Mudlark Jumbo’s easy win
SCOTT Cooper has challenged Jumbo Rumbo to step up into stronger company in the near future.
At the wet and windy Cannon Park on Saturday afternoon, the chestnut gelding thrived in the trying conditions, smashing the small field in the Top Tax Gordonvale Benchmark 70 Handicap by 6.5 lengths.
Ridden by apprentice hoop Emily Cass, Jumbo Rumbo, shot to the front in the last of the afternoon and eased to victory, to earn its first victory at Cannon Park from 14 starts.
The Kewarra Beach trainer says Cluden Park in Townsville on March 16 would be the next step for the five-year-old.
“He will head down to Townsville in a couple of weeks’ time and step into some stronger company again,” Cooper said.
“It is a matter of picking the right races that suit the horse.
“He has hit open company now so he will be racing the best horses in the area.
“He might start to find it not as easy and if he can find the wet tracks, that is a different element too it.”
It was a strong day in the saddle for Cass, delivering two winners over the five races, to go with a second and a third.
But, Jumbo Rumbo was clearly the easiest of her rides.
“He did it pretty easy on Saturday, it was a track gallop for him,” Cooper said. “I knew he handled the wet, he has had a few goes on the soft before, but that was his first attempt at the heavy.
“He raced 10 days ago in Townsville and the heat knocked him around a little bit.
“I was happy with the horse going into Saturday, I was not sure how he would go, but I knew he was capable of winning. As soon as the gates opened up, he went straight to the front and never had any issues from there.”
Janel Ryan, Alwyn Bailey, Ronald Finch and Alex Malliff also trained winners on Saturday.
The Cannon Park track survived two track inspections on Saturday morning to get the five-card card approved.
Cooper said most were pleased with the way the track played despite the heavy rain.
Jockey Manabu Kai fell from Phantom Sox when returning to scale after the fourth race but was undeterred and rode in the final event of the day.