Twin brothers Daryl and Colin Brennan are “confident” Mobile Legend can announce himself as Victoria’s new country cups ‘king’ in Thursday night’s $74,335 Group 2 Bridges on Argyle Traralgon Cup Final (450m).
Mobile Legend is chasing consecutive cup crowns after brilliantly winning the G2 Warragul Cup (450m) on January 13.
After a ‘stop start’ 2022, Mobile Legend has taken the Gippsland Festival of Racing by storm, winning five of his last six starts, the defeat a third in a G1 Hobart Thousand heat in December, beaten only three-quarters of a length.
“It’s been a great few weeks,” said Daryl Brennan.
“The way he’s been going the last five or six weeks, he’s matured into a real handy dog.
“The big difference is that he’s been putting it together at the start.
“He’s always had it. Early days, in trials at Sandown he could break five seconds. It was just a matter of getting it right in races.
“He’s had a few niggling injuries, nothing major. He had some time off with a bruised hock after the Adelaide Cup heats and then again after the Hobart Thousand heats. Probably the biggest thing was getting his tonsils out. Since then he’s just been kicking goals. Des Fegan (veterinary surgeon) has been a great help.
“He’s just turned three and with a bit of time off, he’s really matured up.”
WATCH: Warragul Cup winner MOBILE LEGEND (B6) will take aim at back-to-back country cups after winning his G2 Traralgon Cup heat (450m) in 24.62sec on debut at the track.
Mobile Legend was dominant in the Warragul Cup series, winning his heat in 25.46sec (BON) and the final in a new race record time of 25.32sec.
He then made his Traralgon debut – sight unseen – in last Friday night’s Cup heats, producing the second quickest qualifying performance of 24.62sec, behind Mr. Audacious’ new track record 24.43sec.
Mobile Legend has drawn box 5 for Thursday night’s $47,000 to-the-winner Cup Final – race 8 at 9.01pm – where he occupies the third line of Sportsbet’s market at $4.50, with the Brennan brothers seeing enormous upside from his heat victory.
“He was wearing a brand new muzzle and when he came back after the race it was all bent,” Daryl explained.
“Colin and I put two and two together and think he mistimed the start and hit the muzzle on the boxes. That’s why he missed the start, so he can definitely find a bit on Thursday.
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“I think there’s a lot of positives. He missed the start, and it was his first look at Traralgon, because logistically we didn’t have a chance to trial him there.
“The long straight suits him. He showed that last week when he was able to wind up after he missed the start.
“We’re confident. He’s there to win it. If he gets the start right this week, he’ll be right up with those record times.
“I don’t think box five is a bad draw. The four (Revolution) heads to the rails and he showed in the Warragul Cup that he can get out with the best of them.”
Mobile Legend (16 from 34) is a member of the prolific December ’19 Aston Dee Bee x Weeping Lass litter that also includes Action Girl (30 from 43) and Silver Brute (29 from 48), both trained by breeder Gary Peach.
“We didn’t breed him but he’s from our dam-line,” Daryl said.
“We’ve had him since he was three months old, and the kids love him.
“He is a one-on-one type of dog, so it helps with Colin and I being twins!
“We won the (G2) Great Chase (2008) with Pharoah King, and over the last 30 years we’ve been in races like the Laurels and had multiple country cup finalists. But with those dogs we were just happy to make the finals and were hoping for the best, Mobile Legend is a class above.”
It’s been a dream start to 2023 for the Brennans, who may also have unearthed a star of the future in unbeaten youngster Dragon Inn.
Dragon Inn, an April ’21 son of Zambora Brockie and Shez Sublime, improved his perfect record to three from three at The Meadows last Saturday, winning a Mixed 6/7 final in 30.16sec, having won his heat in a scorching 29.76sec.
“He could be as good as Mobile Legend, if not better,” Daryl said.
“He got in a bit of trouble on Saturday but weaved his way through for an impressive win. We actually bought a (G3) Launching Pad ticket for him this morning (Monday), so that’s where he’s heading.”
