Jack Bruce has been pleasantly surprised by the early performances of Everybody Rise, and he’s eager for the revitalised gelding to achieve even more.
The brother to Russian Revolution is set to continue his unblemished record since joining Bruce’s Deagon stable in Thursday’s Barrier Reef Pools Class 4 Handicap at Ipswich.
The four-year-old Snitzel colt, initially acquired for $1.4 million as a yearling and a former charge of Peter Snowden before moving to Matt Vella following a $75,000 purchase by Blueblood Thoroughbreds, has been under Bruce’s care since the start of the year.
He secured consecutive victories on the Sunshine Coast poly track in his initial two outings for Bruce, followed by a win at the same Ipswich venue where he competes this Thursday.
“Sometimes horses have the talent but just need to win one and they can string a couple together,” Bruce stated.
“He won a modest maiden fresh up, but has gained confidence from that and has improved at each subsequent start.
“He is a happy horse in a good headspace at the minute and is really finding the line in his races.”
Everybody Rise broke his maiden over 1000m on May 1, followed by a triumph in an 1100m 0-62 event four weeks later, and then another 0-62 win over 1100m at Ipswich on June 25.
He now steps up to Class 4 company in Thursday’s 1100m race, where he will carry 59kg and faces the challenge of the outside barrier in a field of 11.
“That is certainly the challenge,” Bruce remarked regarding the barrier draw, which Group 1 jockey Taylor Marshall is tasked with navigating.
“We got away with it last start, but it gets harder up in grade to burn the candle at both ends. We need to get across comfortably to still be a winning chance.”
Bruce’s other runner, Missile One, drew more favourably with barrier seven, though Bruce would prefer an even closer inside draw and is contemplating scratching her to target a lesser race at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
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