Tofane has rediscovered her best form to capture her second Group 1 victory in the Stradbroke Handicap.
A few weeks ago, Tofane was at a career crossroads.
Having managed just one minor placing since her All Aged Stakes victory last autumn, her owners were weighing up whether to auction her at Queensland’s national broodmare sale.
Rupert Legh was one of those keen to sell but on Saturday at Eagle Farm, he was happy he was outnumbered after the mare stormed to victory in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
“We were at the sales only three weeks ago to make a decision whether we sold her on not,” Legh said.
“Fortunately, I was outvoted by the other owners and here she is today winning another Group One.”
Legh has enjoyed tremendous success as an owner and Tofane was his third Stradbroke winner after Santa Ana Lane (2018) and Mr Baritone (2008).
The Mike Moroney-trained mare has proven herself a top-level sprinter and was good enough to earn a slot in last year’s Everest, finishing ninth.
While connections haven’t ruled out another tilt at the $15 million Sydney race, Legh dropped a bombshell by suggesting she could extend to a middle-distance and contest the Cox Plate.
“Mike has been trying to get this horse to a mile plus. If you look at the pedigree, it suggests she can get to 2000 metres so who knows, we might be running in the Cox Plate in October this year,” Legh said.
Ridden by Craig Williams, Tofane ($12) slotted in behind the speed and presented in the straight to wear down local hope Vega One ($4.60 fav) and capture the Stradbroke by a half-length.
Signore Fox ($26) got up for third another short neck in arrears.
Williams said he pushed hard to get the ride on Tofane once he knew Adelaide filly Instant Celebrity wasn’t heading north.
“When (trainer) Phillip Stokes decided Instant Celebrity wasn’t going to come up here, after Tofane’s last run I said, ‘get me on that horse please. I really think she can win the race for us’,” Williams said.
“I loved the way Mike had spaced her runs. She’s now a dual Group One-winning mare.
“I had to try to restrain her throughout the race and she got a bit inconvenienced throughout but she was really strong late.”
Tofane gave Williams the middle leg of a winning treble after his earlier success on Superium in the Listed Hinkler Handicap (1200m) before he closed out his day with a Dane Ripper Stakes victory aboard Brooklyn Hustle.
