Chris Waller saw enough in Brigantin’s first start for the stable to be optimistic the former French horse can be a force in the Gosford Cup.
The seven-year-old made an eye-catching run for fifth after being blocked for a run late in a 1550m race at Canterbury on December 28, won by rising star Messene.
He steps up to 2100 metres in Friday’s Listed event at his second start off a nine week break following his spring campaign under Victorian trainer Pat Carey.
“He ran really well first-up,” Waller said.
“The 1550 metre race was a pipe-opener. He came to us pretty forward from Pat Carey so fitness is not a concern.
“I think he can go well.”
Waller will also have Summer Cup winner I’m Imposing in the Gosford feature.
I’m Imposing was off the track for almost two years with injury and his win in the Listed 2000m Boxing Day feature at Randwick was his first in seven starts for Waller.
Formerly trained in England by Sir Michael Stoute, I’m Imposing joined the Lloyd Williams team in 2010.
Brigantin remained in Australia after he failed to make the 2012 Melbourne Cup field when third in the Geelong Cup.
Andre Fabre trained Brigantin for Team Valor International in France where he won five races including the 2011 Group Two Vigier Stakes in which he edged out Dunaden who won the Melbourne Cup a few months later.
A pastern injury after the Geelong Cup kept Brigantin off the scene for almost a year and he was unplaced in a four-start spring campaign in Victoria.
Brigantin is raced by Team Valor International which has its headquarters in Kentucky and buys horses to race in both the United States and internationally.
Last year they sold a majority share in Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom to John Messara’s Arrowfield Stud where he recently completed his first Australian season.
Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley bought into Animal Kingdom and he will stand the northern hemisphere season at the sheikh’s Jonabell Farm in Kentucky.