The pacer nicknamed “Brad” after Brad Pitt for his “pretty face” has turned his “Pee-Wee Herman” body into the “all-round package”, says Lance Justice.
After driving Bad Boy Brad to victory in yesterday’s Gunbower Family Hotel Gunbower Pacing Cup Justice said his partner Dianne Giles, who trains the six-year-old gelding, “had a taste for cups and would be targeting more of them”.
Justice acknowledged the $25,000 Trots Country Cups bonus, powered by Trotsownthemoment.com.au, describing it as “a pretty attractive bonus”.
“I’d say they’re all on the radar now,” Justice said of the upcoming country cups.
Bad Boy Brad settled back in the field in the 2630-metre race before Justice got on to the three-wide train in the last lap and was well within striking distance within 10m of the lead at the top turn.
On straightening Chris Alford was throwing everything at Pepe Bromac first-up from a spell, but the fitter Bad Boy Brad flattened out strongly and found the line impressively.
Pepe Bromac was 3m away second and Diamond Ace for John Newberry worked home for third, beaten 7.1m.
“About three months ago Brian Kiesey actually said to me ‘that horse will make a cups horse … he’s got the speed’ and at the time (Bad Boy Brad) was only a C4. I said ‘I hope you’re right Brian’,” Justice said.
“After he won so well at Melton the other night I said to Dianne I’ve never been to a Gunbower Cup so let’s put him in.”
Justice admitted he had some difficulty finding the Gunbower track initially, the GPS not working as well as one would hope, but the victory made the five-hour road trip worthwhile.
Justice spoke glowingly of the job Giles has done training Bad Boy Brad, the son of Righteous Hanover-Bubbas Babe overcoming several difficulties to get to this point in his career.
“She’s made him really,” Justice said.
“The horse has had more spells than races and he’s taken a fair bit of tinkering and lots of different training techniques at home to overcome a few things. Dianne has really sorted him out.”
The Trots Country Cups Championship next heads to Stawell on December 4, followed by Geelong on December 10, Wedderburn on December 11 and Cobram on December 27.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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