THE training partnership of father and son David and Scott Brunton has taken all before it this season to have the state trainer’s premiership al parcelled up well before the final meeting of the season.
Team Brunton goes into today’s meeting at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston with 76 wins for the season which is a state record.
The previous best was held by the late Allan Stubbs who prepared 73 winners during the 1990-91 season.
The stable notched five winners to train half-the card at the Hobart meeting at the end of June and last Sunday the team walked away with a treble, which has become commonplace during the last half of the season.
The Bruntons again look set to dominate in Launceston today where they will saddle up eight runners of which four are likely to start favourite in their respective events.
Last-star winner Tetsuro lines up in the 0-66 handicap over 1600m (race 5) where he meets some in-form rivals but many are dropping back from longer distances. With natural improvement, a good barrier and the services of premier jockey Brendon McCoull, Tetsuro represents excellent each-way value.
Lord Stamford tales on a handy field in the class one handicap over 1400m (race 6) but his form that comprises two seconds and a win two starts back from his last three outings suggests he too will be very competitive.
Ishtar King has won his only two starts in Tasmania and he looks to be one of the best bets on the card in race seven, the class two handicap over 1400m.
The gelding could not have been more impressive win winning his class one on this track last start and while he has drawn poorly in gate 11, which might only serve to ensure he starts at backable odds.
Ishtar King’s stablemate Shenzen Frenzy also rates a place chance in what will be an open betting race.
Parched has shown a great liking for the Launceston StrathAyr surface and he again looks a top bet in race nine, the Cascade Pale Ale Class 4 Hcp over 1400m. The gelding is coming off a last-start win on the track, coming from last nearing the home turn.
This is not an overly strong class 4 which should ensure Parched starts at cramped odds.
Three-year-old Cup winner Obstinado and Kalangadoo will represent the stable in the final event, a 0-75 Hcp over 1100m and both are rated top chances to win.