Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien eyes back-to-back Aurie’s Star Handicaps with It’sourtime

Trainer Danny O’Brien has no reason to doubt It’sourtime as the gelding chases back-to-back Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicaps at Flemington.

Trainer Danny O’Brien has no reason to doubt It’sourtime in his quest for back-to-back Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicaps at Flemington.

It’sourtime is a $6.50 chance with TAB in the eight-horse field, which includes Right To Party ($3.60), Zarastro ($4.20) and Nicolini Vito ($6).

The consistent seven-year-old gelding, a four-time winner at Flemington, won the Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) last start.

It’sourtime has 57.5kg to carry on Saturday – up from 55.5kg in the race last year.

“He’s as good as he’s been, he’ll need to be, run up to his best to win it, at 57.5kg now, but we expect him to run well,” O’Brien said.

“He was good the other day, he’s in a winnable event again … it’s only eight runners but they all look to have a winning hope, but we’re very happy with him.

“He’s taken no harm from his run a month ago and he looks like he’ll present in great shape again on Saturday.”

It’sourtime loves the Flemington straight and looked the winner a long way out! Wins the Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final with Damian Lane onboard.

📽 @7HorseRacingpic.twitter.com/jG8Bb9drRH

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) July 6, 2024

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O’Brien also has well-backed last start winner Ithadtobezou, a $3.70 favourite in the 1410m Benchmark 84 earlier on the Flemington card.

“We’ve only had her this preparation and her three runs have been good,” O’Brien said of the former Sydney-based mare, whose most recent starts netted two seconds and a win.

“She draws a good gate, she jumps, puts herself on speed and looks well-placed down in the weights, in a better class of race, can’t see why she couldn’t run well again.”

.@blake_shinn gets the best out of Ithadtobezou at Sandown 🔥 @DOBrienRacingpic.twitter.com/xCsIu4P9CT

— Racing.com (@Racing) July 24, 2024

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O’Brien trained 104 winners last season – up from 62 and 70 in previous campaigns.

“That was our aim at the start of the year, to go past the 100, we just missed our record (106 in 2007-08) so we’ll try and get past that this season,” O’Brien said.

“Everyone is always trying to improve on what they’re doing – we dropped from 100 (winners in 2019-20) to 87 and our last two years hadn’t been great.

“We set ourselves for (last) season, built a new track on our (Barwon Heads) property, a new heavy sand track and we’ve continued to get more sophisticated on our treadmill program.”

O’Brien’s haul included eight stakes’ races last season, including a Group 2, but none at the highest level.

2019 Melbourne Cup-winner Vow And Declare placed second in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes last spring, while Young Werther finished third in the Champions Stakes.

O’Brien, a 23-time Group 1-winner, is determined to correct the Group 1 “aberration” this season.

“Our first season for five years we didn’t have a Group 1 winner,” O’Brien said.

“Hopefully that’s an aberration, obviously that comes down to what horses you’ve got at that level in your system and hopeful we’ve got some young ones that can compete at that level this year.

“We’d be disappointed if we don’t have Group 1 winners this season.”

Originally published as Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien eyes back-to-back Aurie’s Star Handicaps with It’sourtime