Rotten Tommy (NZ) Lands Legacy Lodge Sprint Upset

In only his eighth career start, a horse that could have been bought for $20,000 from the National Weanling Sale took out the $100,000 Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Rotten Tommy (NZ) (US Navy Flag) was a member of the Leanach Lodge draft for the 2023 NZB National Weanling Sale, where he fell short of his $20,000 reserve. From just those eight raceday appearances, he has now recorded three wins and a placing and has earned $98,550.

Trained and part-owned by Anthony Burton in Ruakaka, Rotten Tommy made a big impression with back-to-back wins on his home track in July and August. After a ninth at Matamata early last month, he finished second in a photo finish at Te Rapa on Labour Day.

The four-year-old was on the ballot for Saturday’s Legacy Lodge Sprint, but secured a start thanks to a number of scratchings. Rotten Tommy jumped from the inside gate and speared forward to take the lead for jockey Bridget Grylls, and that was where he stayed.

Rotten Tommy was still going strongly coming around the home turn and into the straight, and he kept finding impressively through the final 300 metres to remain out of the reach of the favourite King’s English (Snitzel).

“It was a big step up for him today and it was always going to be tough,” Burton said. “But we knew that if he got into the field, we would be in with a chance.

“He has the gate speed, and you have to let him do what he wants to do, which is to run.

“It was a brilliant ride by Bridget, who hasn’t been on him before, and it just turned out perfectly.

“It is absolutely fantastic for the stable. He has done a great job.

“Hopefully we can get him going right-handed, and then we will definitely see a good horse.”