The Brisbane Cup in a fortnight’s time is now on the cards for Rob Heathcote’s local Brisbane stayer Kaiser Franz who scored a massive boilover result in the Premier’s Cup 2017 on Kingsford-Smith Cup Day.

Kaiser Franz (inside, pictured at Doomben) is onto the 2017 Brisbane Cup after scoring a huge Premier’s Cup upset at Eagle Farm. Photo: Daniel Costello.

It had been over a year since the six-year-old son of Savabeel won a race – a Benchmark 75 at the Sunshine Coast – before the seemingly unexplainable victory in Saturday’s $125,000 Group 3 Channel Seven Premier’s Cup (2200m).

Eagle Farm horseman Heathcote told connections of Kaiser Franz he had a “sneaky feeling” the gelding would enjoy a Heavy-rated track.

Despite being beaten home by nearly 16 lengths when second last (12^th) to Stampede at Doomben in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) a fortnight back, owners took Heathcote’s advice and rolled the dice backing the horse up in the Premier’s Cup.

“I told them I had a real sneaky feeling he’ll handle this track and love it,” a smiling Heathcote said post-win on Saturday.

Ridden by Robbie Fradd, Kaiser Franz shocked the punters when arriving on the scene in the dying stages of the race to charge home on the inside at odds of around $61.

“He proved he liked this track,” Fradd said.

“I was three deep, but pretty happy [throughout].

“Good job to Rob.”

Fradd and Kaiser Franz home the brave Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards-trained Kiwi raider Zambezi Warrior, the Pentire four-year-old having had a luckless run caught extremely wide throughout on the back of a fourth in the Chairman’s.

Third in the Premier’s Cup went to the beaten favourite The Chairman – who jumped the punters’ pick after his last start conqueror in the Chairman’s Handicap Stampede was scratched – the consistent Mick Price-trained High Chaparral five-year-old finishing top three for the ninth time on the trot.

The dynamics of the race changed dramatically over the final few hundred metres as The Chairman hit the lead going around the bend with 450m to travel.

Zambezi Warrior, a stablemate of the ultra-impressive BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winning filly Melody Belle the race prior, was wide but also looming up.

The other horse that looked most likely to take out the race was last year’s Brisbane Cup winner Benzini who was coming down the outside to fight it out.

It was the local roughie on the inside who stole the show, earning a return to the track in a fortnight for a shot at the $300,000 Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) over the mile and a half.

“My guy had to show that he was up to this class,” Heathcote said.

“Today was his big test….and maybe it’s [a Brisbane Cup bid] pie in the sky and a shot in the dark.

“But he just kept grinding away today.”

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2017 Premier’s Cup Results & Finishing Order

Eagle Farm Race 4 – 27/05/2017