Trainer Peter Moody learned a valuable lesson when Brambles finished fourth in the Group 1 Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup (2400m) last time out, which was to not change any tactics with the six-year-old gelding.

He’ll be following this lesson come Saturday in the $1 million Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m).

“We won’t change anything, he’s a free-flowing type of horse and I think we learned that in the Caulfield Cup where we probably erred by not making the pace ourselves and we want make that mistake again,” Moody told racing.com.

“It’s a million dollar Group 1 so he’s there to win if he can and I think the run will greatly aid his cause on Tuesday because he’s quite a bold going horse and I think it will take the edge off him.”

Brambles’s form over the distance is good after winning and coming third in his previous two attempts, including finishing third to Lucia Valentina in a greatly run Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m).

He is currently a $12 shot in the Mackinnon Stakes betting market at Ladbrokes.com.au, which is led by Rising Romance at $5.

“His 2000m form is super and if you back two runs he was only beaten a lip in the Turnbull by Lucia Valentina,” Moody continued.

“I’m expecting a good showing from him on Saturday and hopefully a positive going towards Tuesday.”

Brambles is already guaranteed a start in the Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Tuesday, sitting at No.17 on the order of entry but will still start the Mackinnon Stakes this weekend regardless as Moody isn’t confident he can run a strong two-mile race.

“Brambles hasn’t got the pedigree to suggest he’ll run two miles (3200m) as has my other runner Lidari but they’re going to go there hopefully as fit and well as they can be,” he said.

If he can add a Group One win to his spring preparation at Flemington this Saturday, Moody won’t be worried where he runs in the ‘race that stops the nation’.

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