After a promising but winless first preparation, the Shalaa (IRE) gelding The Little Pumper is beginning to look like the finished article after making it two on the bounce with a dominant performance at Randwick on Saturday.
Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, The Little Pumper made all the running in the Inglis Race Series Closing Hcp (1400m).
The Autumn Sun filly Private Legacy made up many lengths despite being caught wide to be beaten a length, with the Vancouver gelding Canadian Ruler three-quarters of a length back in third.
The Little Pumper debuted with a fourth in the Inglis Nursery (LR) in December before finishing second at Randwick a fortnight later.
Spelled and gelded after finishing sixth in a 1200m maiden at Canterbury won by a future Group 1 winner Militarize, The Little Pumper gave nothing else a chance when breaking his maiden at Canterbury on June 21.
"He showed his professionalism today," Adrian Bott said. "He controlled the race from the outset. He bounced straight into stride and showed good tactical speed.
"There was a bit of pressure when they sought their positions out, but he settled, relaxed and maintained that rhythm, which he could not do six months ago.
"We wanted to see how he performed stepping up to this trip and at this grade.
"The spring is not far off, so whether we freshen up and look to targets there, we will see what's on the calendar.
"I think he will stretch to a mile. He was effective there today and ran it out strongly, carrying topweight. The way he is relaxing in his races, we can look at those options.
A $120,000 purchase for G Waterhouse / A Bott / Kestrel from the Valiant Stud (as agent for Mullaglass Stud) draft at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, The Little Pumper is the fifth winner from as many to race for the talented Redoute's Choice mare Sensibility who was second to Guelph in the Group 1 Flight Stakes.
A sister to stakes-winner Intrusion and a half to Group II VRC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Running Tall (Sebring), Sensibility's Castelvecchio colt was a $60,000 purchase for John Ramsay from the Valiant Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Sensibility was covered last spring by St Mark's Basilica (FR).
The Group 1 Prix Morny and Group 1 Middle Park Stakes winner, Woodside Park Stud's recruit Shalaa (IRE), stands at $22,000 in 2023.
