Big Opal Rocks finishes ahead of Shipwreck (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
By Pat McLeod
Victorian trainer Mario Briganti returns to Brisbane this week with a new match plan for his star youngster Big Opal Rocks’ assault on Thursday night’s Group 1 $525,000 SKY Racing Brisbane Cup (520m) final at Albion Park.
Today (Sunday) the Devon Meadows-based trainer was able to dismiss injury concerns surrounding his chaser and has also outlined a different lead-in to the final.
Briganti and Big Opal Rocks will travel to Brisbane on Tuesday, a day earlier than for last week’s heat, giving the Kinloch Brae – Red Rocks flyer every chance of Group One success.
Big Opal Rocks held off a fast-finishing Shipwreck to earn a berth in the rich decider. However, Briganti had been far from rapt in the result.
“I was concerned because although he won, once he hit the front he should have just opened up … he is that strong,” he said.
“It was a below par run. I know the second dog is a very strong dog. But I don’t see too many dogs taking ground off this bloke. Especially in the last section.”
Briganti’s concerns were centred around a collision between his dog and Jedda’s Cutlack’s Shaye as both tussled for the lead going through the catching pen.
While that incident ended Shaye’s final hopes, Big Opal Rocks consolidated his lead down the back, before beating Shipwreck to the line in 30.02secs.
At the time Briganti had rated his dog’s chances at 50-50 to return for the finale.
“He’s has just turned two and he has his whole career ahead of him. It is not about the money it is about the welfare of the dog,” he said.
However today’s (Sunday’s) report was far more optimistic.
“There is no injury. He is a just a bit lethargic,” Briganti said.
“I will get some bloods from him on Monday, to make sure everything is OK. And at this stage he is right to go and will fly up on Tuesday, settle in Tuesday night and Wednesday and he will be all good to race on Thursday night.
“He will be a lot better prepared this time around.
“We tried something different with the flight up the day before the heat because normally he is a good traveller.
“However, his performance was due to several factors – the later flight, he did not travel well due to a lot of other domestic dogs on the flight, he lost a bit of weight and also the knock he received on the first corner.
“It all combined.
“I will be a lot more confident this Thursday night having come up an extra day early and having an extra day’s rest.”
Big Opal Rocks had plenty of admirers before his Brisbane campaign started, but that number increased when he posted a 29.58sec trail at his first look at the track.
After that Briganti suggested that the Albion Park 29.38sec track record may be in danger of being run down.
“I think he could probably run 29.30 or 40 here. He is that quick. He ran 29.50 here without seeing the track.
“He is a very fast dog, a very, very strong dog.”
