Constellations Carnival beckons for Bronski Zulu

Charlie Cini is confident he has the promising Bronski Zulu (Sweet Lou) ready to nab his second harness racing career victory in the Listed Wayne Wilson Paleface Adios Classic at Albion Park on Saturday evening.

The two-year-old son of Sweet Lou has shown plenty of ability in the early stages of his career but that has not added up to regularly winning.

Bronski Zulu was a stylish winner on debut as a red-hot favourite in the first month of this year after strong trial form but has been unable to grab another victory since.

He has also developed a bit of a ‘bridesmaid’ tag in feature races, forced to settle for second in the QBRED Breeders Classic Final and APG Gold Bullion Final for his age group and sex this year.

He was only beaten by a short margin on both occasions.

The 58-year-old Cini thinks he will eventually see the best of his young pacer as a three-year-old.

“He has got the ability but he is still immature and I am sure next season he will go better again,” Cini said.

“I think he is up to the task on Saturday night.

“He is in good order and I am sure he is forward enough.”

Since his debut victory at Albion Park, Bronski Zulu has placed a further five times – including the two juvenile Finals.

Top reinsman Shane Graham has been Bronski Zulu’s regular driver for the majority of his career but Australia’s leading man in the sulky – Nathan Dawson – gets the job on Saturday evening.

The Group 1-winning Dawson has been in the bike before on race day with Bronski Zulu and will face a serious task after drawing seven.

“I am happy with him,” Cini said of his pacer.

“He is working well and now it is up to Nathan Dawson to give him a good trip.

“I think he will need all the favours from that draw as he will likely get back in the field from that draw.

The veteran conditioner is using the Listed Wayne Wilson Paleface Adios Classic as a stepping stone for his emerging youngster.

He described the Albion Park Gold Brisbane APG Sales Graduates 2YO Final as his “main mission”.

The heats for that series commence on Friday of next week before the Listed Final on July 15, which comes on Sunshine Sprint night at Albion Park.

The Jacobs Well-based Cini also has trotter Nortie Nortie entered on Saturday night at Albion Park in a heat of the Darrell Alexander Memorial Trotting Championship.

Nortie Nortie finished a long way behind the winner in the first round of heats for the annual series earlier this month but he has drawn smartly in one for Saturday night.

Dawson will also take the drive.

“He is still learning how to trot properly,” the trainer said.

“He has drawn one on Saturday night and he has the ability to win, but he is still learning what to do.”

Stable mate Bronski Delight contested the Group 3 Queensland Oaks at Redcliffe last week and will now be aimed at the Albion Park Oaks features in the coming weeks.

Cini said Bronski Delight was found wanting over the 2280 metre trip and he anticipates she will improve on the run.

The Cini property at Jacobs Well is a hive of activity through the 2023 Constellations Carnival with visiting trainers and drivers.

Jack Trainor, Anthony Butt, Craig Ferguson, Howard James and Nathan Hurst have all used the facility in recent weeks.

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by Jordan Gerrans, for Racing Queensland