Pearcedale trainer Mario Briganti enjoyed a night to remember at Sandown Park last night, leading home a winning treble.
Briganti arrived at the track believing he had three winning chances from his four starters and his optimism proved well founded. However it didn’t quite play out the way he had thought.
“The quickest of the four got beaten – I think his name is the problem there, Carltonian,” he said with a laugh.
Carltonian was the last away in his 595m event and after finding early traffic, spotted the leader Especial Shiraz eight lengths past the post the first time. He then picked his way through the field, finishing strongly to run second, two lengths behind eventual winner Dutch Legacy.
“He’s got a big engine. I don’t think he’ll get 700m, but hopefully with a bit of confidence he can turn into a nice 600m dog. He finds trouble early but his trial here the other day was really big and in good conditions and a clear run he’s a 29.20 dog over 515m.
“He broke 30 seconds in his maiden at the Meadows but his form tapered off a bit. He had a tonsil problem so we had took them out and he’s come back a faster dog.”
The night got off to the best possible – albeit unexpected – start for Briganti. Despite his impressive all of the way win last Sunday, Primed Engine was sent to the boxes a $24.40 chance in the night’s opening event. He belied the punter’s – and his trainer’s – expectations to score by two lengths.
His second winner came two races later when the well supported Undisputed turned in an impressive railing performance to record its first city win, and Hot Tip rounded out Briganti’s night with slick win over 715m, stopping the click in an impressive 41.86. It was Hot Tip’s sixth win over the staying trip from 12 starts.
“He’s seasoned up a bit now and he’s racing well.
“Primed Engine – I needed to get him up over 500m because he just couldn’t match it with those 400m dogs. And Undisputed, he’s just a real good, hard chaser and his form shows he’s very consistent.”
Briganti has just seven dogs in work in his Pearcedale kennel, and the other three members of his team will be making the trip to Sandown Park this Sunday. While they are his ‘B team’, he was optimistic his winning run can continue.
“Tobacco Leaf (race 8 number 4) has had a bit of break but has been trialling well so he’s our best chance.”
Click here for full results from last night
Click here for your free form guide for Sunday’s race meeting
Undisputed rails strongly to record an impressive victory in 29.72
