3 minute read

Trainer Daniel Meagher looks to have unearthed quite the promising type with Walking Thunder easily disposing of rivals on Friday night.

Stepping out on debut back in January, Walking Thunder displayed good ability when finishing second behind subsequent Group 1 Singapore Guineas winner Forever Young.

Walking Thunder

Given plenty of time (113 days), Walking Thunder proceeded to justify his heavy market support ($1.20), when breaking through for his maiden win on his return.

Stepping up to Class 4 company, Walking Thunder would again take it all in his stride when winning easily under Danny Beasley.

Beginning fairly well from one of the outside stalls, Walking Thunder pulled his way to lead approaching the 800m and always appeared in firm control.

Under a vice like grip entering the straight, Walking Thunder quickly slipped clear of his rivals before cut loose passing the 300m.

An immediate response, Walking Thunder dropped his rivals and raced away to score by 2.5L.

While his opposition was fairly limited, there was still plenty to like and he appears a nice horse on the way up.

Of the four races held on the polytrack, Walking Thunder was marked 5L superior to his rivals, with the four-year-old marked marginally inside standard over the 1200m journey.

Admittedly of those four races, two were Class 5 events, however it still bodes well for his future.

It's never easy making the rise from maiden company and given the ease at which he did so, Walking Thunder appears more than capable of taking that next step.

Although yet to be tested on turf, Meagher was confident he could in fact be better suited.

"I think he might be even better over grass, anything from 1200m to 1400m," Meagher said.

Meagher is a master at placing his horses and expect Walking Thunder to be very hard to beat at his next outing.

He is very progressive and remains ahead of the handicapper, to what level he reaches, remains to be seen, however he is a galloper who can be followed with confidence.

Dinghu Mountain

The former Chris Waller trained Dinghu Mountain really impressed on debut for the Shane Baertschiger stable when saluting easily in the fifth event.

A winner of three of his 14 starts in Australia, Dinghu Mountain had been quite the frustrating conveyance for punters, but certainly had his fair share of ability.

Stepping out over 1200m, Dinghu Mountain was ridden beautifully by Benny Woodworth, settled fourth before sticking to the inside on straightening.

Displaying a good turn of foot, Dinghu Mountain burst through inside the 300m and drew clear to score by 1.5L.

The David Kok trained Conilad worked home well to finish second but was unable to bridge the gap.

Expected to improve sharply with that run under his belt, Dinghu Mountain still has close to 5L up his sleeve on prior best form and will be better suited when tried over further.

He will relish any soft ground and Baertschiger/connections appear on track to have plenty of fun with this son of Snitzel — he is one to follow.