Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Plutonium’s future was in the balance when he damaged his nearside fore tendon when he finished strongly to win from Alta Engen at Gloucester Park in July 2021.
But he has made a wonderful recovery and has scored decisive wins at his first two starts after resuming after a 13-month absence.
“It looks as though he has come back better,” said trainer Michael Young. “If you told me six months ago when I got him out of the paddock that he was going to come back and win two metro-class races straight away — after it took me about ten starts in his previous preparation to get a win, I would have said you’re dreaming.”
Plutonium, a first-up fast-finishing winner last Friday week, was the $1.10 favourite from the No. 1 barrier in the 2130m Now Book It Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Gary Hall Jnr guided him to an easy all-the-way victory over $31 chance Rockaball, rating 1.56.5.
Rockaball, appearing first-up after a spell, raced in eighth position in the one-wide line before Micheal Ferguson set him alight in the back straight in the final circuit to challenge Plutonium 350m from home. Plutonium withstood the spirited challenge and surged away to beat Rockaball by just under two lengths.
Plutonium, a New Zealand-bred gelding by Auckland Reactor, has now earned $82,370 from ten wins and seven placings from 34 starts.
“He is still lowly assessed, so we will just keep rolling him through in these lower-class races,” said Young. “He’s coming back off that injury, so who knows how long he will stand up.”