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Tympanist was sharp enough to win his first barrier trial but trainer David Payne always knew he’d take plenty of time to grow into his considerable frame.
After a dominant first-up win, Payne is hoping to see the three-year-old back it up in the Agency Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill on Saturday and continue on the road to living up to his potential.
"He's so big, if you look at him in the ring he's massive, and he's just needed the time,'' Payne said.
"You've got to let them mature. Early on he could run, he won his first trial easily over a sprint, but we had to be patient."
Payne said he wasn't surprised by Tympanist's dynamic first-up win over 1550m on the Kensington track, where he rounded up the field from last and scored by over three lengths, but there are no grand plans for now.
It's a different task for the gelding on Saturday as he rises 5kg but it's effectively a class drop with only one horse rated above 64 in the Benchmark 72 event.
"He was trialling very well so we thought he would run a nice race,'' Payne said.
"But he only had a light weight so you have to take that into consideration.
"I don't think the extra weight will worry him, though, because he is so big. And he should be happy with the distance, he's run second over 2000m.
"He can only improve when you think about it, it was his first run for quite a while.
"We'll ride him quietly again and hope he finishes off like he did the other day. He's got to back it up now."
Tympanist was a $6 chance with TAB on Thursday.
Stablemate Fox Fighter backs up in the Canadian Club Handicap (1200m) after finishing a close up seventh behind Rupertaar at Randwick last weekend.
Payne said a 3.5kg drop in weight could be significant but the gelding's chances come down to race tempo and luck in running.
"He had to go up the inside which wasn't ideal, he couldn't get a run anywhere,'' he said.
"When you are a backmarker unfortunately that happens. I'll run him again and claim with him and hope it works out."
Meanwhile, star mare Montefilia will return to Payne's stable in just over two weeks to prepare for her spring campaign.
