Kropp has high hopes with Bryneich at Dalby

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Matt Kropp was disappointed with the loss of the Birdsville Cup meeting this year but still has high hopes for new stable acquisition Bryneich.

The former Chris Anderson-trained Bryneich will have his first start for Kropp in the TAB Open Handicap over 1400 metres at Dalby on Tuesday.

“He was bought by Rob Picking, who has a few horses with me, specifically for the Birdsville Cup but unfortunately it’s off this year,” Kropp said.

“Rob is a Brisbane builder and he’s had a lot of luck with horses in country Cups.

“We thought Bryneich would be an ideal Birdsville Cup horse after he bought him off Chris (Anderson)."

Kropp is confident Bryneich will be competitive but has some reservations with the eight-year-old who hasn’t started since finishing fourth in a 1400-metre Benchmark race at the Gold Coast in mid-July.

“I’ve got four runners at Dalby and he’s probably my best chance,” Kropp said.

“It’s a nice race for him to kick off in but I’m just hoping he hasn’t done too well.

“He’s been racing in restricted city grade and at the Gold Coast so this is a fair drop back in class for him.”

Bryneich was originally trained in Sydney by John O’Shea when he was in charge of the powerful Godolphin operation before being taken over by James Cummings.

He left the Cummings stable to join Anderson in 2018 and has now gone on to win three times for the Eagle Farm trainer taking his career tally of wins to five in 49 starts.

Kropp rates recent winner Festival Prince in the males’ division of the Benchmark 55 Handicap as his next best hope.

Festival Prince has started only twice but romped home by more than five lengths in a 1000-meter maiden at Talwood on August 14.

Kropp has retained apprentice Zac Sprie who has been in the winner’s list three times from his past five rides.

“Zac is a good apprentice who rode two winners for me at Talwood recently," he said.

“He’s got a good future and he's apprenticed to Chris Munce in Brisbane."