Corey Brown had a few offers in Saturday’s Winter Challenge at Rosehill and believes he’s made the right choice despite being on the least experienced runner in the field.
Brown reunites with three-year-old Testarhythm in the $100,000 feature over 1500m, having won at his only two starts on the Darren Smith-trained gelding.
Testarhythm has won three of his eight starts and Smith elected to start him on the limit of 53kg in the Winter Challenge in preference to carrying 59kg against his own age in another race on Saturday’s program.
“He’s a very consistent horse, he’s got no weight on his back and I expect him to run very well,” Brown said.
“I had a few offers in the race and I thought it was the best option. He’s a very consistent horse.”
The son of Testa Rossa showed potential last year, winning easily in maiden company at Canterbury at the end of July before finishing third to Squamosa and Masquerader in the Group Three Run To The Rose.
After beating just one runner home in the Ming Dynasty Quality at his next start, Testarhythm was off the scene for more than nine months.
Brown says the gelding’s form since resuming – two city wins and a second – warrants giving him his chance in the Winter Challenge.
“It is his biggest test yet but they have raised the bar and every time they have he has done well,” Brown said.
“He deserves his chance against the older horses.”
Brown has got straight back into the swing of things after his holiday with five winners in the space of two metropolitan meetings since his return.
He notched a treble at Warwick Farm last Saturday, backed it up with a double on Wednesday and hopes to end the season on the right note on Saturday.
“I’ve come back with a bit of a bang, I feel good, the weight is coming off well and I’m ready for the new season,” Brown said.
“It’s always good if you can hit the ground running whether it be when returning from holidays, suspension or injury.
“It’s a big confidence builder if you can do that, you then ride with confidence and are in the right frame of mind.”
Testarhythm is one of two rising four-year-olds in the race with the other being the favourite Scarf.
Brenton Avdulla won the corresponding race last year on Altered Boy but rides his stablemate Snow Alert this time around.
“He has got a lot of ability on his day,” Avdulla said of Snow Alert.
“I’m not sure whether the track conditions will be ideal for him tomorrow but if the horse does put his best foot forward he will definitely be competitive.”
AAP TURF
