by Jason Bonnington
Over the past decade Dean Braun has worked with some exceptionally talented and sensationally spruiked horses.
Names like Cruz Bromac, Chancellor Cullen, Chilli Palmer, Macha and Mustang Mach variously elicit images of glamour, speed, class and success.
But as brilliant and glittering as those pacers have been, from a performance perspective, none have matched the deeds of their perpetually underrated stablemate, Im Corzin Terror.
On Friday night, Im Corzin Terror claimed the second biggest win of his career in the Group 2 Decron Cranbourne Gold Cup.
It was his seventh country cup win since emigrating from New Zealand in November 2012 and tipped his career prizemoney over $500,000.
It’s no wonder then that Braun considers the equine battering ram one of his all-time favourites and the one he can rely on more than any other.
“Everybody knows the opinion I have of Cruz Bromac; he’s the best horse I’ve ever trained, but this one (Im Corzin Terror) has the score on the board, he’s done an incredible job,” the Lara trainer said.
“He’s also the most unlucky horse I’ve trained. He always either draws bad or finds bad luck in his races. I thought he was primed for the Bendigo Cup then nothing went right in the run.
“He clearly still wants to win though, so we’ll head to Kilmore next and then reassess from there. He’s won over half a million dollars now so whatever he does from here is just a bonus.”
Im Corzin Terror’s consistency is being reflected on the Trots Country Cups Championship standings, having advanced to within one point of championship leader Hectorjayjay for the $25,000 prize.
Having contested six country cups this season, Im Corzin Terror placed at Charlton, Cobram and Terang in addition to the Cranbourne win to amass nine points, equal for second with Major Secret and one point clear of stablemate Cruz Bromac and Terang Cup winner Flaming Flutter.
[fvplayer src=”http://media.harness.org.au/vic/CRC03031701.mp4″]On Friday night Im Corzin Terror shared the headlines with another Kiwi living it up in Victoria.
Sunny Ruby has recorded four wins from five Australian starts since flying across the Tasman for prizemoney earnings of more than $125,000.
A Jewels winner at age three, nobody doubted Sunny Ruby’s ability, particularly from a snap speed perspective, but there were questions about her capacity to thrive in the deep end of the pool.
Like so many Kiwi recruits before her, however, those questions have been answered with a brutal domination of feature races the Haras Des Trotteurs V. L. Dullard Cup, Aldebaran Park Maori Mile, North West Ag Services 2017 Charlton Trotters Cup and The Aldebaran Park Knight Pistol in recent weeks.
“I’m so proud of her, she’s such a lovely mare and she is thriving here in Australia,” her expatriate Kiwi trainer Sonya Smith revealed.
“Sam (Smolenski) her owner and trainer back home just did a magnificent job with her and we are so grateful to be riding this wave with them at the moment.
“I’m not sure what will happen after the (Seelite Windows & Doors Australian Trotting) Grand Prix this weekend, but that is definitely the next major target and we’re looking forward to another challenge.”
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