Gingerbread Man sired his first win of the season – and the 100th win of his stud career – when Coming Around landed the G H Mumm Plate (1410m) at Flemington on Saturday.

The former Perth galloper had been placed in the 2019 Belmont Guineas and he added a hat-trick earlier this year for Grant & Alana Williams at Ascot.  Now prepared by Brent Stanley, he was runner-up at his first run for the Bendigo-based trainer in the Mildura Cup last month.

"There's still a fair bit of improvement as he gets out further," Stanley said.  "It was a dominant win and he's put some good horses away."

Coming Around started a $3 favourite and shouldered out of a pocket in the straight to beat Godolphin mare Laburnum by two lengths at Headquarters.

“He got too far back in the Mildura Cup and I didn’t want that to happen again from the good barrier today,” winning apprentice Liam Riordan said.  “I gave him a squeeze and he got a bit too keen but was a class above them.

“He was on his toes in the enclosure.  He usually wears ear-muffs but, with COVID restrictions, it involves too much handling.  He’s a progressive horse and I know (Willie) Pikey is coming over but hopefully I can keep the ride.”

Coming Around’s dam Elite Dancer (Royal Academy) won twice at Bunbury for Peters Investments before Ramsay’s Horse Transport owner Paul Ramsay bought her for $4,500 at a 2014 Inglis Bloodstock Sale in Sydney.

Her first WA cover at Yarradale Stud produced Coming Around and her final foal is a 2yo filly by Proart.

Elite Dancer is a full-sister to Regal Raider who won 18 sprints in Perth and Kalgoorlie for Lindsey Smith and Paul Smythe.  It’s also the family of WA Listed winners Joey Jo Jo (Belmont Guineas) and Slightly Pink (Pinjarra Oaks).

Gingerbread Man’s last-start LR Bolton Sprint winner Red Can Man could also cross the Nullabor if connections accept an offer from a Victorian stable.  Trainer Steve Wolfe was weighing up a Group 1 summer campaign aimed at the Railway Stakes prior to the bid from interstate.

Yarradale Stud stands Gingerbread Man (Shamardal) for $5,500 alongside War Chant ($11,000), Bradbury’s Luck ($3,300) and Heritage (FOA).  All fees (inc GST).

COMING AROUND