Despite a last-minute jockey change, Country Bumpkin delivered a strong performance at Hawera, New Zealand on Sunday.
Originally, Jack Power was slated to ride the 10-year-old, but due to a fall in the previous race, Portia Matthews stepped in as his replacement.
Matthews approached the race confidently, guiding the son of St Reims to the front and maintaining a substantial lead for most of the race. Kevin Myers-trained Hey Happy and Mandorani made an effort to catch up in the closing stages but couldn't reach Country Bumpkin, who secured a convincing four-length victory.
Country Bumpkin's previous outing was a sixth-place finish in the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton last month. Trainer Niall Quinn now has his sights set on another Prestige Jumping assignment.
Quinn expressed satisfaction with Country Bumpkin's performance and the horse's preparations leading up to the race. He also praised Portia Matthews for her ride, noting that Country Bumpkin is versatile and can be ridden in various positions.
Country Bumpkin returned to racing after a two-year injury-enforced hiatus in May and has won three out of eight starts since his return. Quinn is optimistic about his progress and hopes to continue his successful comeback at the upcoming Great Northern meeting at Te Rapa in two weeks.
“He won his first steeplechase, and we were confident about his future, but then he had some tendon trouble. He had two years off and then won his first two races this season within six days. He's a valuable and enjoyable horse for the group of people who own him. We'll assess his condition and consider the Northern meeting,” Quinn said.