HE won at Dubbo on Sunday and shapes as a contender at Bathurst's Wednesday meeting, but trainer Barry Lew feels the best of Karloo Bradley won't be seen for some time yet.
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Mat Rue drove the lightly-raced Karloo Bradley to a relatively comfortable 2.1 metres win in the Club Dubbo Pace (2120m) on Sunday.
It continues what it a handy run of form for Lew, with Karloo Bradley part of a group of up-and-comers for the Dubbo trainer.
Dazzle Me has had two starts back from a spell and ran second at Bathurst last week while Karloo Bodacious no far off a return.
Each could target feature in the coming months as COVID restrictions start to ease and prize money begins to return to normal levels.
"It's a nice team of horses and I'm just waiting for things to open up a bit more and we can start to target some bigger races in the bush," Lew said.
The three-year-old made it two wins from six career starts on Sunday afternoon but it's clear to see there's still more to come.
Rue did well to get Karloo Bradley ($3.20 favourite) into the one-one earlier on after starting from gate eight and he stayed there for much of the trip.
He made his move down the back straight on the bell lap and the gelding responded in a big way, tracking Tulhurst Terror ($4.20) up before moving three wide and into the lead with ease.
Rue had to urge him on in the straight as he lost concentration slightly but he was never in any real danger as he won from Tulhurst Terror and Whiskiesonthebeach ($7) in a winning mile rate of 2:02:3.
"We might not see the best of him until after a good spell," Lew said.
"Just to get that bit more maturity because he's pretty immature at the moment.
"Matty Rue said he was running good and when he asked him to go down the back he flew but when he got in front he pulled up a bit.
"He's a bit green and lazy but I think he's going to make a nice little horse."
Karloo Bradley is set for a short turnaround with a race at Bathurst likely on Wednesday. He will go from barrier seven in the Hynash Constructions Three Year Old Pace with Rue again in the gig.
He is expected to face some good opposition from Michael Munro's Kalypso King, Bernie Hewitt's Sammi Dance and Peter Bullock's Olivia Shannon.
While a win is always the goal, Lew is more focused on development.
The way the gelding raced on Sunday, settling comfortably before sprinting home the best over the rest of the field is what Lew thinks is best and it's what he wants to see again.
"As long as he's sprinting home," Lew said.
Dazzle Me is also set to race again at Bathurst on Wednesday but faces a real step up in class.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
