Star Brothers Seeking Gold Cup Redemption

PREMIER Victorian trainer Robbie Britton reckons he will have to wait until next week to split littermates Rippin' Sam and Tornado Tears in Thursday night's Group 1 Albion Park Gold Cup Final (710m).

The Fernando Bale-Tears Siam brothers' disappointed Britton with their performances in the heats last Thursday and admits they will have to improve on those efforts to win.
Rippin' Sam was third to kennelmate Benali in 41.91 beaten five lengths, while Tornado Tears was “all over the shop” throughout his third to Jalapeno in a fast 41.75, beaten five lengths also.
"They were really feeling their way throughout those heat runs," he said.
But Britton says the pair will improve sharply with the race on the track, but he says he is at pains to find which is better of the two.
"I suppose the only real way to find out which is the better of the two is to put them together," said Britton.
"All things going well we will find that out the following week if they get invited back to Albion Park for the four-dog Superstayers Invitation."
Ripping Sam and Tornado Tears have risen to the ranks of the top stayers in the land, Rippin' Sam winning the Group 1 Galaxy at Cannington and Tornado Tears holding off a late Rippin' Sam charge to win the Group 1 Sandown Cup recently.
Britton will also have heat winner Benali in the Gold Cup but says he is a work in progress as a stayer.
"At this stage he is a very strong 600 metre dog who is just managing to get 700 metres," he said.
"But he is the sort of dog who could lead this final and if there is trouble behind him he could steal it."
Britton says he is seriously considering dropping the royally bred son of Barcia Bale-Born Ali back to 520m for the Group 1 Winter Cup series at Albion Park.
"He's won in 29.20 around Sandown a couple of times so freshened right up he could be a real chance in that race," he said.
Of his dangers, Britton was impressed with the performance of the Apap kennel's Jalapeno, the fastest heat winner in 41.75.
"He was in trouble early in his heat, and for him to come from where he was in the back straight and still win in that time, it was a special effort," said Britton. "It was an enormous run."
Jalapeno is drawn poorly for the final in six outside speed runners Shoes To Fill and Benali with the speedy Cyn's Magic out wide.

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