Kody Nestor thought he might have some fun with Mr Dumont when he arrived in his Dubbo stables earlier this year, and he's quickly being proved right.
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The former Queensland galloper made it two wins from as many starts for Nestor on Sunday, taking out the $37,000 Narromine Gold Cup in another commanding showing.
The win came after a strong front-running performance on debut for the Dubbo trainer at Bathurst last month.
"He's absolutely thriving," Nestor said.
"I'm really happy with him and he's got a great racing pattern for out here. He runs on-pace and can handle any surface."
The win and rise in benchmark rating points means next month's $100,000 Dubbo Gold Cup is now a real target while Nestor is also looking at cups in both Coonabarabran and Coonamble.
The jockey-come-trainer was always confident Mr Dumont was capable of handling those feature-type events, despite his record of two wins in 23 starts not being the most eye-catching when he arrived.
"We've just changed a few things with him and not worked him overly hard," Nestor said.
"He's a bit older and like anyone, he can get a bit sick of the rigmarole so we've changed some things and he's really thrived.
"He pokes about in the paddock and it's not overly taxing. He's happy with the more laid-back environment."
It was a calm and collected performance from Anthony Cavallo in the saddle on Sunday, as he jumped well before settling third on the rails behind early front-runners Any Blinkin Day ($7.50) and I Am Awesome ($8).
Approaching the bend for home Cavallo peeled wide and took control of the race heading into the straight.
Mr Dumont ($4) veered right slightly while heading down the straight but still powered to a three-quarter-of-a-length win.
The Garry Lunn-trained Nightspun ($41) produced a fine run from last to finish second, just ahead of Dar Lunn's Helstar ($11).
"'Choc' (Cavallo) rode him terrific," Nestor said, before looking at what's next.
"He's got a 70 rating now so hopefully that's enough for him to sneak into the Dubbo Cup.
"That would be ideal, just across the road and he's rock-hard fit so he'd be a chance in that."
Sunday's victory was extra meaningful for Nestor following the death of one of his strappers, Alex Knight, a week prior.
Knight was killed in a motorcycle crash, with Nestor stating "he was a big part of my team".
"It's been a tough week for everyone involved so it was good to get the result," he said.
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