He missed the Victoria Derby, but Plan B involves David Payne defending bragging rights in the Australian Derby as Bomber Brown begins his audition for the classic race at Rosehill on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The son of Kentucky Derby hero Big Brown has been plagued by problems since his maiden win in May as a two-year-old over the rarely-seen 1800-metre distance.
It had Payne dreaming of a Victoria Derby tilt, but those plans were promptly shelved and the astute Rosehill-based horseman is cautiously hoping Bomber Brown can take the first step in an attempt to emulate stablemate Criterion's heroics in the Australian Derby.
"He was my Victoria Derby horse, but unfortunately we never got there," Payne said before Big Brown resumes in the second on his home track over 1400 metres.
"He had a setback - quarter cracks - so we put him out and he's 100 per cent now. His feet are perfect and now we just have to start him off and see where we're going to be headed with him.
"He'll have to show me [something to warrant a Derby start]. If he's good enough we'll give him a little let-up in between and that would probably mean a couple of weeks in the paddock, but I've got to get him back [now] because he's been inactive for ages."
Big Brown's progeny were slow to make their mark on the racetrack in his freshman year, but the maturing types have started to make an impact as his second crop steps out.
The stallion, which John Singleton helped bring to Australia, is striking at more than 20 per cent from limited runners this season.
And Payne is convinced the breed will be a slow-maturing type, and Bomber Brown, a $100,000 Magic Millions buy, is on the cusp of going to a new level.
"He showed us early on he had potential and I'm very happy with him [now]," Payne said. "We've just got to bring him back and work from there.
"His feet are perfect and now we just have to start him off and see where we're going to be headed with him."
Bomber Brown was a $26 outsider with Ladbrokes on Friday evening to make it two wins on the trot, with Hawkes Racing's Kaepernick a $2.50 favourite.
Chris Waller's Harrier Jet is also seeking back-to-back wins and is the $5.50 second elect with Gary Portelli's Testashadow - after two eye-catching runs - at $7 on the third line of betting.
