A tilt at the Breeders Crown and Vicbred Super Series are the primary targets of promising Colac trained three-year-old Goodtime Bravo this season.
The well developed Always B Miki gelding proved himself a notch above the average when he recorded his first success at his sixth attempt at Horsham last Friday.
Rounding the home turn, he was last of the eight-horse field and 25 metres from the leaders but unleashed a withering finishing burst to prevail by more than a length with something to spare.
Goodtime Bravo’s performance was an amazing one in every respect.
“He’ll have one or two more starts, then go a short break and be aimed at the Breeders Crown and Vicbred,” said Ian Slater, who bred and part-owns Goodtime Bravo with his wife Judi.
Trained by the Slater’s daughter, Courtney, Goodtime Bravo has not been the most reliable but has proven himself a young pacer of great ability.
The Slaters have bred extensively from Goodtime Bravo’s family for three generations spanning 25 years.
“It started when we bought Next Strike off John Campbell as a weanling,” Slater said. “We owned her half-brother in Yankee Rebel, who showed plenty of ability but unfortunately died as a two-year-old.
“We also raced her half-sister Comanchero, who won a few races.”
Next Strike, a half-sister to the Australian Pacing Gold winner Exotic Strike, became the dam of four winners including Goodtime Marjie, whose 10 successes included the VHRSC Metropolitan Cup and heats of the Vicbred and Vicbred Platinum, and the Beach Towel mare Graces Beach, the dam of Goodtime Bravo.
Graces Beach, who won three races, also produced the brilliant unbeaten juvenile Goodtime Sammy (by Somebeachsomewhere), who stands at the Slaters’ Goodtime Lodge stud.
The Slaters, who are valuable sponsors of the Terang club, are breeding from two of Goodtime Bravo’s half-sisters in Goodtime Rumur and Goodtime Gypsy and close relatives in Goodtime Marjie and Goodtime Ruby.
* Picture, Goodtime Bravo (Glen Craven) winning at Horsham, courtesy of Geoff Durn
