For a trainer from The Apple Isle like Brunton it shapes as a potentially life changing afternoon. And the affable horseman is serious about making the most of the chance.
“This is what you get out of bed for every morning,” Brunton, who won last year’s trainers’ premiership in Tasmania, said.
“We are a big fish in a small pond down in Tassie and the family moved down there on the bones of our arse but it was a new opportunity to start again.
“Mum and dad seized that opportunity with both hands and we have been able to go on with it from there.
“We work hard together, buy out of the bargain box and are happy to be here in a race like the Golden Eagle now and think we deserve to be.”
When Brunton speaks of his dad he’s referring to Tasmanian Hall of Famer David Brunton, who has since retired from training but played a pivotal role in his son’s career.
“I started training about 20 years on my own I moved up to Queensland to try sort of better myself and go forward because I didn’t want to be born with the silver spoon in my mouth from dad,” Brunton said.
“I chose that approach but it didn’t take me long to come back with the tail between my legs back to dad.
“I trained on my own when I first got back to Tasmania, then in partnership with dad and learned a lot from it.”
During his career Brunton has had success on the mainland in the past but The Inevitable has to eclipse all of those wins on Saturday.
A $90,000 yearling purchase, the diminutive gelding won the Listed Tasmanian Guineas earlier this year before claiming the Group III CS Hayes at Flemington at his next start.
His only unplaced run came in the Group I Australian Guineas but by then pintsized son of Dundeel had won plenty of admirers.
“He is living proof good things come in small packages,” Brunton said.
“You can’t see the V8 under the bonnet. He is tough as nails.
“I believe you can overrate your own horses but I believe he is capable of doing incredible things.
“You aim him at the right races and do it the right way, he gives you the best result. He is very exciting.”
The Inevitable showed just how exciting he is when gunning down Fasika to book his spot in Saturday’s main event by winning the Silver Eagle.
He now has one challenge in front of him in a blockbuster field for the inaugural Golden Eagle, where he is a $10 chance with TAB.com.au to salute and will be ridden by Nash Rawiller.
“It was a pipe dream at the start, but now it’s shaping as a dream come true. We are here, we are part of the crew and are enjoying being part of the show,” Brunton said.
