Berkshire Breeze has emerged as a Cups candidate with an emphatic win at Flemington on Saturday.
The Ciaron Maher-trained import cruised to a 4.75 length victory under a hold from jockey Ethan Brown in the Benchmark 84 RDAV Sally Francis Plate (2520m).
“He’s a very progressive horse this bloke,” Brown said.
“He’s got a lot ahead of him and has been winning by big margins and I haven’t got to the bottom of him … he is running in benchmark races but I feel like he’s got stakes ability.”
Berkshire Breeze, $51 in TAB’s pre-nominations Caulfield Cup market, enjoyed an economical run in transit under Brown and blended into contention at the top of the straight.
• Hayes galloper Rises from canvas to deny plunge horse Craig
Brown sat motionless as the athletic grey, whose best international form is at 2400m and beyond, put a space on the opposition.
Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull confirmed Berkshire Breeze would progress through the winter with a view to eventually be aimed at the “bigger spring handicaps”.
“The way he found off the bridle is what you want to see,” Turnbull said.
“A lot of horses can travel and give a length or two but for him to go on with it, especially out there on his own, says a lot about the horse and what’s possibly in front of him.
“We’re going to place him through the winter as a horse knocking on spring’s doorstep.”
• Mount a challenge: Kah rallies for rising stars’ World Championships bid
Berkshire Breeze will be carefully placed to build his rating – 76 going into the Flemington romp – to get into the spring handicaps without too much weight.
“We’ll be mindful of where we’re going,” Turnbull said.
“If he’s good enough he’ll find his way into a Caulfield Cup and we pick our way through along the way, he’s a horse with a lot of upside.
“We’ll tip toe through and pick the right path, leave that up to Ciaron.”
Originally published as Ciaron Maher-trained import Breezes into Cups contention after emphatic Flemington win