A lack of pace is the only reservation trainer Guy Walter has about Brightest heading into Wednesday’s Summer Cup at Rosehill.
The mare goes to the race on the back of a third to Angelus over 2100 metres at Warwick Farm on Saturday with her trainer confident she is ready for the extra 300 metres of the Group Three feature.
The field has already been reduced to seven runners following the scratching of Lucripetous who finished six lengths behind Brightest at Warwick Farm.
Winning Glory’s trainer David Payne says the gelding will not lead as he did last time out at Rosehill when he was overwhelmed in the straight and finished out of the placings.
“I will be telling stewards he will be ridden quietly,” Payne said.
“I want him to go back and settle.”
Just who will lead is now a matter of conjecture but Walter is convinced Brightest can adapt to the situation.
“The pace is a concern,” he said.
“I want her to be ridden quietly and hope something else can go at a decent pace.
“I’ve got no concerns about backing her up.
“She’s a big, strong mare and has come through the race well.
“She’s untried at 2400 metres but she gives the impression she will run it right out.
“I think it’s a good day to test that out.”
Brightest is raced by her breeder George Altomonte and has won four of her 17 starts and been placed on seven other occasions.
Payne will also saddle up Praecido, fourth in the same 1900m race at Rosehill in which Winning Glory disappointed.
Group One placed in the 2010 Spring Champion Stakes and Victoria Derby, Praecido’s best performance so far this preparation was three starts ago when third to Darci Be Good in the Hawkesbury Cup.
Now a five-year-old, Praecido will wear blinkers for the first time on Wednesday.
South Australian visitor Le Roi was the Summer Cup favourite at $2.60 on Monday ahead of Iggi Pop ($3.20) and Poste Restante ($3.60) and Brightest next at $8.
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