Uncle Bryn bounces back to form to claim Foundation Cup

Uncle Bryn booked his place in the Caulfield Cup with his win in the Foundation Cup at Caulfield. Picture: Getty Images

Enigmatic import Uncle Bryn has let down co-trainer Trent Busuttin several times over the last year but stood up when it mattered in the Group 3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) at Caulfield.

Uncle Bryn narrowly missed securing a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption when second in last year's MRC Foundation Cup but emphatically booked his place in next month's $5m event with a dominant success.

Punters were the only ones disappointed with the result as the $26 chance strode to a two and a quarter-length win over the $2.80 favourite Floating Artist.

Even the charity Very Special Kids enjoyed Uncle Bryn's win as the six-year-old put $20,000 into their account with his first win since last year's Cranbourne Cup.

Uncle Bryn books his ticket into the Caulfield Cup! ????@busuttinpic.twitter.com/6VT3YKqNSm

— 7HorseRacing ???? (@7horseracing) September 23, 2023

Busuttin, who trains Uncle Bryn in partnership with Natalie Young, said he was starting to run out of excuses for the gelding's run of disappointing results before Saturday's triumph.

"I told the owners that if he didn't run well today, we were in trouble because I couldn't find why he wasn't going super," Busuttin said.

"He's bounced back today, so we're pretty happy."

TAB slightly tightened Uncle Bryn's Caulfield Cup quote, turning him from $34 into $26 after his MRC Foundation Cup win.

The third placegetter, WA galloper Alaskan God, firmed from $101 to $51.

Busuttin said the Caulfield Cup was now Uncle Bryn's goal despite the British-bred performer not racing beyond 2063m in his 21-start career.

Winning rider John Allen said Uncle Bryn might need to improve his racing manners to trouble the top chances in the Caulfield Cup.

"It was a very good win, but he didn't give me an easy time," Allen said.

"He was on the steel the whole way and always travelling well, maybe a little too much in the run.

"Maybe he goes better when he's like that.

"Going that way, out to 2400 metres, you would like to see him relax a little bit better, but it didn't worry him today."