Rumbled Again (Image: Racing Photos)
Rumbled Again's first attempt at Group racing could hardly have gone less to plan, but trainer Michael Trotter is hopeful of a better showing in Saturday's Group 2 Sunline Stakes at The Valley.
The daughter of Night Of Thunder was a smart winner in Benchmark 84 grade at Flemington in February, but things went wrong as soon as the gates opened in the G3 Matron Stakes at her next start.
Rumbled Again jumped very awkwardly, costing herself several lengths, and was then caught in interference just as she started to get into her work in the straight.
But Trotter said the consistent mare had come through the run unscathed and is ready to go again, having done relatively little work in the Matron, from which the three placegetters have also all accepted in the Sunline.
"She just bombed the start, which as you know you just can't really do in those races," he said.
"They didn't really go that fast early, so she was able to tack on, but then just got held up for a run. It was horrible to watch, absolutely horrible.
"She pulled up fine, there was nothing wrong with her, she basically just had a track gallop last start, hence the reason we'll go again."
At $101, Rumbled Again has come up as the roughie of the nine-horse field, for which Campionessa is a $3 favourite, ahead of Wishlor Lass ($4.50) and Matron winner Eternal Flame ($6.50).
And while under no illusions about the quality of opposition, Trotter is confident she can be thereabouts at the line, on a track she's enjoyed previous success on.
He said drawing barrier eight will ideally stop his galloper from spending too much time in the gates, which he feels is key to a faster getaway.
"She seems to like The Valley, she's won impressively there in the past," Trotter said.
"It's a smallish field and being drawn out is probably not a bad thing for her - it's less time in the gates, less time to think about things and that's always a positive.
"I thought on her last start, all things considered, if she begins better and can sit closer, she can be right there fighting out the finish.
"Obviously the topweight (Campionessa) is a pretty handy mare, so we'll just have to see how we go."