Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Outsider Rotten Tommy (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) upset the applecart as he made every post a winner to register a front-running victory in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Run during one of several heavy rain showers that saw the track rated a Heavy8 before the first on the card, with no improvement during the day, the Anthony Burton-prepared gelding relished the conditions as he dictated terms in the hands of rider Bridget Grylls.
Grylls stayed hard up against the rail when turning for the run home and the four-year-old son of U S Navy Flag kicked strongly to put a break on his nearest rivals, who were in hot pursuit.
Rotten Tommy refused to flinch at any stage and despite both King’s English (Snitzel) and Jethro Tull (NZ) (Wrote) closing strongly, they couldn’t pick up the pacemaker who held them out by half a length at the winning post.
Burton, who is also part of the ownership group, was elated as he greeted his charge after a race he only snuck into off the ballot due to scratchings of several runners rated ahead of him.
“It was always going to be tough as it was a big step up for him,” Burton said. “We knew if he got in, we would be in with a chance.
“He has the gate speed, and you have to let him do what he wants to do, which is to run.
“It was a brilliant ride by Bridget, who hasn’t been on him before, but it just turned out perfectly.
“It is absolutely fantastic for the stable, he has done a great job and is not the easiest to work with as he has a few quirks.
“Hopefully we can get him going right-handed and then we will definitely see a good horse.”
Bred by Ben Kwok, Rotten Tommy is out of the Roc De Cambes mare Gumpert (NZ), who won her only race in a brief career on a Heavy track. The extended family includes several Group One winners, including dual Oaks winner Domino along with her son Hero.
