When former Wyong jockey Luke Cumberland came to Toowoomba four months ago for a fresh start he said the move would become permanent if he was successful, and it appears his partnership with Somnambulist could be the bargaining chip.
The team up of Cumberland and four-year-old gelding Somnambulist - which means sleepwalker - was an accidental one which has lead to two consecutive wins among good company at Clifford Park.
Trainer Patrick Sexton said that Cumberland had ridden the horse in numerous trials at Wyong before leaving.
“He nicknamed the horse “nugget” and it was his favourite horse,” Sexton said.
After an unsuccessful campaign, Somnambulist was brought to his current Toowoomba stables where the pair reunited.
“In actual fact, they both came here around the same time. It was at a gallop one morning and Luke was riding another horse and saw him and said ‘that’s nugget.’”
Despite his initial confusion, Sexton cottoned on to the fact that the two had history.
“He told me it was his favourite horse and I said ‘well you better start riding him.’”
Sexton entered the pair in the Roberts Menswear/Murdoch Lawyers Class 1 Handicap 1300m on Saturday, which was a 200m rise in distance from their last race.
Somnambulist ($3 fav) was leading at the 600m and held onto his spot to cross the finish one length in front of Halo’d Be Thy Name ($4.40).
“We stepped him up to the 1300m on Saturday and if all goes well, there’s a 1600m Class 2 coming up in two weeks here,” Sexton said.
“If he continues to do well, they (the Cumberland’s) will pretty much make the move and I’m looking forward to it.”
Following the win, Luke’s wife Kristy, who still lives at their Mardi home on the New South Wales central coast, said they will make the decision to move over the coming weeks.
“We said we’ll give it two to three months and it’s been three months, so we’ll make the decision soon,” Kristy said.
She said they have just got to make sure it is a profitable move.
“He’s ridden him (Somnambulist) since he was a baby. He loves it - it’s his favourite horse. Lately Luke’s been winning one a week and the suspension slowed him down, but he’s back to it now.”
Story - Brandon Long
Photo - Trackside Photography
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