Blood Brotha trainer looks for more wins on the flat

BLOOD Brotha might be seven and have two New Zealand Cups under his belt, but Wanganui co-owner and trainer Raymond Connors isn’t about to consign him to jumps racing any time soon.

It might seem a logical next step for the dour stayer, given Connors and his father, Mark, have specialised in racing jumpers and have enjoyed spectacular success with horses of the calibre of Hypnotize and Our Jonty.

But Connors has his sights set much higher than hurdling or even yesterday’s Group III 3200 metre feature.

‘‘He’s a super horse and I’d like to have another go at the Auckland Cup,’’ Connors said after Blood Brotha raced away to a six- length win over Single Minded.

‘‘He ran sixth in the Auckland Cup last year and it was a good effort.

‘‘And I don’t want to jump him, then bring him back to the flat when I think he has more wins in him on the flat.

‘‘He’s done a little jumping, but not that much.’’

Connors said Blood Brotha’s whole campaign had been aimed at the New Zealand Cup this year and the horse had thrived in the week leading up to the race.

‘‘It all came together but that doesn’t always happen,’’ he said.

‘‘You never know with these big races, you certainly don’t think you can win them like that.’’

Connors said he was worried when Blood Brotha was buried a long way back on the fence, but a ‘‘10 out of 10’’ ride by Lisa Allpress got him home. ‘‘I was worried too,’’ Allpress said. ‘‘I had to talk to him down the back when he started to pull a bit hard but when I got him back he was good. ‘‘He’s a wonderful horse.’’ It was Blood Brotha’s seventh career win.