3 minute read
Brendon Hearps is well aware of the difficult task facing Vungers as the gelding attempts to land his third straight win, and his first at Flemington, on Saturday.
Vungers has collected the Donald and Wodonga Cups at his past two starts and is topweight in the #Lovethehorse Trophy (1600m) on Saturday.
The seven-year-old son of Reset is yet to fill a place in four starts at Flemington – he has finished fourth on two occasions – but on this trip to Flemington he enters the contest in winning form.
"Not too many win three in a row so we're waiting for the bubble to burst, but he's no different to what he's been in the last month or so, so we'll see what happens," Hearps told RSN927.
Vungers has led throughout at his past two outings, strolling to a 3-¼ length win at Donald on November 15 before trouncing Coming Around by 4-¼ lengths in the Wodonga Cup 12 days later.
Those runs followed a fourth-placed finish in the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final at Flemington on Oaks day.
Hearps reasoned Vungers needed racing to strike his top with the Flemington performance topping him off.
"He's going good but I don't know what's going different with him, but he's been a different horse in his last few runs," Hearps said.
"He had the three runs last month and towards the end he got into a nice rhythm in his races and it's suited him down to the ground."
Burdened with 62kg, Vungers will be ridden by apprentice Melissa Julius for the first time on Saturday with her 3kg claim bringing Vungers weight down to 59kg.
"She rode him in a jump-out up at Echuca at the start of the prep and I said to her that over Christmas you'll end up with a ride on him, somewhere, and so she has on Saturday," Hearps said.
"He's drawn the pole and he's virtually one dimensional. He lobs along and he seems to be happy doing it this time in, so we'll just ride him the same."
Vungers has met with good early support in betting and after opening favourite at $4.20 with TAB has shortened into $3.50.
The Danny O'Brien-trained Skiddaw , who Hearps rates as his main danger, has also had support, firming from $4.40 into $3.80.
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