A recent trip to Sydney by Matthew Williams to a yearling sale ended up a fact-finding mission on where to stable lightly raced mare Toregene for an upcoming autumn campaign
A veteran of six starts for four wins, Toregene commences her autumn in the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on Saturday.
And if Toregene pleases Williams on Saturday, the mare will head north for two Group 1 assignments in the coming months.
Toregene is entered for the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 8, but Williams said the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 11 and the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 25 were also on the agenda.
“If she can run really well on Saturday, that’s where I would like to go,” Williams said.
“She can go up for the Coolmore Classic, the Emancipation Stakes and the Queen Of The Turf.”
Williams said his trip to Sydney for the Classic Sale earlier this month did not see a yearling purchase, but it provided him with some invaluable information on where to stable Toregene.
An infrequent traveller to Sydney and yet to win a race at either Randwick or Rosehill, Williams said Warwick Farm would suit his style of training.
“We’ll try and slot in at Warwick Farm,” Williams said.
“They’ve got a few back tracks where you can go for a ride around and you don’t have to go out on the actual track every morning.
“So, you can do your slow work out there.
“It ended up more of a fact-finding mission for a trip to Sydney.”
Toregene won four of her first five starts including the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final.
She was sent for a summer break after finishing second at her first start in stakes company when My Whisper defeated her in the Group 3 Summoned Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield in November.
Williams said Toregene was well prepared for her return on Saturday.
“She’s had two trials that I thought were really good,” Williams said.
With just six runners, Saturday’s race is wide-open with one point separating five runners in the betting.
Toregene and Pride Of Jenni share favouritism at $4 with Espiona at $4.40, Turaath at $4.80 and Barb Raider at $5.
Forbidden City is the $12 outsider with betr.com.au.
