Rod Brown has added two horses to his team and is cautiously optimistic they can have an immediate impact at Kalgoorlie on the weekend.
On Sunday Brown will unveil former Perth gallopers Mauldens Mill and Viking Forest as he looks to continue his stable’s momentum.
Brown has enjoyed a good run of form in 2017, posting five wins and four placings from 13 starters at Kalgoorlie and Leonora this season.
Brown is banking on a change of environment to help spark new life and turnaround the winning fortunes of his stable newcomers.
Mauldens Mill is a seven-start maiden, but he has been placed on three occasions including a third to Lusaha at Northam last October.
Lusaha progressed to win the Listed Sir Ernest Lee Steere Classic (1400m) at Ascot before being sold to overseas buyers in Hong Kong.
Mauldens Mill has been soundly beaten in two starts this preparation and last raced at Belmont on June 7 when seventh to Deadly Shot.
Viking Forest notched up two wins for previous trainer, Gino Poletti and last December was runner up to stakes winning mare Volkoff.
The son of Dane Shadow arrived at Brown’s Kalgoorlie stable after running sixth to Lockroy at Belmont Park two weeks ago
It followed an unlucky fifth to Two Silver Trees after he was trapped wide throughout in running, his first run back this year.
Mauldens Mill and Viking Forest are engaged in the Mick Pavlinovich Maiden (1100m) and Evolution Mining Handicap (1100m) respectively.
“Both horses are owned by my cousin and I suggested they race in Kalgoorlie and try and earn some money,” Brown said.
“You can’t keep banging your head against a wall and I think a change of environment might be what they need.
“Both horses have shown a bit and in particular Mauldens Mill in the early part of his career.
“I’ve only had them for a week and so I can’t be too confident and over the top about their chances.
“In the short time I’ve had them my main job is to keep them happy and contented and they seem to be.
“The longer the week has gone on the happier I have been with them both.”
Meanwhile Brown expects further improvement from Brother Rand who ran second to Nazareth when resuming first-up over 1100m a fortnight back.
The Blackfriars gelding is looking to score his first win in the Boulder Parts & Towing Maiden (1300m).
“He is a nice horse who has matured since his last preparation in Esperance,” Brown said.
“He ticks a lot boxes.”
Julio Santarelli