Cape Clear breeder-owner-trainer Gary Peach keeps finding ‘silver linings’ with his short-course superstar, Silver Brute.
Peach will be hoping that proverbial “cloud” is once again hovering over Silver Brute as he attempts back-to-back wins in the $110,000 Listed Sportsbet Pink Diamond Champion Short Course final (400m) – Race 10, 10.12pm – at Warragul on Friday night.
Silver Brute ($2.60F), a winner of 40 races from 63 starts, won last year’s $75,000 first prize defeating Luca’s Jebrynah and Kepal in a flying 21.71sec over 390m at Ballarat.
He’s $2.60F to claim this year’s event, but ironically on this occasion his main rival is Dec ’19 Aston Dee Bee x Weeping Lass litter sister Action Girl ($3.90) – a winner of 36 races from 57 starts.
So, there’s sure to be some intensified lights, camera, ‘Action’!
“But he needs one or two strides to balance and then he goes bang – he just explodes!”
Silver Brute (Box 3), who is chasing his sixth successive win, and Action Girl (Box 4) are two of the state’s elite short-course exponents.
Just over a length separates them on Warragul 400m PBs – Action Girl (22.30sec) and Silver Brute (22.38sec).
“Silver Brute is going as good if not better than last year,” Peach said. “He broke the first split record four runs ago at Horsham.
“But he needs one or two strides to balance and then he goes bang – he just explodes!”
However, Peach inferred it won’t be all one-way traffic in the final.
“Action Girl can ping the lids and if she leads, he’ll find it hard to run her down.
“It would be the highlight of her career if she won – it would be the ‘icing on the cake’. But it would also be great for him.
“They’ve met once before (Warrnambool 450m) and Action Girl took the honours.”
Peach quipped: “Either way, I hope I go back-to-back. And if they go 1-2 in any order, I won’t be complaining.”
So, who will receive the bragging rights in this ‘sibling rivalry’ exchange?
“Whoever gets around the first corner in front,” said Peach succinctly.
Peach is a glowing advocate of the Pink Diamond concept, simply saying “it’s sensational”.
“It looks after the Victorian breeders and all classes… It’s a clever format.”
A staunch proponent of breeding, Peach added: “You’re there from day one and to see your owns pups come out and be successful is really rewarding.”
WATCH: Speed sensation SILVER BRUTE (B4) streaks away for an effortless Pink Diamond Champion Short Course heat win at Ballarat last week.
