All good so far with comeback kid “Cruz”

Millionaire pacer Cruz Bromac continues to bring a smile to the face of trainer Dean Braun as the pacer is aimed at another racetrack campaign.

“He seems really good. I can’t fault him one bit,” Braun said.

“We’ve taken him to the trials twice for a third and a win. But the important thing is he’s pulled up with no issues each time.”

The nine-year-old pacer, a winner of 23 races from 53 starts for $1,057,000 in stakes, last raced 13 months ago.

He finished fourth at his last start at Melton on November 14 last year in a Free For All event behind Lochinvar Art (who coincidentally is also about to return to racing) but an ongoing fetlock issue flared up and “Cruz” was all but retired.

However, a more promising prognosis from an x-ray in the middle of this year gave the owners every reason to get in touch with Braun and discuss the possibility of another crack for the champ.

Braun has had Cruz Bromac back in work for over four months.

“We’re just taking things real steady,” he said.

“I gave him a little freshen up after the first two trials and the plan is to go back to the trials again next week.

Cruz Bromac (Falcon Seelster-Crown Defender (Life Sign) thrilled harness racing fans on both sides of the Tasman with some performances oozing with class. A New Zealand Cup victory in 2019 was among his best as well as a NZ Free-For-All the previous year. He also won the 2018 Len Smith Mile, while Victorian country cup wins were at Warragul, Cobram and Hamilton.

“It’s a big task to think that we would be able to get him back to his very top. He’s got a bit to go, and we are just taking things slowly, but he’s coming along well.  One thing you always know when you take him to the races, he’ll give you all that he can,” Braun said.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink