A faultless couple of weeks for Self Sense since his dominant Ipswich Cup win has his trainer David Brideoake confident the stayer will produce another bold showing at the Sunshine Coast.
Self Sense won the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) by almost seven lengths and is challenging for favouritism for Saturday’s Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m).
Brideoake was thrilled to see Self Sense win for the first time in more than two years at Ipswich, believing the gelding had put the writing on the wall in the lead-up and then got conditions to show his best.
“He had been a terribly unlucky horse in high class races down in Melbourne with wide gates and having to go back to last and finishing on strongly,” Brideoake said.
“He drew a good gate at Ipswich, he got the soft ground that he likes, and he got a beautiful ride from Michael Cahill. It just panned out beautifully.”
Cahill again rides Self Sense when he steps up to 2400 metres on Saturday and jumps from barrier eight in a field of 12.
“The two weeks since his last start has been faultless,” Brideoake said.
“The opposition is slightly different but I would expect him to be hugely competitive again.
“I believe the big track will suit him so I’ve got nothing negative to report.”
Should the six-year-old run to expectations again, Brideoake would consider extending his preparation to the Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) or Listed Queensland Cup (3200m) before a break.
“He’s a pretty versatile horse and he’s got great stamina. So I believe he would be competitive wherever I decided to go,” Brideoake said.
“Then we’d probably look at resting him and try to do it all over again the next year.”
