Brilliant Bernardini bouncing
Breeders’ Cup Classic hope Bernardini will face the toughest test of his career at Churchill Downs on Saturday, according to his trainer Tom Albertrani.
The red-hot favourite, even-money with William Hill and Stan James for Saturday’s 5million showdown, was the centre of attention at the Kentucky venue as he emerged from his stable for a first trip on the track on Thursday since arriving from New York on Wednesday night.
The Preakness Stakes hero, unbeaten in his last six races, was given a slow gallop over the Classic distance of a mile and a quarter before being schooled at the starting gate.
Yet despite his stellar record, Albertrani believes Sheikh Mohammed’s three-year-old has yet to be truly tested.
“This is without doubt the most difficult task he has ever faced,” Albertrani said.
“I thought the Travers Stakes was probably his hardest race to date, against Bluegrass Cat, but the Jockey Club Gold Cup wasn’t really too testing, coming across only two older horses.
“This is going to be probably the toughest field he’s come up against, with Lava Man, Invasor and the rest of them.
“But I feel very confident the horse is doing well and I’m pretty confident going into the race and I think he’s going to be very difficult himself.”
