Dean Braun will also have Macha in this weekend's NSW Derby.
In sport, of any description, the mystique and intrigue of a competitor who is unbeaten, or seemingly unbeatable, is intangible.
It’s not something that happens instantly, it’s a momentum that builds with every win; even Black Caviar didn’t create serious fanfare until she was a long way into her winning streak.
Tomorrow night Magical Telf, a gelding by Live Or Die for Dean Braun, will be shooting for 10 out of 10, something rarely rivalled in racing pursuits.
He is yet to beat any superstars but he is a horse that has dominated his rivals on more than one occasion, yet still gets the job done when the chips are down.
Rising to Group 3 level at Tabcorp Park in the Decron Horse Care Tontine Pacers series final, he will face one of his sternest tests, however his trainer couldn’t ask for more.
“He just keeps winning God bless him. He’s drawn well so hopefully we can take up a position with him early,” Braun said.
“I think he is a pretty nice horse, we didn’t want to throw him in the deep end against Restrepo and those sorts of horses when we don’t have to.”
That’s not to say he won’t get to the top level eventually, but his trainer doesn’t need to rush him when he can continue to chip away at races where he has a clear class differential.
The four-year-old may not be the best, or quickest, pacer in the land. However, the aura around his winning streak is about more than being the best horse; that is a debate that will never be satisfied.
Braun certainly believes in his horse, suggesting he is already in the upper echelon of his current generation but with the promise of more to come.
“We might have run a nice top five or six in the Chariots but at this stage of his career he is better off to take the softer option. He might be suited to races like the Melton Plate but time will tell. He hasn’t been tested yet and I’m sure he will be one of these days but he is more than up to the challenge,” he said.
With much of the emphasis on the undefeated pacer, it would be remiss not to focus on Braun’s other major chance at Tabcorp Park.
Duke Of The Moment, like Magical Telf, was purchased out of New Zealand. He is of the squaregaited variety however, and although not unbeaten, he created a favourable impression on Braun when he debuted in Victoria.
“He was really good on debut. He is normally a faultless trotter and begins really good so he should be up and around them pretty quick on Friday night,” Braun said.
The Lara-trainer will carry the hopes of punters on the night, when he takes in the two heavily favoured runners into the Group 3 Decron Horse Care Tontine double.
Similarly a four-year-old, the son of Monarchy can only improve in Braun’s eyes following his first-up demolition off the 20-metre handicap.
“No disrespect to the others but he should be pretty hard to beat I would think, he won pretty soft first up. We looked after him a little bit because he had to back up four days later for this but I’m sure he will be hard to beat,” he said.
Duke Of The Moment has been rated at $2.10 by HRV form expert Bill Hutchison and he considers Magical Telf a $1.50 chance to continue his winning run.
