THUBIAAN ticks all the boxes to win back-to-back Brierly Steeplechases on Tuesday, says his trainer Eric Musgrove.
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Musgrove, who is chasing his fourth Brierly victory, said he was delighted with Thubiaan's condition leading into the $125,000 race since his outstanding last-start win in the Great Eastern Steeplechase at Oakbank on Easter Monday.
“It's five weeks since Thubiaan's last run but I'm not really concerned,” Musgrove said.
“He's going very good. He came down to Warrnambool a fortnight ago for a steeplechase school over 2000 metres. I thought he went well. The school was just to familiarise Thubiaan with Warrnambool again. It's a unique course. He showed with his win last year in the Brierly he likes the track."
Musgrove praised jumps jockey Martin Kelly, who partners Thubiaan in the opening day’s main race, for his work with the eight-year-old’s preparation.
“Thubiaan can be a difficult horse to ride but Martin understands him,” he said.
“He knows it's best to let Thubiaan just roll along. He's a big strong horse and Martin seems to ride him really well. Martin's been riding for the stable for about 18 months. He's doing a great job.”
Thubiaan has 70kg but Musgrove is unperturbed with the big weight he has to carry in the 3450 metre race.
"It's a fair weight," he said. "I've got no complaints. He deserves it after what he's done over the past year. He's got a very good record over the jumps. We've given him plenty of time to mature as a jumper. He started out as a hurdler in 2014 showing us great promise and he's living up to that promise now. We have not rushed him and he's paying us back for our patience now."
Musgrove said he would think of a Grand Annual start after the Brierly.
"We don't want to get in front of ourselves," he said. "We're just taking it one run at a time. We're focussed on the Brierly.”
Thubiaan found his way to Musgrove's stable after he had reached his limit on the flat for top Sydney trainer Chris Waller. His best result with Waller was a third placing in the listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes over 3200 metres at Flemington in 2013.
Musgrove's other Brierly winners were Worthy Knight (1999) and Chakra (2004).
Thubiaan's stablemate Earthbound is among the dangers. TAB had the gelding at $6 in fixed odds betting on Monday. Gai Waterhouse’s Valediction was on the second line at $3.80 shaded only by Thubiaan ($3.60 favourite). Last year’s Grand Annual winner Regina Coeli was a surprising $26.
