Jumping rookie Desert Master looked a jumps star in the making when at just his second start over jumps he won the Sungold Milk Galleywood Hurdle (3200m) at Warrnambool today.

By Makybe Diva's sire Desert King, Desert Master has for some time been regarded as a stayer with great ability, but he must now be regarded as one of the country's most promising jumpers.

The grey gelding had been ticking over beautifully for the Russell Cameron stable on the flat and he was seasoned and ready to rumble in the feature Hurdle of the Warrnambool Carnival.

Cameron's racing manager Brent Crawford was tickled pink with the performance of Desert Master.

"It was a dominant win," Crawford said. "Adam rode him really well and both Adam and Russell have done a really good job with this horse."

"It's a great result for the stable and the staff."

At his only previous jumps start Desert Master was narrowly beaten by The Pentagon at Sandown in late July.

Between then and today's feature he'd raced on five occasions - his most recent a close up second placing to SA galloper Brad Star at Flemington on ANZAC Day.

"We gave him one run last time in and he ran second, a close second to The Pentagon which was a very good run," Crawford commented.

"We schooled him the other day at Caulfield and you saw his run at Flemington was super the other day."

"He lived up to expectations today it's just great."

The seven-year-old performer will now almost certainly head toward the Grand National Hurdle.

"Ideally we'd probably like to head to the Nationals with him. Today was a little semi goal for the stable and it was great for Russell and good for the team."

"Celebrations all round," Crawford summed up.

For winning rider Adam Trinder his victory aboard Desert Master this afternoon gave him his first success in the time honoured Galleywood Hurdle.

"That was my first (win in the) Galleywood. Hopefully I can grab the Grand Annual (Steeplechase) tomorrow and have a full mantle piece."

"It was a good result," he said. "It's been a result we've been working toward for the past six to eight months."

"It's always good when it comes to fruition."

"He was back in work about Christmas time so there's been plenty of miles go into his legs."

Desert Master is raced by Bruce Cook's Riverend Park Syndicate along with well known Melbourne based television personality Livinia Nixon.

There was a sad outcome to the race for Pride of Westbury, who fell heavily at the last jump and was destroyed. The race was incident free until that moment.

PIC - Greg Irvine.

© Cyberhorse 2010 Greg Irvine Published 06/05/09

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