Leading trainer Guy Walter be out to claim his third consecutive Goulburn Cup with Brightest on Sunday, but standing in his way is a quality line-up for the $100,000 feature race.
Increased prizemoney and a switch of days from Friday to Sunday has helped attract one of the strongest Goulburn Cup fields for many years.
Walter has won the past two runnings with Straight Albert and Willy Jimmy and will go with Brightest, a last-start Warwick Farm winner and Tiger Territory if he gains a start.
Walter scratched his other candidate Forarainyday paving the way for first emergency Browden to gain a start.
Browden has only raced five times winning his past four starts and his trainer Garry Frazer is looking forward to the challenge with his up-and-coming galloper.
Frazer is out to win his first Goulburn Cup after finishing a head second last year.
“Browden is on the way up and drops a lot in weight from the 59.5 kilograms he carried last start to win at Goulburn,” Frazer said.
“He only won by a narrow margin, but it was a very good effort because he was held up and it wasn’t easy for him being a big-striding horse.”
Apprentice jockey David Pisani has again been rewarded with the ride as he tries to win the biggest race of his career.
Pisani rode Browden in a trial at Hawkesbury last September and has ridden him in every race start since.
“He has been a bit of a headache to get going and should be unbeaten,” Frazer said.
“You couldn’t count his first start and he has won every start since.”
Browden proved his fitness with a recent trial win and is on target to take on his toughest test to date.
Hometown trainer Danny Williams will start Court Connection and Rambling On while last-start winners All Legal, Bay Window, Brightest and Ramsays Curse add further depth to an outstanding race.
Topweight Kinnersley will represent Gai Waterhouse, while Isopach is another of the main chances.
The interesting runner is Maximus Gladiator who won four races in succession last campaign and is first-up from a spell.
Alma’s Fury is a dual acceptor after drawing gate 20, while former Wagga Wagga Gold Cup winner Sainthood has the inside alley.
