City trip for Brandjam

Glen Thompson will be hoping that Saturday's Caulfield meeting marks a change of luck after a frustrating week that included an abandoned meeting at Sale.

Thompson’s last active runner came when Benagil finished third in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) earlier this month. Plans to run Monte Cassino on Wednesday were dashed after the Sale meeting was called off following the third race.

Attention now turns to Brandjam, who resumes in the Remembering Robbie Laing Handicap (1440m) on Saturday. The lightly raced three-year-old has shown potential, including a recent win at Cranbourne.

Brandjam has stayed with Thompson since the passing of Mike Moroney, and the trainer is determined to reward loyal owners Chris Dziedzic and Lynn Cole with another success.

“It would be great to get another winner for Chris and Lynn from Kariba Racing as they have been massive supporters of mine since going back out on my own,” said Thompson.

“He won his maiden at The Valley, so we tried him in some better races after that,” he said.

“It was getting towards the end of his first prep, and he was still a colt.

“He’s come back in really good order as a gelding. His first run was good and his win at Cranbourne last time was impressive enough to warrant giving him a chance in town while he’s still three.”

With a rise in distance to 1400m, Thompson is hopeful rather than certain about Brandjam's suitability for the trip.

“The query is probably the 1400 (metres), but I thought he was strong to the line at Cranbourne,” he said.

“He’s not a big horse, but he’s got a big heart and tries hard, so it should take him a long way.”

“He’s going to have to get some cover and relax as he does everything a little bit quick at this stage, but if he can find a bum and switch off a little bit, I’m sure he can run it out.”

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