Comeback jockey Tony Pattillo will return to the scene of his greatest triumph when he rides Bundeebear in the Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm today.
It was at the same track over the same 3200m trip that Pattillo tasted group one success aboard Art Success in the 2006 Brisbane Cup.
The pair continued their journey to Flemington, where Art Success was unplaced in Delta Blues' Melbourne Cup.
"I've had two goes in a 3200m race, I won one and made it to a Melbourne Cup and although we finished down the track in that it was still a thrill," Pattillo said.
Now the only 3200m race in Brisbane, the Queensland Cup may not be one for the ages but Pattillo is looking forward to it all the same.
He has only recently returned from injury, spending 10 months on the sidelines after breaking his shoulder in a race fall at Townsville in July last year.
"It was a pretty nasty break, I had to have a couple of operations and they cut the end of my collarbone out," Pattillo said on Thursday.
"I've only been back about two months so I'm just starting to find my way back through the field."
Bundeebear, trained in partnership by Aiden and Kane St Vincent, was a $26 chance with TAB Sportsbet on Thursday but Pattillo believes those odds are inflated.
He rode the gelding three starts ago when he finished fifth to Regal Gaze over 2400m at the Sunshine Coast and said Bundeebear gave the impression he would stay.
"I was very impressed with his run and the way he quickened up at the 600m in that race," Pattillo said.
"He knocked up a bit going to the line but I was very keen for them to press on and give him a go at better company.
"The horse is super relaxed, I'm very confident he will see the 3200m right out.
"And I'm very happy to have that quality of ride in the race."
Tinseltown is the $3 favourite but Pattillo believes the Mike Moroney-trained topweight faces a tough task.
"He's not too bad a horse but I think he's probably weighted out of the race," Pattillo said.
"He's got 58kg - not many can carry it over two miles.
"It definitely brings him back to the rest of us and of the others, there's no real standout."
Bundeebear has drawn well in barrier three and is one of two rides at the meeting for Pattillo along with the Steele Ryan-trained Feuer Drache in the A$100,000 Brisbane Town Plate (1400m).
- AAP
Racing: Bundeebear given chance in feature
Photo / Thinkstock
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