The market says he’s a 100/1 chance to win the TAB Everest and he might be the same price to be in the final field but trainer Kim Waugh has set out a preparation for Trumbull to give him every chance to make a case for selection in the $15 million sprint.
Trainer Kim Waugh
It might be a pipe dream but there are plenty of slots to be filled between Saturday’s Hyland Race Colours July Sprint (1100m) at Rosehill and Everest Day on October 16.
As the winner of the ‘Everest consolation’ – the Group 3 Sydney Stakes – last year Waugh said Trumbull has earned the right to aim high and see where he lands.
“People scare off him a bit but if he was going as good as he can go and was jumping well he could be in with a chance,’’ Waugh said.
“He’s a very good horse and he has a great turn of foot. He’s coming back at a good time to give people the chance to have a look at him.
“It’s a good starting point with him, he’s a tough horse and barring things going wrong he can have a few runs. He holds his condition great, he’s easy to train and enjoys his work.
“He can have a good long prep if he keeps performing.”
Waugh has set out a ‘rough plan’ for the five-year-old and if he performs first-up it’ll be the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on August 7 next. Then the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick on August 21 and the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) another two weeks later.
Last year the Missile was won by Eduardo who made his way into the TAB Everest field.
Trumbull only raced once in the autumn and beat one home behind Think It Over in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup but Waugh immediately pulled the plug after the horse came down with a virus.
That came after the gelding suffered from a bad foot abscess following his run in The Hunter so Waugh is looking forward to the fresh start.
He’s been to the trials twice, he was up to his barrier stall tricks missing the start in the first but did everything right in winning the second of them earlier this month.
“Alysha Collett rode him in the first trial and he was a little bit fresh, and was dancing around in the barriers, and jumped a bit slow,’’ she said.
“I didn’t tell her to do anything special. Tommy (Berry) rode him in his next trial and he jumped great and I asked him to have a good hitout because he’s done so well in his break.”
Trumbull, $6 with TAB on Friday, has drawn the outside and carries the 61kg but Waugh said his work since the trials has been great and Berry will ride him as he jumps.
“I know he has a lot of weight but I’m very happy with him,’’ she said.
“You’ve got to not have a set plan with him because sometimes he pings the lids as good as any and sometimes he’s a bit slow.”
Misteed has her second start for Waugh in the City Tattersalls Club Handicap (1200m) after a narrow defeat behind Van Giz at Randwick two weeks ago.
Her last win was at Rosehill back in November and the Wyong trainer sees no reason why she won’t hold her form.
“I was rapt with her, she’s a lovely mare,’’ she said.
“She went great first-up, she’s good to train and she should go very well.”
– Racing NSW
