IT was 917 days between drinks, but David Atkins was more pleased for Promitto’s owner and jockey than himself.
Long-standing Newcastle trainer of course was pleased to end a frustrating run with the former talented two-year-old in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
But he wasn’t thinking about himself. “I’ve been in the game a long time and know the ups and downs,” he said on Saturday evening.
“But it’s great for Promitto’s breeder-owner Matt Chidgey and apprentice Ben Osmond.
“Matt is a wonderful supporter of my stable. I’m very happy for him to see this horse get back in the winning list.
“And the same for Benny (Osmond). He is a terrific young guy who comes and rides my young horses trackwork early in the morning.
“He is a good worker, and it’s great to see him getting such a good kick along in town.
“Cameren Swan rides Promitto in all his work.”
With Osmond’s 3kg city claim, the now five-year-old Promitto ($15) overhauled Atkins’ fellow
Newcastle trainer Paul Perry’s Forecaster ($7), who had made a bold bid for an all the way victory.
The Divine Prophet gelding began his career in blazing style, winning his first two races.
He started at $21 when successful on debut in a 2YO Maiden Handicap (900m) at Newcastle on February 12, 2022, and a fortnight later was a $14 chance when he easily won the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick.
That victory earned a “free ticket” into the world’s richest juvenile race, the Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens, but Atkins chose not to ask owner Chidgey to fork out a $150,000 late entry fee to run.
“I don’t regret it for one minute,” Atkins said.
“It was far too much money, and Promitto wouldn’t have won the Slipper anyway.”
Whilst Promitto started 17 times between those wins and this overdue success, he had been placed on three occasions.
One of those placings was as an early three-year-old when third in the Group 3 Craven Plate (1800m) at Randwick in October 2022.
“That was pretty strong form,” Atkins recalled. “The winner Cascadian won two Group 1 Australian Cups and a Group 1 Doncaster Mile, and runner-up Just Folk is a nine-times winner including two Group 2 and three Group 3s, including the Hawkesbury Gold Cup earlier this year.
“Promitto suffered interference in a race in Sydney as a three-year-old, and lost his confidence.
“He became timid racing inside horses, and produced something like his best only when he could get to the outside in the straight.
Thankfully, he has come back really well this campaign.
“I took blinkers off him and he was good first-up at Canterbury in June over an unsuitable 1100m, but all his previous four runs were on wet tracks, including his second over 1600m at Randwick three weeks ago in a Benchmark 78 Handicap.
“I know he won the Skyline on a ‘Heavy 10’ at Randwick as a two-year-old, but getting back on to a good surface at Rosehill for the first time suited him much better.
“Going on his Craven Plate placing, Promitto was very well placed, especially with Ben’s 3kg claim, in a Midway Handicap.”
. HOOFNOTE: Neither Atkins nor Chidgey were trackside at Rosehill to see their gelding burst back into winning form after such a lengthy absence.
They both stayed in Newcastle, and Atkins watched the 11.45am opening race at home, then returned to his Broadmeadow stable to continue working, no doubt with a spring in his step.
Story John Curtis, September 1, 2024 - Pic supplied
Comments