Toro Toro is eyeing off a slot in the $1.3 million The Kosciuszko if he can step up to the mark in The Agency Real Estate Handicap (benchmark 72, 1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Scone-based gelding was a winner last start at Wyong and has turned his form around in his last four outings.
The son of Time For War was shaping up to be a contender in the 2020 edition of The Kosciuszko, but didn’t capture the attention of any of the 14 ticket holders.
Trainer Stephen Jones says they’ll give the four-year-old a freshen before a tilt at the richest race for country-trained horses.
“If he goes alright this Saturday, we’ll give him a freshen up and aim for it this year,” he said.
“He’s going well, all we need is a freshen to get a bit of freshness in his legs.
“But we are definitely aiming that way.”
Since returning from a freshen-up, Toro Toro hasn’t finished outside of the top four, including two wins in that time.
And with rain forecast, it could play into the gelding’s hands, as he has only missed the placings three times in his eight starts on wet tracks.
Matthew Palmer will also keep the ride aboard the four-year-old, having ridden him in three of his past four starts, including those two wins at Mudgee and Wyong.
Jones said a switch in distances has been a key factor in the change of form for Toro Toro.
“We tried to get 1400m with him, which we aborted that, and since we’ve done that his form has been terrific,” he said.
“He’s going good.
“He’s just a dead set sprinter at this stage. 1200m is tops.
“Since we got to that sort of situation, he’s been going great.”
