Big targets ahead for Zeuss Bromac

The New South Wales TAB Carnival Of Cups harness racing roadshow heads to the International Paceway in Newcastle tonight (Feb. 3).

The feature meeting kicks off the Club’s Febfest initiative that will involve three race meetings run during February.

The time-honored open-class Newcastle Cup, to be run over the stayers’ journey of 2550m, has attracted a strong field that includes three horses who competed in the recent Inter Dominion series in Victoria.

Petes Said So (Well Said) and Zeuss Bromac (Bettor’s Delight) won their way through to the Grand Final after both were placegetters in one of the Inters qualifying heats, while To Fast To Serious ran fourth in the consolation.

In a congested TAB market, the Paul Fitzpatrick-trained and Gavin Fitzpatrick-driven Zeuss Bromac is quoted as a $4.50 chance despite drawing awkwardly on the inside of the second row.

The six-year-old was freshened-up after running fifth in the Inter Dominion final and returned to racing last Saturday at Tabcorp Park Menangle where he ran a close sixth in a Free-For-All won by Spirit Of St Louis.

The stallion will have derived a lot of benefit from that run and despite the sticky draw, Gavin is quietly confident of a forward showing from his charge.

“He went well enough first-up,” said Fitzpatrick.

“They ran home in wicked fractions in the race, making it very hard to make up ground from the back.

“We will need to be much closer in the run tonight – there is no doubt about that.

“I will be looking to get off the pegs nice and early from the draw, and with our main danger drawn directly to our outside, I feel we have no other option but to do that.”

The Fitzpatricks are not only looking for success with Zeuss Bromac tonight but are hoping that a strong performance from him will ensure he also gains a start in the Group 1 Newcastle Mile on February 17.

“He will need to perform up to our expectations tonight for us to consider going back there in two weeks for the mile,” said Fitzpatrick.

“But barring bad luck, I cannot see any reason why he won’t be right in the finish.”

The first race this evening is the Febfest 2023 Pace over the mile journey and despite drawing barrier 10, last-start Tamworth winner Masake (Josh Gallagher) will be hard to hold out again.

For complete Newcastle race entries, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW