You do not require a science degree to know that Mitchell Pateman has an excellent handle on the thoroughbred racing caper at present. His Ascot stable has been white-hot for some time, evidenced by the fact it has churned out 17 metropolitan winners for the season at an astonishing strike-rate of 27%. As a result, Pateman sits atop the trainers’ premiership, four clear of his nearest rival Michael Grantham.
But as he prepares to take a huge team to summer headquarters on Saturday, Pateman remains somewhat bemused by Big Red Zoom ahead of his assignment in the Listed Liquor Barons Belgravia Stakes (1200m).
A brilliant first-up winner of the Unite Resourcing Max Simmonds Stakes (1000m) earlier this month, Big Red Zoom boasts two victories from as many starts over the short course.
It would seem the unbeaten son of Long Leaf, who has barrier 12 of 14 on the weekend, is ideally suited by sprinting journeys.
Pateman has a hunch that is the case, although he is not certain.
“He’s come on a great deal since his Max Simmonds win,” Pateman said.
“His gallop on Tuesday was super, he’s obviously drawn terrible so at first glance I think we will ride him a bit quieter than we did in the Max Simmonds.
“We probably need to get an answer as to whether we stay at the sprints or step him up in trip.
“We’ll ride him to try and get a bit of cover and see how he can hit the line. But he’s going super and is in really good order.”
Big Red Zoom holds a nomination for the Listed Fairetha Stakes (1400m) on November 7 – the traditional lead-up to the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) on November 21 of which he is also entered – and the Listed TABtouch Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) a fortnight later.
Both races are worth $500,000.
“We’ll make that decision after Saturday,” Pateman said when quizzed on whether Big Red Zoom’s goal was the Placid Ark or WA Guineas.
“I want to have a look at him after Saturday and that’s why he’s there … he can obviously go either way from there. He looks like he’ll run a mile, but I fell for that trap with his sister (Ourgirlcanrun) last year and it didn’t work so I am mindful that maybe the family wants to sprint.
“Maybe because he was so brilliant at the 1000, it worries me even more.”
Like Big Red Zoom, stablemate Pistone has been to the races only twice, for one win and a nose second to Marcos in graduation company midway through last month.
With Holly Watson sticking fat with Big Red Zoom, Patrick Carbery takes over on Pistone.
“He’s done a good job, albeit in easier company than what he meets on Saturday,” Pateman said.
“He won and then ran a really good race behind Marcos, so he’s there to see how he measures up. He’s got a good racing pattern for Ascot, he’ll jump and roll forward and we’ll see whether he measures up to these good three-year-olds or we lower the sights a little bit.”
Whilst the Belgravia is undeniably the highlight of Saturday, the Guinness Handicap (1000m) featuring Pateman’s boom sprinter Bassett Hound will attract thousands of eyeballs, not just locally but also interstate.
The four-year-old is yet to be tested in black-type company, but is a $13 chance in the all-in Winterbottom Stakes market with TABtouch.
“It’s obviously very exciting to have him back at the races. He’s come through that first run super and we love having him back at the races,” Pateman said.
“I said to Pat when I saw the field that I didn’t think I’d ever say it in my life, but my biggest worry was him getting run off his feet. There is speed on speed, which should suit him. He’ll get out the back and hopefully he can catch them.
“If he comes out and wins well again, we’ll head to the Colonel Reeves, but I’ll be guided by Saturday. He needs to run well there to head to a Colonel Reeves.”
