Great Northern ambitions linger for Monarch Chimes
CO-TRAINERS David and Emma-Lee Browne are confident Monarch Chimes will handle the upcoming schedule after giving the prospect a month between runs in it build-up to the Great Northern Hurdles.
The Cambridge six-year-old is unbeaten over the smaller fences and the Brownes are happy to keep the jumper ticking over at home until the Harrison Lane Hurdle on August 26.
It may seem like an unconventional approach, but Emma Lee Browne believes it will prove beneficial in the bigger picture.
“He’ll run at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting next and it might be quite a long time between runs from his last race, but we think that will suit him best,” Browne said.
Monarch Chimes will then return to Ellerslie to tackle the Schweppes Great Northern Hurdles on September 9.
“He doesn’t cop a lot of racing and we don’t want to run him on the flat somewhere just for the sake of it,” Browne said.
“He thrives on confidence and that’s at a high at the moment.”
Monarch Chimes was an easy debut hurdle winner at Te Aroha early last month and subsequently went on to claim a comfortable victory over the reigning Grand National Hurdle winner Ngario and the capable Raisafuasho at Rotorua.
“He’s been really good and obviously it’s a step up every time and hopefully he can carry on,” Browne said.
The stable has known for some time that the Shinko King gelding had a bright future over fences after regular schooling the horse at home.
“A couple of years ago David told one of the owners Dave Fullerton not to worry when his flat career finished, he would be jumping then.”