Uncle Bryn has been in Australia less than a year but has made an immediate impact for Cranbourne trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, winning three races from ten starts and scoring his biggest win to date in Saturday’s listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m).
There looked a genuine speed on paper and that’s the way it played out, with Melbourne Cup winning jockey Mark Zahra happy to sit back and loop the field around the turn to win by 2 lengths over Group 1 winner Callsign Mav and second favourite Visinari.
Seymour Bloodstock’s Mark Pilkington, who has numerous horses with Busuttin & Young, was thrilled to win their local Cup with the progressive son of Sea The Stars.
“Great for the guys to win their hometown Cup, he’s a promising horse that we’ll just take through his grades. The prize money here in Victoria is so great you can take your time and hopefully consolidate your horse for the future,” Pilkington said.
Having been extended to 2000m when running second to subsequent Group 1 winner Smokin’ Romans in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes, Pilkington praised Uncle Bryn’s versatility.
“We’re still not quite sure what his best trip is , hopefully he’ll still be there swinging in 12- or 18-months’ time, and he’ll invite himself to a good race one day. ”
Mark Zahra notched up his second win of the day having led all the way aboard Remedies in Race 1, but was content to sit back in the field in the Cup.
“I was giggling when they were steaming along in front. I was a fair way off them but I was really travelling and everything around me I could hear everyone around me starting to go for their horse and I hadn’t even moved,” Zahra said.
Zahra has been aboard Uncle Bryn twice now for two wins, having won on him by 4 lengths at Sale in April and said the horse has given him a Group 1 feel.
“He could (win a G1), I reckon a mile is his trip and if he was set for a mile I think he could win one for sure.”