David Vandyke has enjoyed racing Tuff Tu Mus through his grades, but the Sunshine Coast trainer realises the time has come to raise the bar with his winning machine.
The five-year-old son of All Too Hard will chase an eighth-straight win in this Saturday’s $160,000 Listed Recognition Stakes at Doomben.
The 1350-metre event will be the first time in Stakes grade for Tuff Tu Mus, but Vandyke is thrilled with his condition and said jumping from a good barrier (seven) on a track where he has five wins from as many starts augured well for his prospects.
“It’s a huge step up from what he’s run in previously, but he’s got a wonderful record with seven-straight metro wins and he certainly deserves a crack at this type of race,” Vandyke said.
“He’s drawn OK in the middle of the line and he’s never been beaten at Doomben.
“The signs are good for a decent performance, but we’re under no illusions that this is a very tough assignment for him.”
Tuff Tu Mus completed an unbeaten four-run second campaign with victory in a benchmark 90 over 1815m at Eagle Farm on August 2.
The gelding also won the final three starts of his initial preparation with his only defeats coming at his first two starts when he was a narrow runner-up on each occasion.
Tuff Tu Mus has had three trials in preparation for the return, finishing fourth in the first two before victory in a 1000m Sunshine Coast trial on November 11.
Vandyke was happy with what he saw at the latest trial and is comfortable with kicking him off at 1350m.
“His last trial was pretty good, he can mix his form in his trials, but he does go well raceday which is the important thing,” Vandyke said.
“I’ve given him a fair bit of work, he’s had a few trials and I don’t think the distance will be a worry, I don’t think the track will be a worry, it’ll just be a matter of how it goes in this grade.”
A good showing on Saturday would encourage Vandyke to get serious about planning an assault on the Magic Millions raceday with Tuff Tu Mus, a $140,000 National Yearling Sale graduate.
Tiffani Brooker reunites with Tuff Tu Mus in the Recognition Stakes, in which he occupies the third line of betting behind Boomtown Boss and So You Pence in an open market.
