Rick Hore-Lacy says he confident Toorak Toff has fully recovered from a breathing problem ahead of his comeback in the Goodwood at Morphettville.
The imposing three-year-old entire was retired at the end of last year but Hore-Lacy has resurrected the chestnut’s career following what appears a successful throat operation.
“I am very happy with him,” Hore-Lacy said.
“He’s had two pretty good jump outs, one which he won by ten or fifteen lengths and didn’t make a sound.
“I think and hope he’s back to his best.”
Hore-Lacy rates Toorak Toff as among the best horses he has trained and took the punt on a throat operation to get him back to the track in the hope he could build on his only Group One win the Golden Rose (1400m) at Randwick last August.
“He’s 16.1 hands and just a beautiful horse,” Hore-Lacy said.
The Show A Heart colt has won five of his 11 starts and collected more than $1 million prize money.
He hasn’t raced since finishing fourth to Anacheeva in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) after enduring a tough on-pace run out four wide without cover.
“He’s a Group (Three) winner at two and a Group One winner at three and he won at 1100 metres up to 1400 metres and he was a certainty beaten in the Caulfield Guineas,” Hore-Lacy said.
He said despite the long break since the Guineas, Toorak Toff was ready to win Sunday’s Group One Goodwood (1200m).
“He went well first up last time in when he won the Vain Stakes over 1100 metres beating a pretty good field including Star Witness so I’m hoping he can do the same on Sunday.
“He makes no noise at all and I had him scoped and he’s windpipe is completely open.”
Toorak Toff has firmed from $14 to $12 with TAB Sportsbet but Crystal Lily is the best backed runner from $6 to $4.40 favourite.
AP TURF
