Trainer Ben Brisbourne is maintaining a confident outlook heading into Tuesday’s Maribyrnong Plate, despite his runners facing esteemed stables and top-tier thoroughbreds.
The young horseman from England has two representatives slated for the $240,000 Group 3 event, which serves as the curtain-raiser for the Melbourne Cup Day card.
Lumineux and Rain Bender will carry Brisbourne’s hopes against a competitive field that includes the $1.1 million Anamoe colt Amsterdam, prepared by Ciaron Maher, Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s duo Royal Press and Jetsetter, Lindsay Park’s La La Lilly, and Funded, trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman.
Brisbourne indicated that having multiple runners in one of Victoria’s significant pre-Christmas juvenile races was not a long-term aspiration, but stated that both horses have successfully met his educational criteria and have earned their starting berths.
“These were just a couple that have been in the system, ticked every box that we put in front of them and there’s been no reason to put them out,” he said.
“There are not many two-year-old races around, so they find their way into the Maribyrnong Plate.”
Lumineux, a gelding by South Australian sire Strasbourg, triumphed in an 800m jumpout on October 9. He had previously competed against La La Lilly in that workout and was narrowly defeated by Jetsetter in another trial two weeks later.
Rain Bender, a notable progeny of Villermont, demonstrated strong early speed to win both of her trials, first at Wangaratta on October 7 and then at Flemington on October 23.
Brisbourne’s pair are the outsiders in the Maribyrnong Plate field, with Rain Bender priced at $19 and Lumineux at $26. However, the trainer expects them to exceed expectations.
“I thought the filly jumped out extremely well and I thought she’d come up a lot shorter in the market than she is,” he said.
“The gelding, he’s been pretty faultless. He’s a very tradesmanlike horse, you wouldn’t really know what’s under the hood until you really put him under pressure.
“They’re both nice horses that will win races and we look forward to starting them off here at Headquarters.”
Champion jockey Craig Williams will partner Lumineux, who is drawn barrier six in the nine-runner field, while Rain Bender will start from the stall next to him, with Lachlan King booked for the ride.
Consider checking out the latest racing betting markets for the Maribyrnong Plate at your preferred Australian betting sites.