Redemption is on James Innes Jnr’s mind when he partners talented four-year-old Brutality at Randwick on Saturday after the jockey felt his last start defeat was one that got away.
The Joe Pride-trained Brutality was an eye-catching third when coming back in distance to a 1400m event two weeks ago and Innes Jnr says Saturday’s Racing To Win Handicap (1600m) is tailor made for him.
“In my opinion he’s the pick of the race and he’s only got 53kg,’’ he said.
“If we get any luck he’s got to be the one to beat for sure.
“He was a bit stiff the other day. He probably could have won had we followed the winner through, that’s being critical of myself but there’s only one way to change that.”
Brutality, a $4 chance with TAB on Friday, showed a touch of class with his second-up third behind subsequent Group 1 placed Brandenburg and subsequent Group winner Nudge in The Coast (1600m) at Gosford.
Last start, when the gelding finished third behind Lina’s Hero, he produced the fastest last 600m of 33.56 and easily the best last 200m of 11.36 (Punter’s Intelligence) and it wasn’t on his preferred track conditions.
The Group 1 winning jockey, who won on Brutality on a soft 7 track back in January, said he made a split second decision to get to the outside but the way he finished the race off told him a mile on a soft to heavy track at Randwick will be right up his alley.
“There were a few shifts in front of me so I came around their heels, I didn’t have to hold him up so his momentum was still going forward,’’ he said.
“When they don’t get beaten that far you start to question what could have been done differently.
“There would have been a few people putting their hand up for the ride on him. Hopefully we can go a couple better than the other day.”
– Racing NSW
