High expectations for debutant Auchentoman
Gary Moore believes his latest newcomer will eventually rival the current juvenile star of his stable, even though All Too Huiying is yet to win a race.
The Rosehill trainer introduces Auchentoman to racing at the Canterbury midweek meeting and has high hopes after the two-year-old won both his trials.
“From what he’s shown I guess he’s up with the better two-year-olds I have under my care, except for a horse like All Too Huiying,” Moore said.
That colt stepped up to black type races after just two starts and has competed at Group or Listed level five times, with a second placing to the Chris Waller-trained Tangled in May’s Group Two Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben his best result.
“He’s the best I’ve got at the moment but Auchentoman would be right up there,” Moore said.
“If he wins he’ll go out for a let-up and I’ll aim him at stakes races over the spring.”
Moore said his only concern on Wednesday was Auchentoman drawing the outside gate in a 2YO Handicap (1200m) for colts and geldings.
“He’s drawn a bit awkward but there’s only 10 runners,” he said.
While Auchentoman’s owners were wary of trialling the novice on a heavy track at Rosehill on June 13, he responded by winning by a length under Tim Clark.
“Tim is a good judge and he’s been very impressed,” Moore said.
“This is a good race against some nice back-end two year olds.”
Auchentoman ($5.50) was on the fourth line of betting with the TAB on Tuesday behind the Chris Waller-trained Calculated ($2.80).
The colt is the first of seven rides for Hugh Bowman, who is trying to bridge the gap on Sydney’s jockey premiership leader Brenton Avdulla.
Bowman reduced Avdulla’s advantage to 5-1/2 wins heading into the final month of the season after he racked up a treble at Rosehill on Saturday.
Avdulla, who went winless last weekend, also has a book of seven rides, starting with the Waller-trained Blazeray.
The meeting is also Darren Beadman’s metropolitan swan song as Godolphin’s interim head trainer.
James Cummings will assume the role of head trainer on Saturday.