A late change in plans hasn’t deterred the confidence of New South Wales trainer Merv Rumble about the chances of Cadman in the $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) at Fannie Bay in Darwin on Saturday.

Boomwaa, above, is the early favourite for the Palmerston Sprint at Fannie Bay. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Boomwaa, above, is the early favourite for the Palmerston Sprint at Fannie Bay. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.

Rumble had initially arrived in Darwin with Cadman for the $200,000 Carlton Mid Darwin Cup (2000m) at Fannie Bay on Monday but changed course half way through his campaign.

Rumble can see dropping back to the 1200m of the Palmerston Sprint is a small hurdle after Cadman was being prepared for a 2000m race, but he said the $31 outsider was fit and well and would give a good account of himself.

“However, I had prepared him to run 2000m with the Cup in mind, so adjusting back to 1200m won’t be easy — although he has the miles in his legs and he’s fit,” Rumble told the NT News.

“It’s exciting to get a run in the Palmerston Sprint and like every other horse in the race, he’s got a chance.”

“I’ve put a lot of work into him since we got to Darwin, but he is well and he’ll have a good jockey in Felicia Bergstrand riding him in the Palmerston.”

Cadman was a four times winner in restricted class during the 2016 Darwin Cup Carnival but his best effort from three runs this campaign was a second in a 1200m Handicap on June 17 before running tenth to Unbreakable in the $25,000 ROANT Gold Cup (1300m) on July 1.

The Starcraft gelding was then beaten five and a half lengths when fifth in the $50,000 Bridge Toyota Cup (1600m) on July 19 which prompted Rumble to abort Darwin Cup plans and freshen him up for the Palmerston Sprint.

“He carried 60kg that day and he was in it with about 50m to go, but he didn’t go on and it was clear that he had had enough,” Rumble said.

“I could have raced him over a mile against weaker opposition in another race before the end of the Carnival, but I’m not complaining about getting a start in the Palmerston.”

Former Victorian sprinter Boomwaa, now trained by Darwin’s leading trainer Gary Clarke, heads the Palmerston Sprint market order at Ladbrokes.com.au at $3.80 ahead of his stablemates Ticket To Toorak and Captain Punch both at $4.60 while the Alice Spring trained Le Commandant is next in the betting at $5.50.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.