In-form sprinter Axe will be having just his fourth start for Jack Bruce when he lines up in the Group 3 George Moore Stakes at Doomben, but horse and trainer share a much longer history.
Axe started his career with Bjorn Baker when Bruce was learning his craft under the top Sydney trainer and he has followed the horse’s trajectory ever since.
“When he was two was about the time I left there, but I followed his progress and was familiar with the horse from day dot,” Bruce said.
Axe was eventually gelded and sent to trainer Michael Costa, who was also a part-owner, but when Costa relocated to Dubai earlier this year the horse was again put up for sale and Bruce was quick to swoop.
The six-year-old has raced three times for Bruce for a stakes win and two close seconds, but his main goal will be to fly the stable’s flag through Brisbane’s summer carnival races ahead of a tilt at either the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) or Magic Millions Snippets (1200m).
“It will all culminate in the Magic Millions in the middle of January, that’s his long-range target and there are some nice races along the way,” Bruce said.
“He’s in good form and as an older horse now, he’s more mature and he is able to compete at a good, solid level in Queensland.”
Axe hasn’t raced since he was edged out by Ef Troop at Eagle Farm in mid-October but he reacts well fresh and has only missed a top-three finish once in five starts at Doomben.
Bruce said the horse had freshened up nicely and expected him to be competitive from a good draw in barrier five in what he viewed as an even edition of the George Moore Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
“His work has been good and he’s right where he needs to be,” Bruce said.
“It’s going to be a fairly even contest and a competitive race but he’s going as well as he has been.
“He runs well fresh and drawing a barrier is the key to him. He has won from wide gates before, but a good gate means he needs to do less work to find a position early on.”
A field of 13 will contest the George Moore with Garibaldi a nominal $3.60 favourite to give Tony Gollan back-to-back wins after the leading trainer claimed the race last year with Zoustyle.
Axe is an $8.50 chance.
