Gary ‘Bumps’ the big boys

[Wandering Eyes]

Gary Cowcher and homebred surprise packet Bumpy’s Dad Roy will be striving to play the role of giantkiller for the second week running on Saturday night at The Meadows.

At last Saturday’s Phoenix meeting, the intriguingly-named Bumpy’s Dad Roy ($9.70) upset $1.20 favourite Elite Alex, leading all-the-way in a heat of a lucrative Grade 5 series.

The well-bred December ’19 son of champion sire Collision and Go Go Treetment, a half-brother to Broadford-based Cowcher’s 2019 G1 Maturity Classic finalist Ruby Girl, clocked a smart 30.01sec, his eighth win from 30 starts (with 14 minors).

It was his second win from his past three starts at The Meadows, improving significantly on the clock from a 30.28sec success last month, and comparing favourably with Wow She’s Fast‘s 29.84sec effort in The Phoenix two races later.

WATCH: BUMPY’S DAD ROY (B2) dug deep to hold $1.20 favourite ELITE ALEX (B3) at bay at The Meadows last Saturday night, leading all-the-way in an upset 30.01sec success.

“I like beating the big boys!” Cowcher quipped.

“I was surprised because he does like to use a bit of the track.

“I would’ve given him a good chance if he’d been out wide in ‘six’ or ‘seven’, but he jumped really good and got to the front and that’s what matters.

“The other dog (Elite Alex) came at him, but he put the pedal down a bit harder and kept going. His sister, Lucky Molly, did the same thing when she won at The Meadows over 600m on Wednesday.

“He’s got ability, but he’s had a few issues with a wrist, and he had a bit of acidosis earlier on.

“I didn’t think he’d make 500m, but he’s just turned three and matured. I was pretty happy with his time too – he nearly broke ‘30’.”

After leading throughout from the two alley last weekend, Bumpy’s Dad Roy has once again come up with what could be a problematic inside draw in box 1 for Saturday’s $12,000 to-the-winner final – race 3 at 6.20pm.

Elite Alex (box 3), trained by Mark Delbridge, is favourite again, but at $2.45 is much closer this week to Bumpy’s Dad Roy at $3.90 in Sportsbet’s market.

“It’s a pretty hard race!” Cowcher said.

“If he jumps like he did last week and gets left alone to the first corner he’ll be right up there again.

“He always tries his guts out and that’s all you can ask.

“It would be nice if he can win again, but I’ve already won about $10,000 this week and I own them too, so I get the lot!”

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Bumpy’s Dad Roy, a finalist in the G3 Northern Districts Cup at Shepparton in November, running fifth to potential superstar Rejuvenate, is from the third and final litter of Go Go Treetment.

Owner/breeder Cowcher also trains siblings Lucky Molly (eight from 36) and Pot Luck Chuck (six from 33).

The litter also includes Go Undertaker, which has won six from 19, including his past three at Shepparton over 450m for Georgia Whiting.

Cowcher is now looking forward to his dynasty continuing with the progeny of Ruby Girl (Cosmic Rumble x Go Go Treetment), which won 15 of her 45 starts and qualified for the 2019 Maturity Classic Final.

“I’m just breaking in one from Ruby Girl’s first litter, to Aston Dee Bee, and I’ve also got two from her second litter, to Beast Unleashed, which are five or six months old.”

And surely there must be a story behind a name like Bumpy’s Dad Roy?

“My old man’s name is Roy, he lives up in northern NSW,” Cowcher explained.

“He loves the dogs, so I wanted to name one after him. Then I thought this dog is pretty good and my nickname is ‘Bumpy’ – that’s what everyone calls me –  so that’s where the name came from!”

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