Progressive galloper, Braviano will be aiming to continue Keith Dryden's hot start to the 2012/13 season when he contests the Bowerman'S Furniture Handicap (1100m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Stepping out in Metropolitan company for the first time in his career, the lightly race six-year-old has been in career best form since resuming, notching up two wins and two minor placings from five starts.
"He's got to that stage now where he deserves his chance in town," Dryden said.
"There wasn't really a suitable race for him this Friday in Canberra, so I thought I'd give him a run in town and see how we go."
"I've had his blood tested this week and that was all okay, so there is no reason why he shouldn't go down there and be competitive on Wednesday."
After formerly being ridden up on the speed, Dryden feels the recent change in tactics to ride Braviano off the speed has been the lynch - pin to the gelding's recent success.
"It just took us a few runs this time in to sort it all out," Dryden said.
"Originally we were trying to ride him up near the lead but he seems to be a much better horse when ridden back off the pace."
"He's a horse who's got to be held right up, for that final sprint."
Dryden has enjoyed a very promising start to the 2012/13 season with a winning strike rate of 20% and a place strike rate of nearly 50% from only 15 runners.
"Everything is going along well at the moment, we had a winner on Sunday and before that another winner last Monday," Dryden said.
"It's a long way to go yet, but the horses are all racing well and it certainly makes things easier when you are kicking home a winner because it is a tough game."
"You've just to get a bit of luck, I think everybody gets their turn and fortunately for us it's ours at the moment."
Along with his recent success, Dryden will also welcome back stable stars Vilakazi Street and unbeaten galloper Myname'sjames in the coming weeks.
"They are both back in work at the moment and look to be about a month off before they make their returns," Dryden said.
"They both seem to have done well off a break, I haven't put any real pressure on them yet, that's going to come in the next three weeks."
"We'll step them up into the gallops now and that will give us a better indication of how they're going."
