Written by Paul Vettise
Michael Moroney can’t fault his quality mare Tofane (NZ) (Ocean {NZ}), who is in the early stages of her build-up toward a potential crack at racing’s premier sprinting prize – the $15 million TAB Everest.
The Flemington trainer was happy to give Tofane a quiet time at Monday morning’s Flemington jump-outs and she settled back in the field before running to the line under her own steam to finish in behind the major players in the 800 metre heat.
Watch: Flemington jump-out 1, featuring Tofane (NZ)
The sparingly-raced 5-year-old has won five of her 11 starts and was spelled following her career-best performance to beat Pierata in the G1 All Aged S. at Randwick in the autumn.
“It was a nice pipe-opener for her, she wasn’t asked to do too much, and she’ll have a more serious jump-out at Flemington again in her next one,” Moroney said.
“She will kick off in the G2 Gilgai S. at Flemington and then maybe two more runs and on to The Everest.”
“She will kick off in the G2 Gilgai S. at Flemington and then maybe two more runs and on to The Everest.” – Michael Moroney
Moroney said Tofane had thrived during her time away and that view was confirmed by jockey Dwayne Dunn, who was reunited with the mare in the jump-out.
Dunn previously rode in a brace of Group 3 victories last year in the Northwood Plume S. and the Begonia Belle S.
Dwayne Dunn aboard Tofane (NZ) following their victory in the G3 Northwood Plume S.
“Dwayne sat on her for the first time in a while and he said she was a lot more settled with her manners and had really strengthened,” Moroney said.
“To be fair to her, she’s still pretty lightly-raced and I’m really happy with the way she is progressing. She’s looking really good.”
Tofane’s stablemate Snapper (NZ) (Power {GB}) also enjoyed a hitout on Monday morning following his relocation from Moroney’s Matamata base in New Zealand.
He has yet to win in three starts, but was third in the G3 Waikato Stud Slipper and hasn’t raced since he finished fifth in the G1 Sistema S.
“That was his first trial and he had a nice run down the straight. He’s a very nice colt and I’d like to think he can get to a G1 Coolmore Stud S., all going well,” Moroney said.
“He’s a very nice colt and I’d like to think he can get to a G1 Coolmore Stud S., all going well.” – Michael Moroney
Tofane’s heat was won by Dollar For Dollar (High Chaparral {Ire}), who looked sharp in leading most of the way. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained gelding last raced when eighth in the G1 Stradbroke H.
The stable also produced its G2 Sandown Guineas winner Pretty Brazen (Brazen Beau) to win the third of the Flemington jump-outs, which featured last season’s G3 Blue Diamond Prelude winner and G1 Blue Diamond S. runner-up Hanseatic (Street Boss {USA}).
The colt enjoyed a quiet stretch of his legs with trainer Anthony and Sam Freedman looking at the G2 McEwen S. as the starting point for the colt’s spring campaign with G1 Moir S. and the G1 Coolmore Stud S. loftier targets.
Stayers impress
Danny O’Brien’s G1 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) made steady ground from the back in his 1200 metre jump-out to finish runner-up, while his promising stablemate Russian Camelot (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) also enjoyed a hitout.
Watch: Vow And Declare winning jump-out 9 at Flemington
The last-start G1 South Australia Derby winner led in his 1200 metre heat and wasn’t pressured to hold his advantage to the line.
O’Brien said he was delighted with both stayers and they are likely to square off when resuming in the G1 Makybe Diva S. on September 12.
Meanwhile, G1 Australian Guineas winner Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) added momentum to his upcoming preparation with a 1000 metre trial success between races at Sunday’s Sunshine Coast meeting.
Trainer David Vandyke is likely to give him another trial on August 25 before resuming on September 12 at Doomben in an open quality sprint, in which Alligator Blood will carry 61kg with regular rider Ryan Maloney to take the ride.
Longer-term, Vandyke is eyeing starts in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle and The Everest in Sydney while the G1 Cox Plate is also on the radar, but dependant on COVID-19 travel restrictions to Melbourne.
