Talented galloper Name Dropper notched his third victory from seven career starts when leading throughout at Flemington on Saturday.
The late-blooming son of Tavistock was perfectly rated by Blaike McDougall and comfortably held placegetters My Brothers Keeper and Impending Link.
The Richard Laming-trained gelding was fourth emergency but was supported into $15 with BlondeBet, with Name Dropper unusually carrying the number 20 saddlecloth to victory at headquarters.
Name Dropper was a well-backed Eagle Farm winner on debut in August 2023 and was sent for a lengthy spell before reappearing as a Sandown winner last winter and was around the mark through his last campaign but failed to stay when stretched in distance.
“He is obviously a pretty nice horse,” McDougall said. “He proved that last preparation.
“I thought we would be outside the leader or one-one, but when we found our way to the front, it was game over.
“I was able to dictate and being first-up I had a good few cheap sectionals. It was pretty much a four and two in the end (working gallop over four furlongs and gallop home two furlongs).
“Richard was confident today and autumn is around the corner and I am sure he has got a plan for him. He feels like a pretty progressive horse.
“I don’t know if he is going to be a stayer. I saw that he got out to a trip (2040m) at the end of last preparation.
“He feels more like a 1400m horse or a miler. He is going to have a fitness edge on a lot of these horses come the autumn. So if they plan right, they might be able to get a little bit of black-type with him.”
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