By Michael Guerin
A pacer who started the year as a seven-year-old maiden could top it by beating Group One performers at Alexandra Park tonight.
That is the amazing story of Brydon Ideal, who trainer Jeremy Young believes can give him a shot at the best ever night in his short training career tonight.
Young only has a team of six racehorses plus a few babies he is breaking in yet has four at tonight’s meeting and all are at least place chances.
“Things are turning the corner. I only have a small team but they are racing well and I am getting interest from some new owners, so it is an exciting time,” says Young.
“I am in this for the long haul, it is what I love doing. Especially when you are taking horses to Alexandra Park that are competitive.”
Young can definitely place and maybe even win with Harper Franco (race seven) and Circus Boy (race eight) but it is earlier in the night where his brightest hopes lie.
American Empress has been racing better than her rivals in race two and is rated good enough to contest some of the elite three-year-old fillies races over the next month.
“And she will be improved by her run last week so this could be the week we can drive her aggressive,” says Young.
“She has to be a good show.”
But the undoubtedly star of his small stable and one of the great stories of the northern pacing year is Brydon Ideal, who was an unheard of old maiden this time last season.
Troubled by issues his entire career, Brydon Ideal has thrived with Young’s TLC and has won five times in 2016, including beating talented mares like Arden’s Choice and Aliante.
He returned with a sharp third to Walkinshaw last Friday and takes on recent New Zealand Cup starter No Doctor Needed and national record holder Bettor B Amazed, albeit with a handicap start in race one.
“I think he can win but the start will be crucial for him,” admits Young.
“He hasn’t had a lot of stands but he has been all right and I have given him some more practice this week.
“If he can step and hold his position and they go hard he will be hard to beat.” No Doctor Needed and Bettor B Amazed are both returning from the Cup carnival, as is Star Galleria later in the night. He is looking to bounce back in race four after being savaged in the Sires’ Stakes Final.
Star Galleria has a new driver tonight in Zac Butcher, with Tony Herlihy committed to one of his own stable.
Also coming home from the south is Realmein in tonight’s main trot and if he can trot throughout he will find race three a lot easier than chasing Monbet around Addington in record time.
After the Alexandra Park and Addington meetings are finished harness punters have some serious fare in Perth to stay awake for, with the final three heats of the Inter Dominions as well as star four-year-olds Mr Mojito and Piccadilly Princess representing New Zealand in group races.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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