Any horse who can win four of his first five starts is clearly above average.
But in the case of the talented gelding Tigerland, there are other reasons that make his trainer Matt Laurie think his horse is something special.
Tigerland has shown plenty, winning his first two starts, finishing an unlucky second at his third, and then winning his only two since.
The real merit in his performances though comes from the inside knowledge only a trainer has – and which he is relying on as the horse prepares for his city debut at Caulfield on Saturday.
“In at least three of his runs he’s been less than 100 per cent,” Laurie said.
“On the morning of his second start at Sale he got a nasty kick to his hind leg and there was a great big split in the skin.
“I bandaged it up and he was alright to race but it wasn’t ideal.”
In Tigerland’s only defeat he pulled up with a shin so swollen his trainer thought he’d bowed a tendon.
And coming into his second last start at Ballarat he’d wrenched a joint the previous week and only constant therapy got him to the post.
He won by a couple of lengths.
“He’s quite an amazing horse, he just pushes through it and comes out the other side bouncing,” Laurie said.
“He works hard and pulls up like it’s easy.”
Tigerland comes up against some stern opposition in Saturday’s Thomas Sabo Plate (1400m) at Caulfield, but on the limit weight and with the promise he’s shown, he is already a $2.35 favourite.
He is also shaping as the best horse to be prepared by a young trainer who reckons he might be lucky to have him.
Laurie comes from a long line of Collingwood supporters and his training complex, Carringbush Park, carries the former name of the Melbourne suburb that is home to the famous AFL club.
Tigerland’s owner Ken Dean, on the other hand, is the brother of former Richmond premiership player Roger Dean, hence the name of his horse.
Laurie is looking for Tigerland to complete his first city training double.
He also runs Misscatelli, a winner at her past two starts, in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1400m).
