A decision to keep Bruckner to short-course racing and switch him to Melbourne has landed the expensive colt a stakes race victory at Caulfield.
Having been based at the Sydney stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace for the first three runs of his career, the decision was made to swing him south for Saturday’s Group 3 H D F McNeil Stakes (1200m).
Bruckner had only won a Kembla Grange maiden in those three starts prior to Saturday’s success, but Maher has always held the son of Snitzel in high regard.
And the trainer is harbouring hopes of getting Bruckner to the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.
Maher thanked the team in Sydney, headed by Jack Bruce, for having Bruckner in excellent order ahead of his departure to Melbourne.
“We were going towards the Ming Dynasty over 1400 (metres in Sydney) but I just thought the 1400 might have been a bridge too far at the moment,” Maher said.
“So, we opted to bring him down here and he actually galloped with Generation on the course proper here on Tuesday.
“I took a line through General Beau there. I thought he was right in the race, and he was going to get the right run on paper.
“Thankfully it all went to plan.”
Allen was the recipient of being the replacement aboard Bruckner following Jamie Kah’s three-month suspension on Friday by Racing Victoria stewards for a COVID breach.
He said Bruckner would get out in trip once he learns to relax, but for the moment is best kept to short trips.
“He was just a little but fierce early but once we got in behind he relaxed nicely,” Allen said.
“Artorius was hitting the line outside him but I had the head down at the right time.”
