Minstrel To Miss Brennan Memorial

The fourth instalment of the thrilling rivalry between Minstrel and Magnificent Storm will have to wait in the short term, after the Golden Nugget winner was a notable absentee from the acceptances for this week’s $50,000 James Brennan Memorial (2130m) at Gloucester Park on Saturday night.

Minstrel was comfortably beaten by Magnificent Storm in last week’s $30,000 York Cup, despite leading throughout.

The Greg and Skye Bond-trained pacer was unbeaten in five starts this campaign going into the York Cup but was beaten 7m by Magnificent Storm.

Greg Bond said he would give Minstrel a few weeks off after last week’s effort.

“I wasn’t quite happy with the run and given the run he had he should’ve been in the finish,” he said.

“It’s not taking anything away from Magnificent Storm at all.

“He’s normally a 55.5 last half horse and his last quarter was 29.2 on Friday.

“It wasn’t the Minstrel we know.

“He didn’t recover to a level we were totally comfortable with as well, so we will back off him for two or three weeks.”

Bond said he was disappointed not to have his rising star in this week’s $50,000 feature and next week’s Navy Cup but was adamant he would be alright for a Cups campaign early in the New Year.

Magnificent Storm looks set to score another feature race win in the Brennan Memorial, where he drew barrier one in the seven-horse field.

The Bond’s only runner in the race will be 2018 winner Vampiro, who has drawn barrier five.

The gelding has scored two victories and three placings in five starts this campaign.

Bond said he was happy with Vampiro but conceded he could “be running for second or third prizemoney” with Magnificent Storm drawn to his inside.

The Bond team is expected to be bolstered by the return of Galactic Star in next week’s Navy Cup, who missed the Brennan Memorial after he suffered a slight setback during the week.

Patronus Star, another key member of the Bond Free-For-All brigade, is set to make his return in the coming weeks, following a short break.

By Tim Walker for RWWA