26 September 2022 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Pipers River trainer Kristy Butler continued her good recent record of getting injury-plagued pacers back to the track in Hobart on Sunday night when seven-year-old gelding The Brooklyn Brawler scored first-up from 750 days off the scene.
Before Sunday, the gelded son of Art Major had won 10 races from 44 starts, with his biggest success being in a Group 3 in New Zealand as a two-year-old.
But the pacer had been away from the track since placing fifth at Shepparton in September 2020.
“He has been riddled with problems, and it looked like there was a few times that he wouldn’t make it back to the track,” explained winning trainer Kristy Butler.
“I have only had him for about a month.
“Full credit must go to (Victorian trainer) Mary-Jayne Mifsud, she has done a remarkable job with him, and sent him over in top condition.
“He looks that well he could go straight into the show ring tomorrow,” explained Butler after the win.
Concession reinsman Kayleb Williams took the pacer straight to the early lead in the 2090m event.
He was able to get a 64.3s first half before dashing home in 29.8s and 27.9s to score by a neck over the race favourite Equity Stride, with Vinny Chase a further 14.6m away in third position.
“Kayleb drove him a treat.
“Kayleb went out there knowing he was first-up for a very long time, and we were surprised they got as slow as a first half as they did,” said Butler.
“He is at a nice rating now coming into our better races.
“We have got to get him qualified from a stand, which I don’t think will be an issue, so we will look at doing that in the next week or so and then we will reassess things from there,” the trainer explained.
Sunday’s Hobart card was once again dominated by the Ben Yole stable, preparing five of the nine winners with; Endeavour Stride (Charlie Castles), Kiavino Stride (Mitch Ford), To The Lookout (Bronte Miller), Southshore (Mark Yole) and Vivid Stride (Bronte Miller).
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