‘Patience is paying off’: Richard Laming-trained Name Dropper protects unbeaten record

Trainer Richard Laming says Name Dropper will be taken through the grades with a long-range goal to return to Queensland next year for the winter carnival before a tilt at the spring.

Name Dropper wins at Sandown.

Name Dropper protected a perfect record with a first-up 1400m Benchmark 70 win at Sandown after 10 months off the scene.

The Richard Laming-trained four-year-old, a slow-maturing son of Tavistock expected to get out in distance, held out SNAPPY SECRET and EL ROCKO.

Laming said Name Dropper would be taken through the grades with a long-range goal to return to Queensland next year for the winter carnival before a tilt at the spring.

Name Dropper clings on to salute! 👏 @Brown_ethan8 gets an early double at Sandown.@Laming_Racingpic.twitter.com/a4IbZ8J6j3

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 15, 2024

Name Dropper won at Eagle Farm on debut last year.

“He’s always shown very good ability, been very slow maturing, the patience is paying off,” Laming said.

TOP TEN

TEN DEEP is likely to head to the paddock after back-to-back wins set up a tilt at the late spring.

The imported Irish filly, trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, graduated from Seymour maiden to Open Handicap winner on Saturday under jockey Linda Meech.

“It’s nice to have these horses come through this time of year,” Coleman said.

“It makes getting up in the cold mornings that little bit easier, but she’s just a beautiful horse to have around, got a fantastic nature, she’s handled everything in her first racing preparation really well.

Ten Deep gets the gap to salute! 🍻@moodyracingpgmpic.twitter.com/b6thiOs3SW

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 15, 2024

We toyed with the idea of tipping her out and giving her a good break after the last run, she pulled up so well we thought we’d give her another one and today just presented the perfect opportunity.”

Meech endorsed Ten Deep’s potential, adamant the filly would improve with experience and time.

“I just got to the front a little bit too soon on her, she’s a filly with a really good turn of foot, but she doesn’t know how to really put them away,” Meech said.

“I’ve ridden her in trackwork and she’s got a really sharp turn of foot and runs right away at trackwork, she hasn’t brought that to race day just yet.”

TWO FREEDMANS ARE BETTER THAN ONE

A pair of Freedmans denied a singular Freedman victory in the Sportsbet Fast Form Handicap (1600m).

Queensland visitor BINDING, trained by Lee Freedman, gave a great sight in front, leading until the last 75m before ARQANA, from the stable of his brother Anthony and nephew Sam, dashed through late to score.

Busy finish at Sandown! 🤯

Arqana gets the gap and shoots clear to win! @[e-mail]/4HvIm3f6Rc

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 15, 2024

Arqana looked like she would be a good thing beaten when held up for a significant part of the straight but jockey Jye McNeil found a gap for the mare at the 100m.

“It was a bit frustrating to be held up that little bit longer,” McNeil said.

“But she quickened really well in the soft ground and that got me out of trouble.”

Anthony and Sam Freedman would also have been pleased with the promising first-up run of MISS TARZY, who finished two lengths from the winner in fourth spot.

TRIPLE THREAT FOR LINDSAY PARK

A drought breaker led home a trifecta for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes in the Tile Importer Handicap (1400m).

GENTLEMAN ROY had not won since January last year but the game front-runner produced a brave effort to stave off stablemates NICOLINI VITO ($4.80) and SO RISQUE ($4) to win narrowly.

Gentleman Roy completed a running double for apprentice Celine Gaudray, who saluted on the Ciaron Maher-trained MRS CHRISSIE in the previous race.

Gentleman Roy turns back the clock to win!@lindsayparkracepic.twitter.com/Z8IJjDVRKB

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 15, 2024

Gaudray said Gentleman Roy was a game winner but would still improve after Saturday’s win at his third run this time in.

“He’s not a sit and sprint horse so I let him build slowly and he was in a good rhythm today,” Gaudray said.

“He was tiring a little bit but he will just keep improving.”

THE QUOTE

“He’s going to be an exciting stayer, bred to get 2400m and probably further, the horses that can do that, with the turn of foot he’s got and he can stay, it’s going to be exciting times ahead for us.”

Trainer Richard Laming has big aspirations for Name Dropper.

THE TWEET

@ShannonTFortune

Cox Plate… Pride Of Jenni, Romantic Warrior again? Broadsiding? Brightside, just to name a few what a cracker…

Originally published as ‘Patience is paying off’: Richard Laming-trained Name Dropper protects unbeaten record