Here’s Tears looks to build Brisbane CV

By Isaac Murphy

Robbie Britton has already left an indelible mark on Albion Park staying races, with the legendary Tornado Tears or Batman as he’s known already owning Group 1 and Group 3 victories over the 700 metres as well as track records.

Britton has recently called time on his career but his reign at headquarters might not be over as Batman’s baby brother Here’s Tears arrives for this week’s Clem Jones Cup, and will stay on to try to capture his second Group 1 in the Gold Cup in three weeks’ time.

“He was ticking all the boxes with his form, he travelled up to Sydney and won the Group 3 Christmas Cheer a couple of starts ago and was just nutted by the flying Blazing Cartier back here at home - the timing was right for Brisbane,” Britton said.

“I was fairly happy with the way he closed off his 600-metre trial (35.13), I think he came home in 12.97 which is good going but getting off the plane a couple of hours before the hitout I’d like to think there’s some improvement there out of the boxes in the Clem Jones this week.

“Everywhere we go with him we always make sure to give him a trial, each track is different and even though he was a bit sluggish early he should shake off the cobwebs and go forward from the 700-metre boxes this week.”

Britton has been a long-time mentor to premier Queensland trainer Steve Scott, with the two always happy to help each other when travelling dogs.

“I’m very lucky having access to Steve Scott’s place whenever I send a dog up to Queensland; I’d like to be there myself, but you can’t leave your whole kennel and you know Steve’s going to give them every chance,” Britton said.

“We’ve done it before with other dogs and leaving them there for an extended period and letting them acclimatise is definitely an advantage.

“We’ve travelled him before, but only to Sydney and even then, he’s shown us he’s not a dog you can just get off the plane and expect the best out of.”

Britton praised the scheduling of the staying events, giving dogs like Here’s Tears time to find their best for the Group 1 Gold Cup.

“I love the way the staying events are set up starting with the Clem Jones this week - which we’d love to win - but if he doesn’t, he gets an ideal tune up before the Group 1 Gold Cup which is what we’re really chasing,” he said.

“We’ve obviously got some great history there with his older brother Tornado Tears winning a Group 1 here and breaking the track record, I think he’ll like Albion Park as well, but they go about it different ways.

“Tornado Tears was able to get back in a field and come with a real rush of acceleration, where this guy likes to be in the first couple and will just gallop along with sustained speed.”

Britton is accustomed to racing the best in Victoria and expects familiar rivals, as well as locals and up-and-comers to give Here’s Tears everything he can handle.

“Looking at the dogs who’ll be there at the moment I’d like to think he’ll be as good a chance as any in all the features, but you never know who’s going to turn up or who’s the new kid on the block,” he said.

“Locals are always hard to beat, it doesn’t matter where you go; they know the track, live in the conditions you can’t teach that.

“My boy has had a fantastic career down here but that counts for nothing when you step on in a new state on a new track - it’s all-in front of him.”

A long-time participant on the Group staying circuit, Britton knows every race missed is an opportunity gone and is thankful the sport has endured through tough times.

“It’s been a really difficult year of racing given the constraints of COVID-19, we missed the Brisbane carnival in June which we are always a part of and they’re the races this kind of dog should be following all the time,” he said.

“There’s a small window to try to capitalise with dogs of his calibre, he’s a Group 1 winner at home and a Group 3 winner in Sydney - we’d love to add Brisbane to that list.”

“In saying all that we’ve been incredibly fortunate racing has kept going in some capacity, a lot of other industries suffered more than us.”