Trainer Barry Campbell admitted he thought his unraced three-year-old Just Call Me Fred might struggle to win on debut from a wide barrier in Launceston tonight.
But he also thought his trackwork wasn’t good enough to warrant advising the owners to have a decent bet.
But thankfully the owners still invested and they were rewarded handsomely when the steel grey gelding proved too good for his rivals in a 3YO Maiden over 1100 metres.
With stable apprentice Ismail Toker aboard, Just Call Me Fred began well and when it looked like he might be caught three-wide without cover Toker send him forward to race outside of the leader Armarni.
When Toker called on his charge for the big effort he sped clear and went on to score from the heavily backed favourite Col’s Hero with the well-bred Tycoon Gypsy a close-up third after being held up in he home straight.
“The horse is very well bred (Dash for Cash-Gelignite Speed) and has come along nicely but I thought the barrier might be what stopped him winning but I thankfully I was proven wrong,” Campbell said.
“I put blinkers on him and they really sharpened him up.”
“They are first-time owners in this horse so they will be thrilled wit the win,” he said.