Local trainer Daniel Bowman will rely on former South Australian galloper Outlaws Revenge in his bid to win the Warrnambool May Carnivals feature sprint for the first time.
The Listed Wangoom Handicap (1200m) on Wednesday will be Outlaws Revenge’s second start for Bowman having raced for Adelaide trainer Ryan Balfour in his previous 24 starts.
Outlaws Revenge had his first start for Bowman when runner-up to D’Jumbuck at Sandown on April 15 and according to the trainer the sprinter has come on for that outing.
“He had a gallop on the grass last Tuesday with a partner and then a quiet gallop here on Saturday,” Bowman said.
“I can’t get him any better.
“I’ve only had him five weeks and I’m still learning about him.”
Bowman said Outlaws Revenge came across from Adelaide in outstanding order and his first brief was the Sandown outing with the Wangoom next on the agenda.
“He looked great, fit, he was happy and in good form, so my job has been just to try and keep him happy and not muck it up,” Bowman said.
“I was more relieved than anything else when he ran well and hopefully we can get something similar on Wednesday and go one better.”
While still learning about Outlaws Revenge, the one thing Bowman took from the Sandown performance was the likelihood the gelding will stretch out to 1400m.
That may come next month at Flemington and may even the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield in the spring, but in the meantime, Bowman is happy to concentrate on his hometown sprint.
“The track doesn’t worry me too much as he’s effective on soft ground,” Bowman said.
“He’s drawn a good barrier (12) for that time of the Carnival and we’ve got Dean Yendall on him who I think has ridden more winners at Warrnambool than any other jockey.
“His form is excellent in circumstance to the rest of the field, so I would be disappointed if he was not thereabouts.”