HORSE RACING

DAVID Brideoake will be looking to land back-to-back Group Three successes with his newly acquired sprinter Red Can Man on Saturday.

The former Western Australian sprinter has had two runs under the Mornington-based trainers care, with his most recent resulting in a gusty long-neck victory in the Group Three Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield. 

He’ll be looking to continue his successful run at the track on Saturday when he lines up in the Group Three Bletchingly Stakes (1200m). 

Looking to take substantial improvement from his first-up run when finishing beyond midfield at Flemington, Brideoake believes the gelding relished getting onto a firmer surface second-up and gained plenty of fitness from his first-up outing.

“He had been a long time between runs and I think he just needed a pipe opener [first-up],” Brideoake said.

“He got onto a four or a five (track rating) the other day and showed good improvement. He’ll take natural improvement with it being his third run in and I think he should be competitive come Saturday.”

Red Can Man, who finished within three lengths of the winner in the Group One Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at the end of his last prep, will face another talented galloper from Mornington on Saturday.

Shane Nichols’ dual Group One winner Streets of Avalon is also set to resume in the Group Three contest.

Brideoake, who is in a purple patch of form having saddled up 17 winners from his last 50 runners, said he was more worried about the rainy forecast more than anything.

“They’re proven Group One horses there so I’m not going to get too carried away,” he said. 

“It is very hard to take on a horse like Streets of Avalon but I’m sure there’ll be plenty of other handy horses in there as well. I think watching (Red Can Man) win the other day though, a lot of people will be in his camp.

“I’m very happy with him but I’m a bit concerned about the weather. He looks better suited on top of the ground.” 

Red Can Man, who has now earnt $863,090 in prize money, has had just the two starts in soft conditions or worse and has finished outside of the placings on both occasions. 

First published in the Mornington News – 20 July 2021