Talented galloper Name Dropper notched his third victory from seven career starts when leading throughout to land the Stud and Stable Staff Awards (1400m) 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 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.”
Bred by Gene Tsoi’s Standard 2080 Ltd, Name Dropper is by the late Tavistock out of the O’Reilly mare Mandy O’Reilly, whose three winners from four foals to race include the Group Three-placed Miss Mandito. Mandy O’Reilly is a half-sister to the stakes performers and black-type producers Dating and Miracle Miss.