Stop Line Sets Gold Cup Pace

TOP chasers Stop Line and Bridwood Brianna will do battle for the first time when they meet in Thursday night's highly anticipated Sky Racing Tasmanian Gold Cup Final (461m) at Hobart.

Three heats of the time-honoured Hobart Thousand lead-up were staged last Thursday, with accolades going to the Jillian Stamford-trained Stop Line who accounted for Double Explosion by 4 ¼ lengths in sizzling 25.71.

The St. Pierre and Topline Doovee chaser is not quite three years old but oozes extreme quality, having won eight races from 12 starts for owners Rodney Stamford and Debbie Cannan.

Premiership winning trainer Anthony Bullock will be out to chase his second Tasmanian Gold Cup in four years courtesy of kennel newcomer Bridwood Brianna and Willie Win, both registering strong efforts in their respective qualifiers.

His first Gold Cup was claimed by former top-flight galloper Hellyeah Bolt in 2014.

Bridwood Brianna resumed from a three-month absence to produce a classy heat win on Thursday when doing her best work late, running down Mav by 1 ¾ lengths in 25.99 bringing up her ninth career win from 29 starts.

"I'm pleased with her efforts – she will only improve," Anthony Bullock said.

"Coming off a three-month spell Bridwood Brianna was going to be fresh first up for the run in the heats last week and she does her best work late and was extremely strong to the line, everything went her way but will need to find her old form."

By Black Nitro from Topline Dee, Bridwood Brianna was bred and reared by her owner Richard Hall and made her debut as a rather late bloomer, breaking through for her first win at start three at Launceston late last year.

The 48^th running of the Tasmanian Gold Cup has assembled a great line-up of sprinters, starting with Queenslander Corykodi who was surprisingly gun downed in the straight by Willie Win to finish only three quarters of a length away from the winner running 25.85.

Prepared for this campaign by Lauderdale trainer Eric Haldane, the son of Paw Licking and Dayseas Astra remains well in the the winning hopes of punters as a $5.50 chance from box one, for his owner/breeder Claude Dacey.

Anthony Bullock's fastest qualifier Willie Win has drawn box seven.

Debbie Cannan has two runners in the final courtesy of Double Explosion and Mav, both running strong seconds to qualify, with Double Explosion (box 4) looking to be the better of the pair for his Victorian-based owner Leslie Kenyon.

"To be quite honest Stop Line will be the dog to beat," stated Bullock.

"Both him and Bridwood Brianna are not the best beginners but Stop Line can produce the after burners mid race where this bitch is strong late. I'm hoping Willie Win can race up and cause trouble to allow Bridwood Brianna her chance."

Bullock will retain three runners in this feature with Whoop Bang rounding out the kennel trio.

"Win, lose or draw Bridwood Brianna is being set for the major races starting off with the Hobart Thousand in December but for now she is looking in great order and will hopefully run a good race for connections," Anthony said.