Brooklyn Boss is stepping into unchartered waters when he heads to Sandown for his third since joining the stables of former West Australian Shannon Roughan.
The Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (2400m) on Wednesday will be Brooklyn Boss’ first foray at the trip and a rise in distance on the 2000m he last raced over at Mornington last month.
Roughan says the distance is a concern but at the same time in her heart believes the son of Prince Of Brooklyn will run it out.
Brooklyn Boss came to Roughan after being purchased for $25,000 in an Inglis on-line auction having started his career with the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr yard.
A win at Pakenham in March along with two placings at that track and one at Sandown on April 19 has seen the owners of the gelding recoup their outlay.
The Sandown placing was a four-length second to the unbeaten Globe, who came out again at Sandown last Saturday to win against superior opposition.
“Both races, the Wednesday win and last Saturday, they both rated really well, so that gives us a little bit of confidence,” Roughan said.
“There are a few queries whether he handles the wet and stepping up in distance, but I think the horse is going well enough and it’s the right time to have a go at it.
“He’s always given me the impression that he can stay. I don’t know how far he can get, but he’s a lovely big-actioned horse, so hopefully he gets the trip.”
Brooklyn Boss is one of five horses Roughan has in work, although in time the plan is to increase that.
It’s a ‘one woman show’ at present with Roughan doing the stable work along with riding trackwork while partner Jeremy Brown works on the Melbourne Rail Tunnel to build a bank to hopefully one day concentrate on the horses with Roughan.
Any winner is a good winner and the $30,000 first prize on Wednesday will not go astray, although Roughan said that was likely to be spent on another horse if successful.
