Speaking during the week in the lead-up to the Stradbroke, jockey Craig Williams made his feelings about Tofane very clear.
“I’m pretty excited to pick up the ride on Tofane,” said Williams. “The way she has been placed and programmed ends up being ideal for this type of race. That, and her weight as a Group 1 All Aged Stakes winner were factors that really registered with me, to the point that I actually asked my manager to get me on the horse. He got me my wish. I have just got to make sure I do my bit now.”
Well, fair to say, Williams well and truly did his bit.
Williams, who had clearly worked out the vagaries of this particular Eagle Farm track during his track-walking ritual, brought home three winners showing great riding expertise on Stradbroke day, including the feature race win on Tofane … the others being Superium and Brooklyn Hustle … who all arrived, full of running, after jumping from double figure barrier draws.
Williams will again get the leg up on the Mike Moroney trained Tofane on Saturday, again at Eagle Farm, where the now multiple Group 1 winner will attempt to land the last Group 1 of the season, the Tatts Tiara, to her honour roll … but this time the choice of ride was a more agonising one.
“It was an absolutely difficult choice between Tofane and Brooklyn Hustle,” admitted Williams.
“I’ve got four children … two boys and two girls … and the choice between Tofane and Brooklyn Hustle was like trying to choose between my daughters.
“They’ve both got different form references worthy of being Group 1 winners … and the one I am riding, Tofane, is a dual Group 1 winner at this same distance, so I went with my head, not my heart and I have a lot of faith in my manager doing his job as a manager.
‘They are both great chances. I think that applies to not just those two horses. I think you’ll find there will be a few more in contention. I think it will be a cracking race and it’s great to be part of it and to be on Tofane.”
With Williams selecting the Tofane ride over that of the flying Dane Ripper winner Brooklyn Hustle, it meant that the Jason Warren, Dean Krongold trained Brooklyn Hustle required a new rider and it is Michael Cahill who will pick up the reins on the very promising daughter of Starspangledbanner on Saturday.
“I rode her in work on Tuesday morning,” said Cahill. “She felt good. She is on target … and she has shown she is effective on the Eagle Farm surface so that is another positive.
“One hundred precent … she is good to go,” said Cahill.
