The Little Pumper a more furnished racehorse: Tim Clark
An early gelding procedure appears to have had the desired effect on The Little Pumper, who has given Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott a clean sweep of the two juvenile races at Canterbury.
While the youngster showed promise at his initial campaign as a colt, including when fourth in the Inglis Nursery in December, winning jockey Tim Clark said he was much more focused this time around.
“He has definitely matured with the time out and the gelding and he’s come back a more furnished racehorse now,” Clark said.
“We saw that in his performance there. Once upon a time he might have wanted to overdo it and run through the bridle a little bit, but today he got there, he relaxed really well and he built very nicely.
“The further the race went, the more confident I got and the stronger he became.
“He was really strong through the line and I’m sure once he gets up over 1400 and 1600, he’s going to be even better.”
Starting a $2.30 favourite, The Little Pumper led and gave nothing else a chance, cruising to a two-length win over Sound The Siren ($21) in Wednesday’s Bivouac @ Darley Handicap (1250m), with One Last Shot ($3.50) holding down third.
His victory gave Waterhouse and Bott a race-to-race double after Tropical Storm ($1.55 fav) controlled the All Too Hard @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1250m) in similar fashion.
Winning jockey Adam Hyeronimus holds the Prized Icon filly in high regard and believes she has all the tools to develop into a handy horse.
“I think she’s a very nice filly,” Hyeronimus said.
“A big, strong filly, lovely action, lovely attitude. There’s not much not to like about her.
“There’s quite a lot of ability there. What she did today, it was just a day out for her really.”
Tulloch Lodge representative Neil Paine confirmed the stable had a nice opinion of both two-year-olds and hoped they could continue to progress through their grades.
“It’s a little bit of fun coming here and winning the first two races for Tulloch Lodge,” Paine said.
“Gai and Adrian will be over the moon.”
Waterhouse and Bott have now trained 30 two-year-old winners this season, seven of them at black-type level.
More Racing News
Caulfield Cup fall victim Half Yours is back home and doing well
Good news has emerged regarding the riders involved in the Caulfield Cup, with the Victorian Jockeys Association reporting both have been discharged from hospital.Mark Zahra and Jye McNeil were transported to the Alfred Hospital after a dramatic fall during the Caulfield Cup on Saturday.The sequence of events saw Half Yours,...
Mr Brightside's Flemington Mile participation uncertain
The Lindsay Park training outfit, comprising Ben, Will, and J D Hayes, will hold off on confirming Mr Brightside's start at Flemington until the acceptance stage.Mr Brightside is expected to be nominated for the Group 2 Kia Ora Stud Mile (1600m) this Saturday, though Ben Hayes indicated he is only...
Warwoven's Cox Plate Prospects to be Decided by King's Ride
Melbourne's racing scene is abuzz as Sydney jockey Rachel King prepares to reunite with Warwoven for a crucial track gallop. This workout is designed to give the final go-ahead for the Bjorn Baker-trained colt's potential entry into the esteemed Cox Plate at Flemington.King, who celebrated a Caulfield Guineas victory aboard...
Infancy's The Invitation prospects while in foal
Dual stakes winner Infancy is eagerly awaiting a potential start in the $2 million The Invitation at Randwick, a race that could significantly boost her career accolades before she transitions to her role as a broodmare.The six-year-old mare has recently been served by the promising young sire Anamoe. Her trainer,...
Tempted claims The Everest crown in thrilling renewal
The tenth running of The Everest delivered a familiar outcome at the top but with a new champion crowned, as Tempted outdueled Ka Ying Rising before a record-breaking crowd of 52,110.For trainer Ciaron Maher, this victory represents his second success in The Everest, building on Bella Nipotina's triumph in 2024....
Autumn Glow's flawless Sydney spring culminates in King Charles triumph
Autumn Glow smoothly assumed the lead in the prestigious Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) as the field turned for home, just as Ceolwulf began to mount a challenge.Trainer Chris Waller reportedly turned to jockey Darren Beadman and inquired, "Are we in trouble?" Beadman's swift reply was,...
Gavin Bedggood celebrates biggest win as Kingswood triumphs in Caulfield Cup
Trainer Gavin Bedggood has achieved his career-defining success with Kingswood winning the Caulfield Cup.The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday was claimed by the UK-bred import Kingswood, marking Bedggood's most significant achievement, eclipsing his previous best in the 2024 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley.Bedggood, who was a proficient jumps...
Apocalyptic finds her best form in the Silver Eagle
While it was a supporting event on The Everest undercard, Apocalyptic's triumphant return to the winner's circle on Saturday was a considerable achievement for trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Tommy Berry.The mare, a Group 1 victor of last year's Flight Stakes, had been underperforming in the autumn and her initial...
War Machine back in winning form at Caulfield
A great deal has transpired for War Machine over the past twelve months.On the equivalent weekend last year, the horse trained by Ben, Will, and Jd Hayes, War Machine, was competing in Sydney for The Everest.While the results didn't align with the Lindsay Park trainers' aspirations, War Machine had entered...
Saintly Dancer's Thousand Guineas triumph highlights Shinn's comeback
Jockey Blake Shinn has celebrated his first Group 1 win since recovering from a significant leg injury, as Saintly Dancer dictated terms from the front to capture the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.Shinn endured a fractured leg from a fall during last year's Melbourne Cup and made his return to competitive...