Two Blue’s success gives lightly-tried stablemate a fighting hope

Two Blue
This win from Two Blue was enough to secure its stablemate Bluesbro a chance of winning at Newcastle on Thursday. Photo: Bradley Photos

SIX-YEAR-OLD gelding Bluesbro has its brother to thank when it tries to break maiden grades in the Strathyr Plate at Newcastle on Thursday.

The son of Primus was always going to need time according to Wyong-based trainer Kristen Buchanan, but due to a serious wind problem it looked unlikely that Bluesbro was going to make it to the races.

Its racing hopes all rest upon stablemate Two Blue, which needed to earn enough stake money in order to give its brother a much-needed wind operation. With almost $700,000 in the bank, Two Blue came through and now the aptly-named Bluesbro is looking to do it proud.

“He’s slow maturing and the brother of Two Blue, who was also a bit the same,” Buchanan told HorseBetting.com.au. “Although she raced at three, she didn’t mature until she was at least six.

“Bluesbro had a serious wind issue – about as serious as they get, so we threw him in the paddock and if she (Two Blue) wins some money we might give him a go.”

Two Blue stepped up to the plate by taking out the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at Randwick in April of last year and that allowed Bluesbro to get its deserved chance of making it in the racing game.

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“She came out and did her thing and bought him a throat operation,” a proud Buchanan said. “He’s not in the same calibre as Two Blue, but he’s honest and he’s knocking on the door.”

Bluesbro went close at Port Macquarie last start, but the strong tempo of the race caught Buchanan and jockey Serg Lisnyy by surprise.

“I was really happy with him at Port Macquarie. He got a mile back and was out of touch as we didn’t expect him to be that far back,” she said. “I was happy with how he ran on behind the blistering speed and he hit the line very well, just a shame it wasn’t that bit further.”

Bluesbro ($4.40 at Sportsbet) gets out to 2000m for Thursday’s run and a change in rider will also benefit the gelding as Buchanan talked about the decision to start putting the very best jockeys on her horses.

“We booked Tommy (Berry). We’ve done well this year, we put the best riders on wherever we’ve been going,” Buchanan said. “We have to do the best thing by the horses.

“We’ve had some good times with some loyal people, but going forward we’ll look after the horses and owners and make that our priority.”

The Buchanan stable is firing on all cylinders this season and recent Scone winner Texas Tycoon is a shining example of a stable going in the right direction.

The four-year-old was having just its second race day start on Monday, but the 4.8-length win indicated that provincial meetings might not hold it for long.

“He’s another one (late maturing), having only had two starts in his first preparation and he’s a rising five-year-old,” Buchanan said.

“I think he’s got a lot of potential which is great, but he’s still very green and I think we’ll stick to the big country tracks for the meantime.”

Buchanan hasn’t ruled out the potential of lining up in the city, but will take a cautious approach with the well-bred son of Written Tycoon.

“I owned himself until we added some other owners just recently, so there hasn’t been any pressure,” she said. “I’d like to think he’ll be in town, but not yet.

“He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed and we’ll take it one race at a time.

“I’ll take him through the grades and step him up slowly, but I think he has raw natural ability.”

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