David Brideoake remains optimistic that Gran Sasso, who has been winless for nearly three years, can again experience victory on the track.
Brideoake and his Mornington co-trainer David Feek are the fourth in a line of trainers to look after the seven-year-old who returns to his favourite track for Saturday’s Thoroughbred Riding Club Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
His last success was over the same course in the All Victorian Sprint Final in July 2009 when he won three Flemington races in a row before trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith retired and handed him over to Mick Price at Caulfield.
With Price, Gran Sasso went close a number of times with arguably his best performance a length sixth to Starspangledbanner in the 2010 Oakleigh Plate before he joined David Jolly’s Adelaide stable for five runs, finishing a close second at Flemington in June last year and then transferring to Brideoake and Feek this campaign.
Gran Sasso’s performances noticeably spike when he races at Flemington as evidenced by his 3/4-length fourth in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) on January 21 and third to Panipique in the Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) on March 3.
“He has run a couple of nice races for us,” Brideoake said.
“He can’t get his head in front at the line yet but we’re happy enough with him at the moment and he looks suited on Saturday.
“He is very good up the Flemington straight and being on his preferred track over his preferred distance and down a few rating points he probably gets his chance now.
“He has been knocking on the door and his work has been good so we think he can win again, it is just a matter of when.”
On Saturday, pacifiers have been added to Gran Sasso’s gear which already includes blinkers and a nose roll in an effort to effect an elusive win.
Gran Sasso is at $13 with TAB Sportsbet and Daniel Stackhouse will have his first ride on him.
Among Gran Sasso’s rivals is another Mornington sprinter, Sophie’s Spirit ($11), who is Brisbane-bound for the winter.
Last year Sophie’s Spirit campaigned in Queensland and while she didn’t have good enough ratings to compete in the top races, the trip away was the making of her, according to trainer Max Hinton.
“She has been a handful but the trip to Brisbane made her grow up and that was all in preparation for the spring in Melbourne when it all came together for her,” Hinton said.
Sophie’s Spirit scored a narrow win over Little Surfer Girl in the Group Three Herald Sun Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on November 1 and was second to Hi Belle in the Listed Summoned Stakes (1500m) at Sandown on November 12.
Hinton said Brisbane’s Group Two Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) on June 2 and the Group One Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) on June 23 were her main winter goals.
