Written by Paul Vettise
Tickler (Deep Field) added another string to his bow when he coped admirably with a heavily rain-affected track to win at Warwick Farm and an effort that augurs well for his future prospects.
The 3-year-old finished off well to make the perfect start and he will attempt to retain his unbeaten record when he runs in the Grunt Standing @ Yulong H. at Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Kurt Goldman was well aware of Tickler’s talent ahead of his first public appearance, but admitted the ground was the question mark.
“We went there knowing he had good ability, but the unknown was how he would cope with the surface that day. He’d always been a horse at home that I felt was better on top of the ground,” he said.
Deep Field, sire of Tickler | Standing at Newgate Farm
“His action and his work had always suggested that he was a much better horse on a drier surface. He went there and got the job done and a lot of positive feedback from Hughie (Bowman) is always good to hear.”
Goldman said Tickler had done well since his winning debut and was expecting another bold performance from the gelding.
“Ideally, I wanted to trial the horse in between that run and Saturday. Unfortunately, with the restrictions we weren’t able to go to Sydney to trial him and he was balloted out of a trial in Canberra.
“Unfortunately, with the restrictions we weren’t able to go to Sydney to trial him and he was balloted out of a trial in Canberra.” – Kurt Goldman
“However, I have to say I couldn’t be happier with the horse’s progress and I couldn’t have him in better condition.”
While Goldman will assess Tickler after Saturday, he is more than likely to ease up on the horse.
“He’s a little bit woolly and I deliberately haven’t clipped him because it’s been in the back of my mind he will probably go for a break,” he said.
“Physically and mentally he still needs time to develop a bit more and got a lot of filling out to do. He could go to the paddock after Saturday – win, lose or draw.”
Watch: Tickler win at Warwick Farm
Edinglassie Stud graduate Tickler is a son of the unraced Kissame Mucho (Fastnet Rock), whose four foals to race have all been successful, and she is a daughter of the G3 Research S. winner Besame Mucho (Encosta De Lago). Her sister Gold Lottey won the G3 Vanity S. and placed at Group 1 level.
“He was one they didn’t put through the sale ring and kept him to race. He was kept a colt for quite a while, but we had to make the decision to geld him,” Goldman said. “He wasn’t concentrating enough and doing a few things wrong and we weren’t getting the best out of him.”
