Brian McKeagg desperate for a change of luck with Bookbars
The Tauranga trainer is tipping a bold showing from the mare in the Young Read Woudberg Chartered Accountants Handicap (2100m) to put an end to a frustrating run.
McKeagg has had the misfortune this year to lose a pair of talented horses in the multiple winners Galloping Gerte and Cantare.
“Galloping Gerte did a suspensory ligament and she’s in foal to Wrote and Cantare has been retired as well,” he said.
“We had him x-rayed and they took a little chip out, but he had arthritis as well and the advice was that he could break down.
“It’s a shame, they were potentially the two best horses I’ve had.”
Galloping Gerte won twice from seven starts last season and finished sixth in both the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2000m), while Cantare had won three times from 14 appearances.
However, McKeagg is expecting the stable’s fortunes to turn around at Tauranga where he is tipping Brookbars to give a strong account of herself.
“Don’t take any notice of her last run,” he said. “Michael McNab said the horses in front of them were going nowhere so he sat and hoped something would open up and it never did.
“She’s got some gears, she’s got a two kilo claim and drawn well. I’m expecting a big change of form.”
A course and distance winner earlier this year, the daughter of Bullbars will be ridden by apprentice Jordan Nason.