Shum’s Method is best
Winning Method (120lb) appeared to have a simple task in the opening Chairmen’s Day Plate and so it proved. The 1.1 favourite cruised to a three and a quarter-length win in the 1000m dash for Griffins.
Confidence in the Danny Shum-trained gelding was all down to the two-year-old’s debut run three weeks ago in the season’s first Griffin contest. The bay was beaten on that occasion but ran two lengths second to a potential star in Aethero, and was six and a quarter lengths clear of the remainder, three of whom re-opposed.
“Mr. Moore’s horse was not running, so according to the form, he beat the other horses six lengths – they could not beat him,” Shum said after his charge had clocked a solid 56.64 s eased down from runner-up Judy’s Star (120lb).
“The only one was number seven (Judy’s Star) because he trialled ok, so I was quite confident he could win, no worry.”
Shum, naturally, expects some improvement from the Australian-bred Holy Roman Emperor colt but an off-season surgery could be in order first.
“He’s still green but he’s a big horse. He could improve – he didn’t improve a lot from his first run but he improved some. Maybe after the season I’ll geld him – he’s big,” the handler said.
Joao Moreira steered Winning Method through his make-all success and praised the youngster, whilst perhaps offering a further clue as to why Shum is considering castration.
“He’s maturing nicely, I took him to the gate during the week and he was a bit nasty in the gate but Danny gave him some more practice and that has done him a lot of good,” he said.
“He feels and seems like a very promising type of horse, he’s stylish and I think he’s going to go quite far up the ratings. He did everything straightforward today, he’s a quality horse.”
Shum claimed a brace when Young Legend took the Class 3 Wong Cup Handicap (1400m) under Zac Purton, who notched a treble on the card to take his season’s running tally to 113.