By MIKE DILLON
Ask anyone and you will get the opinion that Royal Ways is a certainty in today's $100,000 Mercedes Great Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie.
Anyone, that is, except Ken Browne.
Is it just the fierce competitor in Browne that could never allow him to concede a race to any horse?
No, he says.
He really does fancy his chances of denying Royal Ways a magnificent back-to-back Mercedes double.
"I admit I'm glad to take on all opposition - Government, public officials, other trainers or jockeys, champion horses - anyone or anything, that's always been my style," said Browne, at the top of his game after a quinella result in Saturday's $50,000 TV Guide Hurdles.
But he admits it is not just broad defiance that makes him fancy his chances of lifting the Great Northern double - he genuinely likes the winning prospects of Boon's Boy and Drops O' Rain.
"I'm that pleased with Boon's Boy it's not funny. And before I went to the races yesterday I rode Drops O' Rain and he's just floating in his work, he feels like a 2-year-old, With Boon's Boy, Browne is shattering the perception his horses race anywhere and everywhere to ready for such tough assignments. Boon's Boy has had only one race since last September and that was 41 days ago when he won a steeplechase at Ellerslie.
"I've just watched the video of him winning that steeplechase last start and he clearly outstayed the opposition.
"He doesn't need another race. I could have run him in that steeplechase Royal Ways won at Ellerslie last week, but what was the point. All he would have done is get the extra 1kg in weight Royal Ways probably got."
In racing, weight differentials are multiplied by distance, which is why sprinters can generally carry bigger weights than stayers.
In the closing stages of one of the world's most physically test races - some say the most testing - 1kg can become 10kg.
"After three miles Boon's Boy's heart rate is that of a resting horse," says Browne. "That is the sign of a not just a fit horse, but a real tough stayer."
Which is what they are going to have to be today.
"If we've misjudged it with Boon's Boy, well we've got a couple of others in the race that are sound chances, but I'm confident we haven't."
Browne opinion of his runners:
* Drops O'Rain: "He showed he can win over the hill when he took the Pakuranga Hunt Cup. He's a fitter horse than when he ran in the Waikato Steeples last start."
* All Rhythm: "A good fourth in this race last year after making a mistake on top of the hill the last time. He was hampered by the virus last year and is a much better horse now."
* Fair Brother: "He'll be in the lead or right on the pace and he does not stop. Look at the way he finished off when he won at Counties. He's a half brother to a Northern winner in Brother Bart and he's in with a real chance."
Browne says he will scratch Lost In The Rain and will decide this morning whether to run Arab Hunter.
But Royal Ways will take a huge amount of beating.
If there has been a better Mercedes trial in the last couple of decades than Royal Way's win last week, no one can remember it. The track was too firm, the distance too short and he won in a hand canter.
And everything has gone swimmingly since.
"His work over 6000m this morning was exceptional," said trainer Tony Cole, who rode the favourite himself at 80kg, up a bit on the 50kg when he began his limited riding career in 1975.
Cole was too busy to celebrate his 40th birthday on Saturday, but will do so tonight in style if he gets the right result.
The withdrawal of the probable pacemaker Bob Dobalino, who would have been hard to beat, initially disappointed Cole because he wants a fast pace for Royal Ways, but he is relaxed about that now.
"I think Kenny [Browne] will make sure there is a good pace to suit his horses, so it will even itself out."
As always it is a fascinating contest.
Racing: Browne team ready to tackle Royal Ways
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