Lessons learned last campaign have prompted Flemington trainer Mike Moroney to launch Brazilian Pulse's spring assault in Saturday's Group 3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield.
The daughter of Captain Rio kicked off her aututmn campaign in the Kewney Stakes (1400m), when cut down by Do Ra Mi, leaving Moroney happy to resume in the Cockram (1200m) in preference to Saturday's P.B. Lawrence Stakes over 1400m.
“When she kicked off in the autumn over 1400 metres Craig (Williams, jockey) said that he felt she was a bit fresh and could have run over 1200 metres, so we thought we'd start her off at 1200 this time,” he said.
“On paper it may be a bit short for her in this class, and with the set weights and penalties she's got a little bit of weight (58.5kg), but she's only been out of the money once in her life and that was on an extremely heavy track in the AJC Oaks.”
Brazilian Pulse will be chasing a sixth win from just 11 starts when she lines up in the Cockram Stakes, again with Williams in the saddle.
The Group 3 Keith Nolan Classic (1800m) was her only win from four starts in a late summer-autumn campaign, but she won four of six starts in her initial preparation last spring, including the time-honoured Wakeful Stakes-VRC Crown Oaks double.
Moroney said Brazilian Pulse did well during her break, a month of which was spent on the Sunshine Coast, and she had been fitted up for her return to racing a couple of jumpouts at Flemington.
But the trainer's hopes of striking a weak Cockram were dashed when a Group 1-quality field accepted for the filiies and mares feature.
Pinker Pinker, Do Ra Mi, Parables and Southern Speed are some other high-quality four-year-olds resuming, experienced mares Lady Lynette and Avienus are back for another spring with Mid Summer Music and Rue Maple returning to Caulfield after fighting out the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes on July 30.
The Cockram Stakes could be Brazilian Pulse's only start for a month with Moroney keen to run in either the WFA Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes or the mares-only Stocks Stakes – both Group 2 events over 1600m – at Moonee Valley on September 10 with the Tatts Cox Plate his preferred spring goal.
“We're very keen on heading towards the Cox Plate with her as a main aim,” Moroney said. “We'll get through to the Turnbull and then make a decision after that, but that's where we're pretty keen to head.”
Brazilian Pulse headlines a three-horse team Moroney will take to Caulfield with the Melbourne Cup-winning trainer to start African Pulse against Sepoy in the Listed Vain Stakes (1100m) and Platinum Passion in the Australian Defence Force Handicap (1400m).
