Rising 10-year-old gelding Bradman has been a stable stalwart for Roydon Bergerson, and the Awapuni trainer is hoping he can end his career on a high when he heads to Riccarton on Saturday to contest the Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup.
Bred by the late Kevin Hickman, Bradman is by Pins and out of two-time New Zealand Broodmare of the Year Baggy Green, who is also the dam of four-time Group 1 winner Tofane, Group 1 winner No Compromise and Group 1 performer Benaud.
While Bradman hasn’t reached the same lofty heights as his siblings, he has gone on to be a solid performer for Bergerson, who purchased him out of Valachi Downs’ 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $85,000.
Bradman has won 11 of his 68 starts to date, including the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m), while he has also placed in two editions of both the Winter Cup and Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m), and in the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m).
Having placed in the last two runnings of the Winter Cup, Bergerson is hopeful Bradman can break through for an elusive win in the Riccarton feature this weekend, and he is in the form to do so.
Bradman has won his last two starts, including a dominant 6-1/4 length victory over 1500m at Trentham earlier this month, and Bergerson said he has been thriving in his work.
“Hopefully it’s third time lucky,” Bergerson said. “He is going into it in really good form and I couldn’t be happier with him, he is training the best he has in his life.”
Bradman will carry top weight of 59kg and will be ridden by apprentice jockey Jim Chung from barrier four.
“It is always hard to win when you are top weight, but he carried that last start and gave them a bit of a whipping, so hopefully he can bring the same form on Saturday,” Bergerson said.
Bradman was set to be retired last year, but Bergerson was able to convince his owners to continue racing him for one more season, which proved fruitful, and the Palmerston North horseman is hoping his charge can end his career on a high this weekend.
“The team wanted to retire him last year and I said I thought he still had a couple of more wins left in him, so we brought him back,” Bergerson said. “He could be retired after Saturday, this could be his last run.”
Closer to home today, Bergerson will line up three runners at Ōtaki, including Farravallo and Testing in the UZABUS Handicap (1100m).
Rising 6-year-old gelding Farravallo returned to winning form when first-up over 1200m at Trentham earlier this month, and Bergerson has been pleased with his progression.
“He has come back super,” Bergerson said. “He had a bit of knee trouble last year and we rectified that, and he is bringing back his A-game, he is going really well, I can’t fault him. It will take a good horse to beat him tomorrow.”
Bergerson is more hopeful than confident about stablemate Testing, with the mare set to have her first start in open company.
“There have just been no races for her,” Bergerson said. “It’s 1100m and it is not an overly strong field. There are a couple in it that go really well, but she has won there before on a Heavy track. She has got no weight and a good little jockey [Floor Moerman] on, so fingers crossed. If anything can beat Farravallo I hope it is her.”
Bergerson will also line up Turn It Up in the DG Farriers Handicap (1200m).
“She was a bit disappointing the other day because she trialled up really well before it and I thought we got her back to her best,” Bergerson said. “Gryllsy [jockey Craig Grylls] just said she pulled her head off and she just had nothing left, so we will let her stride out tomorrow and she might like running that way.”
Meanwhile, Bergerson is looking forward to the new season, but it will be without his Group 1 performer Sweetest Thing, who was runner-up behind Seize The Day in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and Lassified in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m).
The daughter of Hello Youmzain was subsequently purchased by Australian Bruce Wilson, under his Glentree Racing banner, and the filly has joined Te Akau Racing’s Matamata barn, which is led by Bergerson’s son, Sam, and training partner Mark Walker.
While down one of his stable stars, Bergerson remains upbeat ahead of the new term.
“I have got a young team,” he said. “We have got a couple of really nice rising 3-year-olds, and I am looking forward to next season.”
Bergerson is also hopeful about a few of his older brigade.
“Too Sweet was disappointing last year, but she has come back well, and Wingman has got a bright future, he has just had immaturity problems, but he has come back really well.”
– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk