Ben Brisbourne eyes breakthrough stakes win with Suparazi in Group 3 Victoria Handicap

Trainer Ben Brisbourne says consistent galloper Superazi is deserving of another win and the Group 3 Victoria Handicap at Caulfield looks the right race to do so.

A breakthrough stakes success on Saturday at Caulfield in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap would be just reward for trainer Ben Brisbourne and Suparazi.

Suparazi has been a model of consistency for the Wangaratta horseman and connections, placed in six of the past nine starts.

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The six-year-old gelding, a seven-time winner from 39 starts, resumed with a gallant fifth in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington last month.

“He’s been great for the last 12 months really,” Brisbourne said.

“Racing very consistently and running out of his skin.

“We were delighted with him first-up in Group 1 company.”

Suparazi has won five of 18 starts at 1400m and placed on six occasions.

“This race looked like a nice second-up assignment up to a trip you could probably call his pet distance,” Brisbourne said.

“He’s enjoying his racing … and if there’s one horse that deserves to win another race it’s him.

“We are aware he hasn’t won a race for a little while now, although he’s picked up a stack of prizemoney, but this looks like a nice race for him.”

Suparazi is a $6 favourite for the Victoria Handicap from Regal Zeus ($7), Roll On High ($8.50), Chorlton Lane ($9), and Nicolini Vito ($10).

Suparazi is striving for a long overdue win at Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

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Suparazi placed in Listed and Group 3 races last spring behind Jimmysstar and Gringotts, who this year graduated to the top class with respective Oakleigh Plate and George Ryder Stakes triumphs.

Jimmysstar is fancied in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes on Saturday in Sydney while Gringotts is equal second favourite for the Group 1 Doncaster Mile.

Brisbourne has Group 1 ambitions for Suparazi in time but not before another win.

“We really want to win another race, first thing first if he could win on Saturday that probably puts his handicap up to a mark where he could perhaps end up in Brisbane,” Brisbourne said.

“Otherwise we’ll stick around in Melbourne the next couple of months, try and win a race with him, and then target some spring races with plenty of prizemoney on offer in Melbourne and Sydney.”

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Brisbourne has sights on Queensland’s richest and banner Group 1, the $3m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), as a potential target for Suparazi.

“He’s pretty adaptable from that 1200m to the mile, he’s got enough brilliance for 1200m, 1400m is probably his sweet spot,” Brisbourne said.

“He’s on a handicap mark where you can target a race and program towards that, which is nice … we don’t want to say (Stradbroke) too much and be too confident.”

Brisbourne is on track to record another personal-best season in winners and prizemoney, with 46 and $1.8m respectively.

He saddled 49 last year, while 502 starters earned a combined $1.9m.

The UK expat conditioner, who has trained 233 winners, is determined to add black-type success to the stable repertoire.

“We’ve been stakes placed with some young horses and Superazi has obviously run a drum in a few stakes race too, it’s an important step for the stable,” Brisbourne said.

“We need to be competitive in these types of (stakes) races and show future clients we can look after their good horses.”

Originally published as Ben Brisbourne eyes breakthrough stakes win with Suparazi in Group 3 Victoria Handicap