Odds startle Brunton
PREMIER trainer Scott Brunton says the bookmakers have incorrectly assessed stable star Mandela Effect’s chances of winning the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfieldon Saturday.
Mandela Effect is quoted at $35 in early markets while the lightly weighted Buffalo River is the favourite at $3.90 ahead of the Tasmania n-bred Junipal (Reset-Palatine Hill) at $5.
Brunton’s charge comes off a luckless ninth of 16 in the Group 1 Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield three weeks ago but Saturday’ s $500,000 race has been the gelding’s goal.
“I’m baffled why my horse is such big odds because even a blind man could see how unlucky he was in the Rupert Clarke ,” Brunt on said.
“Don’t get me wrong, the big odds just make it better for the owners if they want to have a bet.
“And I’m sure they will at those odds.”
Mandela Effect has been stab led with B run ton’ s father, David, who has stable sat Ballarat, for the duration of this campaign.
“Dad has just kept him ticking over and he said the horse will go into this race as
good as he can be ,” Scott said.
“He’ s drawn a good barrier [eight] and he has the right jockey on top [Craig Newitt], so all we need now is that little bit of luck to go our way and we’ll be a big winning chance.”
Last start Newitt had nowhere to go in the home straight and the horse went to the line under a hold.
But from a middle gate he should be able to secure a good spot midfield off the rails with some cover, and if that eventuates the son of Turffontein can register his 13th win and close in on $900,000 in stakes.
A victory would be a tonic for the trainer and partner Tegan Keys who were knocked for six last weekend when their champions printer Hell ova Street died from a bout of colic in Melbourne.
“It’s been tough because every where you turn at the stables there’ s something that reminds us of Hellova Street ,” Brunt on said.
“He meant so much to us, and, in particular, T egan, that it will take a while before we get used to not having him around.”
Hell ova Street won multiple Listed race sin Tasmania and interstate with his career statistics of 20 wins and 25 minor placings from 59 starts for $1.291 million making him one of the most consistent sprinters to grace Tasmanian turf. There are plans to name a feature Tasmanian race in his honour with an announcement coming soon.
Brunton and Keys, who share ownership of their Seven Mile Beach training complex and in 2018 they renamed the property Hellova Stables.