DEBUT DOUBLE

“WE were in third gear for the entirety,” said Rob Trobridge of his first-ever tests with Matteo, a double novice winner at Fairoak Grange EC, Berks. “It’s exciting to think what he might achieve when I push the turbo button.”

Rob teamed up with the seven-year-old Millennium son a year ago. Hoping for an uneventful debut, he was surprised by two confident performances that earned “Mattie” 70%-plus scores.

“Mattie has a natural engine,” he said. “His exuberance might sometimes get the better of him, but he wants to please.”