From the time Humble Trader was paraded at the Melbourne Yearling Sales in 2024, trainer Greg Eurell knew he was a horse he wanted in his stable.
And parting with $60,000 for the son of Hanseatic may prove a cheap purchase after the three-year-old registered a debut win in the Sportsbet Blackbook Plate (1200m) at Sandown on Wednesday.
A $4.60 betting site chance under Jamie Mott, Humble Trader overcame greenness early in the race to score a three-quarter length win over the $3.70 favourite Wetumpka with Getta Good Feeling ($4) a long-head away third.
“He’s a lovely striding horse and lovely balanced,” Eurell said.
“When we bought him, he walked out of the box, and he struck you what an athlete he was.
“The way he presented and walked, he was a horse you would have liked to have bought no matter what, and fortunately we did.
“Today was a bit of a test to see what he could do, and for what he showed us at home, you hope they bring that to the races.
“On that today, hopefully he will find himself in a good race.”
Eurell said immaturity had cost Humble Raider from making it to the races earlier.
He said just as the gelding was about to put his hand up to make his debut, Humble Raider would go shin sore and require time in the paddock.
“He’s been a typical sort of youngster going through the process,” Eurell said.
“When we thought, we were nearly going to get him there, he would go shin sore, so out he would go again for a break.
“Overall he’s been as sound as a bell. It’s just been immaturity with him.
“We were scheduled to kick off a couple of weeks ago, but he drew poorly, so we thought we would just wait for the right opportunity.
“It’s always tough when you come to town, but he worked hard for it and he got a bit lost coming down the hill, but he picked himself up and hit the line well.
“Once he works it out a little bit more, I think he will develop into a lovely horse.”
