Ombudsman gives Pateman a Broome Cup Day treble
Despite the horse being a $26 outsider, Darryn Pateman knew Ombudsman would not embarrass himself in the $100,000 Broome Cup on Saturday.
And because he was super fit, it also didn’t surprise him to see his eight-year-old veteran salute by three quarters of a length, giving him his first Cup title.
The Karnup conditioner said his stayer’s respective fourth and second placings in the Port Hedland Cup and Roebourne Cup last month gave him the ideal preparation leading into Saturday’s 2200m feature.
This was why he was confident Ombudsman would run well despite his generous winning odds.
“Yeah, I was (hopeful),” Pateman told HorseBetting.com.au.
“His couple of runs before were really good and his trackwork has been really good.
“Because they were both 2200m it just meant he was rock-hard fit. They were good runs.
“So we were really happy with him.”
It appeared as though Simone Altieri – also the 2017 Broome Cup winner on Gloryland – timed her gelding’s run well on her first occasion aboard Ombudsman.
Pateman said it wasn’t perfect by her own high standards, but he was just delighted she got the job done.
“She’d be the first one to tell you she didn’t ride him real flash. But with those couple of 2200 (lead-up) runs he ran it out,” he said.
“She just made sure she never got on the fence.
“I think she would’ve liked to have got a bit closer to the inside, but I told her not to go to the fence.
“She achieved that.”
Pateman – who also oversaw Powerful and Native Chimes winning on Broome Cup Day – praised Ombudsman’s determination to register his first Cup victory.
The Winter Racing Handicap (2400m) winner at Randwick on July 7, 2018, he finally has a trophy to display after notching up his fourth career victory from 54 starts.
“He’s run places in five other (Western Australian) Cups, but he just never won one,” Pateman said, mentioning the Carnarvon Cup on September 10 would be his evergreen stayer’s next target.
“He can stay – that’s his best attribute.”
Pateman said winning his first Broome Cup was a career highlight.
“It probably has (sunk in) now,” he said.
“I’ve won some Black Listed races, so it’s probably up with them.
“But it’s pretty high.
“I’ve had a couple of (Broome Cup) fourths and fifths.”