Written by Paul Vettise
Early expectations of Begood Toya Mother (Myboycharlie {Ire}) were modest so his progress through to a top-flight challenge has taken his Warrnambool trainer Daniel Bowman by surprise.
The 5-year-old will be chasing his seventh consecutive victory when he steps out in Saturday’s G1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie S. at Caulfield.
“He showed early days after he had a couple of starts that he had midweek potential,” Bowman said.
When Begood Toya Mother was successful in a Rating 70 event in late April that Bowman dared to dream with the horse he bought as a yearling and syndicated between a number of stable clients.
“It wasn’t until he won that race at Sandown that we sort of put the Sir Rupert Clarke on the radar and had aspirations to try and get him to that,” he said.
“He’s straight-forward now. Early days he was very flighty and nervy and now he’s the ultimate professional and just goes to the races and relaxes and knows what the job’s all about.”
“Early days he was very flighty and nervy and now he’s the ultimate professional and just goes to the races and relaxes and knows what the job’s all about.” – Daniel Bowman.
Following his Sandown success, Begood Toya Mother won at Flemington before a break and has been unbeaten in two runs, both at Caulfield, on his current preparation.
“He’s come through his last run in really good order and he’s ready to go again,” Bowman said. “We wouldn’t be chucking him in at the deep end if we weren’t happy with him.
Daniel Bowman and Begood Toya Mother
“He’s done everything we’ve asked of him to date with flying colours. It was just a matter of finding the right race to run him in to have him cherry ripe for the Sir Rupert Clarke.
“I just felt that with the Rupert Clarke being a high pressure 1400 metre race, what better way to have him ready than to put him in a high pressure 1400 metre weight-for-age race.
“Going back to a handicap in the Rupert Clarke he’ll have six or seven kilos less.”
Barrier no issue
Begood Toya Mother has drawn the outside gate on Saturday, but Bowman sees that as a positive for the gelding.
“I think the barrier is an advantage to him, it gives us options. If he had drawn inside we would have had to dig him up to hold a spot.
“We can just flow across and either lead or sit outside the leader. If they want to go silly he can slot in behind them.
“There’s a few choices now. When he drew inside at Flemington he got bottled away and it didn’t suit him even though he won.”
Begood Toya Mother's group of owners
Bowman has been training for five years and is grateful such a flagship horse like Begood Toya Mother has come along so early in his career.
“Every trainer needs a horse like this to show everyone that when you get a good horse you know how to handle them. This bloke’s definitely doing that for me,” he said. “I’ve currently got 30 in work.
“Every trainer needs a horse like this to show everyone that when you get a good horse you know how to handle them.” – Daniel Bowman.
“I was foreman for Darren Weir for a few years at his Warrnambool stable and before that I worked at Lindsay Park and for Ciaron Maher to bolster my resume and improve my knowledge.”
Begood Toya Mother was purchased by Bowman out of the draft of Donnybrook Estates for $28,000 at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale in 2016.
Begood Toya Mother as a yearling
“When I saw him he had a really relaxed walk and was a beautiful colour and there was just something about him, I was happy to pick him up,” he said.
Begood Toya Mother is a son of Lady Of Helena (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}), who was successful once and five of her seven foals to race have won.
The mare is a half-sister to the G1 Canterbury Guineas and G1 Waikato Draught Sprint winner Western Red (NZ) (Spectacular Love {USA}) and the family of the Hong Kong Derby winner Great Success (NZ) (Zamazaan {Fr}).
