Anderson leading on another debut runner

By Jordan Gerrans

Chris Anderson is a man who understands how to produce a debutant winner at the Gold Coast and he believes he has another one in his barn ahead of The Debut on Saturday.

The Eagle Farm trainer claimed the $500,000 Magic Millions The Debut for colts and geldings back in 2024 with Lead Me On.

Back in 2024, there was two divisions of The Debut on Magic Millions day, with one race for the ladies and one for the boys.

In 2026, the landscape of debut races for the carnival is slightly altered with a $250,000 The Debut race held at the Gold Coast in the middle of December as well as a $500,000 event this Saturday, which will consist of runners of both genders.

Regardless of how the race is programmed, the Anderson team are hunting the rich prize on offer this Saturday and are eager to see how the unraced Tengun Tommy will perform over 1000 metres.

The son of Flying Artie assured his position in The Debut 2YO Plate this Saturday with a strong trial triumph at Eagle Farm earlier this month.

Brisbane trainer Anderson is confident his youngster is up to the mark.

“He was terrific,” Anderson said of Tengun Tommy’s first public appearance last week.

“He drew a sticky gate and went back in the trial. We had him in a jump-out previous to the trial and he went well, so we thought he was going to be very hard to beat in a trial.

“We're not always here to run first in a trial, in fact very rarely are we here to run first in a trial, but going to a debut race – usually it is win and you're almost in.

“So, if you're not winning, you're not going there and he had to do that for those reasons. So, he was impressive.”

In Tengun Tommy’s lone public appearance, there was a speed battle in the opening period of the 800 metre trial with hoop Ben Thompson eventually opting to take a sit and find a position along the rail.

Jockey Thompson found a gap as they turned for home and powered the gelding to a victory of more than a length.

“He's a very raw horse, I think he's got great ability with a lot of improvement to come,” Anderson said.

“I think when you see him as a late two-year-old, three-year-old, you'll see a much more furnished product.

“But, he'll give you a great sight in The Debut, that's for sure.”

Tengun Tommy is raced by Paul Nugent who is a long-time client of the Anderson camp.

Nugent owns Tengun Tommy’s mother She's A Tigress who is now a broodmare after finishing her racing career back in August of 2022.

She's A Tigress won five times from 26 career appearances for Anderson.

Thompson - who collected a winner at the Wednesday city meeting of this week – was full-of-praise for Tengun Tommy following his maiden trial.

“He felt fantastic,” the 29-year-old Thompson said.

“He's been really impressive. In the trial, he raced between runners and was in amongst the field.

“He's got good field sense and he is showing signs of being a nice horse, so he's doing everything right at the trials. He just needs to take it to the races for us.

“He didn't put a foot wrong; he's a real professional.”

Now a four-year-old, Lead Me On has most certainly gone on with his career and has now won three events from just eight attempts.

The son of Brutal has banked more than $440,000 for his prominent owners Max Whitby and Neil Werrett.

Lead Me On won two metropolitan races in July of last year before going to the paddock.

The success of winning The Debut for colts and geldings back in 2024 is still fresh in the mind for Anderson.

“Magic Millions, I think it's arguably the most exciting time, in racing, certainly in Queensland,” he said.

Looking ahead through 2026, Anderson is keen to see youngster Summation back at the track.

Still a colt, Summation broke maiden ranks at Caloundra in late June of last year before placing at Doomben in a city event the following month.

The son of So You Think has plenty of potential, Anderson believes.

“I think he's got a really bright future, we've given him time,” the trainer said.

“The breed suggests they need a little bit of time.

“He's a magnificent type and we're hoping we'll see him throughout the winter carnival with some pretty nice three-year-old features.”