Breakthrough beckons for Buchanan’s Bluesbro

Bluesbro
Kristen Buchanan is hoping Bluesbro’s staying debut can lead to its maiden win at Kembla Grange. Pic: Bradley Photos

THE consistent, but winless seven-year-old Bluesbro will confront 2000m for just the second time in its career, but trainer Kristen Buchanan believes the horse is capable of ending a bad run of luck.

The horse has competed in sprints across its career so far, but Thursday’s maiden at Kembla Grange will see the Bluesbro confront the 2000m journey for just the second time.

The gelding has finished in the placings in six of its seven runs to date, but has yet to win in its two years on the competitive circuit.

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The trainer believes the step up in distance will be ideal for the son Primus.

“He had a go at the 2000m for the first time in his career and he looked really comfortable,” Buchanan told HorseBetting.com.au.

“He looks like he’s been looking for the extra trip in his runs before that and I’m really looking forward to racing him there.”

Bluesbro is the $2.20 favourite at Crownbet.com.au to take out the Club Windang Maiden Plate at Kembla Grange on Thursday.

It has been one of the more unusual racing stories thus far for the seven-year-old, who has less race day experience than a number of its much younger rivals in Thursday’s event.

Buchanan explained Bluesbro’s struggle to get to the races, which included an operation to overcome laryngeal hemiplegia, which trainers commonly refer to horses afflicted as “a roarer”, impacts a galloper’s ability to breathe.

“He was a roarer,” Buchanan explained.

“He needed a wind operation, so he was retired to a farm in Stanley. Tey went to a pony club, and he didn’t really work out there, so they sent him back to me.

“Since he came back to me underwent the surgery and it was very successful, and he is now getting the wind in properly. We weren’t in any rush, so we just chilled out with that family and brought him back when we could afford that operation.”

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The lightly-raced gelding has a brilliant strike-rate of 86 percent in the place stakes, but has never broken through for an elusive win.

Three of the horse’s six placings have been within a length and a half of the eventual winner, and Buchanan believes her galloper lacks the dynamic edge required to win over the sprint distance.

“I think he’s a horse that needs to be comfortable and he doesn’t have a really good turn of foot,” she said.

“So they are the ones that always get nabbed on the line.”

Buchanan said the horse lacks an ability to find an extra gear when others quicken the speed.

“He’s just a bit one-paced really, so that’s why last preparation we didn’t get up to the 2000m, but this prep I’ve made it my mission to get there as soon as possible.

“We think he’s got a great cruising speed, he just lacks that turn of foot and that’s what I’d put it down to, he just lacks that bit of brilliance that helps him avoid getting nailed on the line.”

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