David Payne has always seen potential in juvenile Tympanist, but it took several starts and a lot of perseverance for the horse to justify his opinion.
Tympanist was beaten a total of more than 22 lengths in his first three appearances before turning that form on its head with a victory at Hawkesbury last month.
The win came as no surprise to Payne, who said the two-year-old had simply been on a steep learning curve.
“He was just a bit raw and dumb,” Payne said.
“If you look at his first couple of runs, he was over-racing and doing everything wrong. The first time he really put his mind to it was his last run so maybe the penny has dropped now.
“It wasn’t that he was not switched on, he was just too switched on. He used to over-do everything.
“He realises it’s not so bad now. He settled in the race and he finished off, which was good to see.”
Tympanist, by fledgling shuttle sire Belardo who has enjoyed good success with his first crop in Europe and boasts New Zealand stakes winner Avonallo among his southern hemisphere progeny, will attempt to continue on his winning ways in the Schweppes Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
If he can post another win, bigger goals lay in store.
“If he can win a race like this then we might look at some better races,” Payne said.
“There are so many three-year-old races, but he’d have to be impressive, otherwise I’d just go through the grades.”
Stablemate Chitabe will also tackle the race and while her two lead-up trials have been average, Payne says she saves her best for race day.
The filly made ground when fourth on debut at Newcastle in February and was spelled after finishing fifth at the same venue at her only other start.
“She’s not a bad little filly. Her first runs were good and she will handle a soft track,” Payne said.
“Don’t go on her trials. In her trials, she’s a lazy thing but if you look at her races, she’s had two very good runs.
Nine two-year-olds will contest the Schweppes Handicap with Godolphin youngster Honeycreeper the ruling $2.50 favourite.
