Cup winner follows in mother’s footsteps

9 May 2015

Pump Up The Volume continued a proud family tradition at Arawa Park on Saturday when he emulated his mother in claiming the feature staying event on the card.

The rugged Savabeel gelding mastered the trying conditions to take top honours in the Gr.3 Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup.

He is a son of Nat The Brat, who won the cup in 1996 for trainer Bill Masters and returned the following year to run third.

Pump Up The Volume had finished runner-up to the four-time winner Indikator in the event 12 months ago and he made no mistake this time around.

“I thought we were in a bit of trouble 1000 metres out, but he kept fighting – it’s the survival of the fittest out there,” rider Danielle Johnson said.

Miss Mossman and Darryl Bradley employed daring tactics and were five lengths clear across the top before Pump Up The Volume made his move.

The Ralph Manning-trained six-year-old finished resolutely for the fifth win of his 35 start career.

“He’s a tough old boy,” Johnson said. “I thought he might have wanted a bit more rain to loosen the track, but he got through it well.”

Pump Up The Volume’s victory completed a double for Manning, who produced Retrospect to win at the New Plymouth meeting.

Miss Mossman made a bold play for consecutive wins after her success at Te Rapa a week ago, but she was running on empty in the closing 150 metres and second was her reward.

Decorah was also courageous under her topweight of 59kg to grind away for fourth ahead of Flying Orca with the field well strung out at the post. – NZ Racing Desk.

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