Brett Orchestrates Group 1 Masterclass

TONY Brett won five of the 11 heats of the Brisbane Cup and Queensland Cup at Albion Park on Thursday as trainer or stand-in trainer.

David Brasch30 June 2022

TONY Brett won five of the 11 heats of the Group 1 Brisbane Cup (520m) and Queensland Cup (710m) at Albion Park on Thursday night as trainer or stand-in trainer for visitors.

But it is Orchestrate and Bedrock Fred, with Brett as trainer, which are early favourites for the rich finals next week.

Box draws for the finals are:

G1 Brisbane Cup (520m): 1 Photo Man, 2 Black Magic Rose, 3 Big Opal Rocks, 4 Extra Malt, 5 Impact, 6 Equalizer, 7 Just A Sort, 8 Orchestrate. Res: 9 Eagle Monelli, 10 Shipwreck.

G1 Qld Cup (710m): 1 Bedrock Fred, 2 Super Estrella, 3 Days Of Thunder, 4 Oh Oh Range, 5 Gypsy Wyong, 6 Collinda Patty, 7 Zipping Kansas, 8 Drako Bale. Res: 9 Fantastic Radley, 10 Collinda Lady.

EQUALIZER in the final bound snatches victory up the inside rail off Black Magic Rose ? This Jason Thompson-trained chaser is looking very dangerous in next week's Brisbane Cup! #QLDisRacing? @BrisGreys pic.twitter.com/CZtjeCNieR

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) June 30, 2022

Brett-trained Orchestrate and Just A Sort were both devastating in winning their Brisbane Cup heats, sharing the time honours of 29.70.

But, it is Orchestrate who has been installed the early $3.50 favourite for the $525,000 Cup after drawing perfectly in box eight.

Brett's “on loan” Bedrock Fred went 41.57, the second quickest of the Qld Cup heats, but then became hot favourite for next week's final when drawing perfectly in the red.

“We are over the moon about the time and it was about time he drew a good box in a big final,” said Bedrock Fred's part-owner Stewart Barber from South Australia.

“Hopefully he can use it.”

Bedrock Fred is $3 favourite for the Qld Cup.

Early betting markets are:

Brisbane Cup: $3.50 Orchestrate, $4 Just A Sort, $6 Photo Man, Big Opal Rocks, Equalizer, $8 Impact, $12 Black Magic Rose, $21 Extra Malt.

Qld Cup: $3 Bedrock Fred, $4.40 Super Estrella, $4.60 Zipping Kansas, $5 Collinda Patty, $8 Oh Oh Range, $12 Days Of Thunder, $16 Gypsy Wyong, $26 Drako Bale.

Tom Kinnear, breeder and owner of Brisbane Cup favourite Orchestrate, was beaming after his dog drew perfectly in box eight for the final.

“Absolutely perfect for him,” said Tom.

ORCHESTRATE was all class! A dominant display from the 3YO at @BrisGreys booking his spot next to kennel mate Just A Sort in next Thursday's grand final #QLDisRacing? pic.twitter.com/0GKzbfqSis

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) June 30, 2022

Brett also has Jason Thompson-trained Equalizer and Collinda Patty in his kennel.

Equalizer wore down tearaway leader Black Magic Rose to win his heat of the Brisbane Cup to set the stage for a back-to-back victory in the Cup and a third in succession for Thompson after Black Opium and her half brother Equalizer.

In further Brisbane Cup news, trainer Mario Briganti declared he was indifferent about Big Opal Rocks' heat victory.

Entering his heat as one of the main fancies on the night, while he got the job done, it wasn't in the fashion both punters and his trainer Mario Briganti had hoped, as he clung on to win in 30.02.

Briganti held some injury concerns for the noted flying machine, who only turned two in mid-June.

"I'm a little bit concerned, even though he's won … but we'll check him over in the morning and if he's not right, he won't be running," Briganti said.

* Photos Box 1 Photography