Star three-year-old Toorak Toff is heading “full steam ahead” to Queensland’s feature winter sprints despite failing in his racetrack comeback in Adelaide.
Toorak Toff was beaten nearly 10 lengths when second last of the 18 runners in Sunday’s Group One The Goodwood (1200m) but Hore-Lacy was dismissive of the performance.
The chestnut was having his first start since a throat operation for a breathing problem but Hore-Lacy blamed track bias and six months between runs for the disappointing result.
“I would just say forget he ran,” Hore-Lacy said.
“It seems to me anything that got back in the race was unable to make ground.
“Quite frankly from an outside gate we had no option but to go back and when you have a look at it, the horse (Eagle Falls) that won the Oakleigh Plate was back there with us turning for home and only beat us a length or so.”
Hore-Lacy said the run would improve Toorak Toff who hadn’t raced since finishing fourth to Anacheeva in the Group One Caulfield Guineas in October.
“He did blow out with about three parts of furlong to go but it was his first run for six months,” Hore-Lacy said.
The winner of Sydney’s Group One Golden Rose last August, Toorak Toff returned from Adelaide on Monday and Hore-Lacy couldn’t fault him.
“There wasn’t a sweat mark on him and he’s gone straight to his feed bin,” Hore-Lacy said.
“He is just a perfect horse for travelling and racing and we are full steam ahead now for the Doomben 10,000 in three weeks time.”
Toorak Toff will clash with unbeaten champion Black Caviar in the 1350m Doomben feature which Hore-Lacy believes will peak Toorak Toff for the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 11.
“The Stradbroke really looks a nice race for him,” Hore-Lacy said.
“It’s a handicap, 1400m, with the big stretches of Eagle Farm and it will be his third run back in which is ideal.”
AAP TURF
