Ex-Sydney galloper Forrest Gump has been quick to find form for Gerald Egan, breaking through at his second start for the Mansfield trainer at Wodonga last Saturday.
The Alabama Express gelding began his racing life with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, placing in all three NSW starts in August 2024.
He wasn’t seen again until May of this year, in jumpouts for Egan at Wodonga and Wangaratta.
He wasn’t expected to do much first up at Wang on June 14, sent out an easing $13 chance, but led until the shadows of the post for a close-up third.
That was Forrest Gump’s first start on a heavy track, and punters were much keener when he faced another heavy surface last Saturday, sending him out a $2.50 favourite in the first, a 1400-metre maiden.
Again racing on the pace, he did enough to hold out the Claire Patterson-trained You Said What, with a 3½-length gap to third.
Stable apprentice Brittany Button was the winning rider and she went on to complete a double, scoring on Sir Basil ($5.50) for Wangaratta’s John and Chris Ledger in the 2050-metre maiden.
Female apprentices took five races on the seven-race card, with Jade Smith, Sarah Field and Caitlin Hollowood also on the winners list.
Versatile pair deliver double
Kilmore’s David Dean took the training honours at Wodonga with a double in the last two races, kicking off in the Picklebet’s Get Your Pickle On Benchmark 52 (1300m) with $4.40 favourite Miss Himalaya, ridden by Caitlin Hollowood. 
Dean was successful again in the last, the Wodonga Jewellers Benchmark 52 (1590m), with Frostration ($8.50), ridden by Cory Parish. 
Both Dean’s winners are offspring of former shuttle stallion Frosted, a three-time Grade 1 winner in the US over 1600-1800 metres and runner-up in the Belmont Stakes over 2400 metres.
Frosted shuttled to Darley’s Australian operation for six seasons, starting in 2017. He’s produced six stakes winners here led by Arctic Glamour.
Frostration and Miss Himalaya have demonstrated toughness and versatility, having both won on a good 3 track at Alexandra on December 27 as two legs of a David Dean treble for the day.
Getting both to win on a heavy track at TAB level six months later is a notable training feat.