While any type of injury is not good news for a racehorse, but the time spent in the paddock recuperating may prove beneficial for Instrumental.
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained galloper kept his record intact at Sale with victory in the Ladbrokes Live Betting Handicap (1740m) on Wednesday.
Insulation was successful at Sale on debut in May last year before graduating to city company when fourth over 2400m at Sandown the following month.
The imported son of Intello was then off the scene for 13 months before running third over 1600m, again at Sandown, on July 12.
“He’s been a horse that has always shown nice potential, but he’s taken time to mature,” Coleman told racing.com.
“He did have a little niggling injury at the end of his last preparation which is why he had such a long time off.
“But I think that is going to benefit him in the long run, it allowed him that time to grow and develop.
“We’ll just continue to build him through his grades and stretch him out a little bit further in trip.”
The $1.75 favourite was given plenty of time to balance up under Luke Nolen before scoring a three-quarter length win over Dublin Journal ($17) with Korobeiniki ($13) a further 1-¼ lengths off third.
The victory of Insulation was almost a replica of Runsir’s win on the Pakenham synthetic on Tuesday which provided Coleman with her first win since joining Moody in a training partnership.
“It wasn’t good for the heart rate watching that race,” Coleman said.
“It was pretty similar to yesterday when he got so far back in the field.
“He was probably further back in the field than we thought he would be, but he relaxed so well under Luke. He was obviously pretty confident with what he had underneath him.”
Nolen expects Insulation to step to a higher grade.
“The most pleasing aspect was that he relaxed really well for me and he’s only going to go out in trip now, so that was important,” Nolen said.
“I had to shove him into the race and ask him for an effort and he responded well, but he was better than that lot.”
