brideoake said.
“She’s in very, very good shape and I couldn’t be any happier with her.
“We’re marvelling at how the horse looks better now than what she did halfway through the preparation.
“She’s just getting better and better. She’s just your perfect horse really.”
Brideoake said Dance With Her would be targeting the Group Two Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 5 if she continued to thrive.
I’m Jake is $4 favourite for the Listed Ansett Classic (2413m) with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Dance With Her at $4.60, last-start Sandown winner Montgomery at $5, topweight Indikator at $6, Countcool at 6.50 with Zoomin at $7.50.
AAP TURF
