Brisbourne hoping Choice Witness leads the charge at Narrandera

Wangaratta trainer Ben Brisbourne is primed for his customary trip over the border at a rescheduled and moved Narrandera meeting on Thursday, where he has several leading contenders engaged.

Brisbourne is a regular visitor to NSW meetings and will aim to strike with talented mare Choice Witness in the Remax Elite Wagga Benchmark 82 Handicap (1400m). The meeting, originally planned for Wagga Wagga on Tuesday, was moved almost 100km.

Wangaratta trainer Ben Brisbourne.Credit: Racing Photos

Choice Witness was a winner on the Wagga track on July 7 on a Heavy 10 surface and returns having contested a race at Sandown last week in which she finished down the track.

Jockey Milos Bunjevac takes the ride on Choice Witness, as well as stablemates Flutterby in the Macarthur Real Estate Agency Class 1 & Maiden Plate (1800m) and First Day in the Romanos Hotel Riverina Cup Prelude – Benchmark 74 Handicap – Heat Of Wagga Stayers Series (2000m).

Flutterby finished second in three straight runs following a Wangaratta victory with a last start at Albury.

First Day was a runaway winner at Wagga over Due Calzini on June 22 before finishing second behind that same galloper at Narrandera just over two weeks ago. She took on a tougher grade at Caulfield last Saturday when running fifth of five, beaten just under seven lengths.

Brisbourne has two other runners set to go around with apprentice Alice Kennedy set to partner Jappalouis in the Smallmon Brothers Waste & Recycling Maiden Plate (1000m) and Antisocial in the JRC Electrical Services Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m).

Jappalouis is having his first start for Brisbourne, having previously been trained by Cody Morgan. The seven-year-old hasn’t raced since January 2022.

Antisocial has been in form, having won at Swan Hill and Wagga before a last-start fourth at Corowa last Thursday.

Albury trainer Donna Scott has three runners going around, with first starter Forte Cheval (Amy O’Driscoll) and last start placegetter Too Darn Cold (Nick Heywood) lining up against Jappalouis.

Her other runner on the day is talented first starter Impending Imprint (Heywood) in the Junee
Prime Lamb Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1200m). Impending Imprint looked good winning a recent barrier trial at Albury.

Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au