Frustrating and embarrassing are two words that come to mind for trainer Shane Fliedner when he talks about talented galloper Tollesprit.
The four-year-old has been a source of endless heartache for his connections as he has struggled to realise the potential he showed as a younger horse.
Throat operations have twice derailed Tollesprit’s career but with the latest surgery declared a success it is now time for the son of Bel Esprit to deliver.
Fliedner can no longer hide his frustration.
“He has to turn it around in his next two starts or he will be retired,” Fliedner said.
“If he didn’t have ability he would be long gone.”
On Saturday Tollesprit will be looking to bounce back to form in the TCL Electronics Hcp (1000m) at Flemington.
It is not a preferred distance for him but he must show improvement from his last start when he finished at the tail of the field in the All Victorian Sprint Final (1200m) at Flemington on July 9.
That performance was a big letdown after he had resumed from his second throat operation with an eye-catching third to Elusive Touch over 1000 metres down the straight on June 25.
Exhaustive veterinary tests, including leg scans, have cleared Tollesprit of any problems so now it is up to him.
“He has always raced well down the straight but every prep I seem to have trouble with him,” Fliedner said.
“He is becoming embarrassing. He is a very frustrating horse to train.”
Tollesprit races in winkers but will have a tongue tie added to his gear on Saturday to try to bring about a form reversal.
“He has won before with a tongue tie on,” Fliedner said.
“Last start he went around to the barrier with his tongue in the back of his throat somewhere and he also raced a lot more forward than normal.
“He was fine after the race but we will ride him quiet like we have in the past. I don’t want to change his racing pattern.
“He will be back last or second last and we will leave him alone for the first half of the race.”
Tollesprit has won four of his 17 starts but has not been successful since he posted consecutive wins at Flemington and Moonee Valley in January and February last year.
He was only beaten three lengths when seventh in Wanted’s 2010 Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Flemington but Fliedner suspects that he may be better suited in slightly longer races.
Tollesprit is a winner at 1420 metres and Fliedner is keen to get him back out to a similar distance.
“I am persevering because I really want to get him out over a trip,” Fliedner said.
He said while the Group Three Aurie’s Star Hcp (1200m) at Flemington on August 6 was appealing, a more likely option was a 1400-metre handicap on the same day.
“At his third start in a race he won over 1420 metres at Flemington so I know he can do it,” Fliedner said.
AAP TURF
