News

Northam's charge stays unbeaten

10th Oct 2010

AAP Racing - Matthew Toogood - Saturday, 9 October 2010

Scone trainer Rodney Northam looks to have unearthed a smart three-year-old with the unbeaten Exploitable Doubt handling his first city test with ease at Rosehill on Saturday.

The son of Not A Single Doubt had scored two comfortable wins against country opposition at Scone and took a big step up by accounting for a handy bunch of three-year-olds in the Winning Post Restaurant Handicap (1400m).

The colt defeated Swift Judgement ($7) by 2-1/4 lengths with Beg ($10) a half-neck away third.

Adding merit to the performance was the fact the colt overraced in front for the first half of the race under experienced jockey Robert Thompson.

"He's a really nice horse," Northam said.

"He's going to be good next autumn."

Exploitable Doubt ($3.60) started joint favourite on track with From The Vault who had finished fourth in both the Listed Heritage Stakes and Group Two Stan Fox Stakes at his past two starts but could manage only seventh.

Northam believed he had a nice horse on his hands but said it was good to see the colt take the jump in class in his stride.

"It's a little bit daunting coming to Sydney against this class of horse on the back of two country wins, but he's been running times and he's just got lots of improvement in him," Northam said.

The trainer will consider running Exploitable Doubt again next Saturday at Randwick in a $70,000 3YO Benchmark 75 over 1600m.

The race also carries a $100,000 Inglis bonus if he was to be successful.

Thompson echoed the thoughts of Northam saying Exploitable Doubt would be a much better horse next year when he matured further.

"He's still raw but Rod has got plenty to work with," Thompson said.

"I think he's got a really nice horse, especially in six months time."