Written by Paul Vettise
Cherry Tortoni (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) was never a factor in a recent trip to Sydney, but the 3-year-old bounced firmly back in to contention for the G1 VRC Derby with a strong staying performance at The Valley.
Trainer Patrick Payne sent his young charge to Sydney for a crack at the G1 Spring Champion S., but didn’t travel well and raced accordingly, finishing a well-beaten seventh behind Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}).
Over that disastrous experience, Cherry Tortoni fronted up in Saturday’s G2 Drummond Golf Vase and showed he had moved on by downing his age group rivals under a well-judged ride from Billy Egan.
They settled at the back of the field before Egan pressed the button to improve three and four wide around the field to be at the head of affairs before turning for home.
“Once we got down the side I gave him some breathing room and started to build momentum and swoop around them,” he said.
“I know he’s won a few races, but he’s got there on raw ability without actually knowing what he’s doing. He’s still got a lot of learning to do, but to see what he’s doing now is great.”
“I know he’s won a few races, but he’s got there on raw ability without actually knowing what he’s doing.” – Billy Egan
Cherry Tortoni went through his 2-year-old campaign unbeaten, culminating in success in the Listed Gibson Carmichael S. before a spell.
He returned to finish third in Listed Exford Plate and runner-up in the G2 Stutt S. before going to Sydney and is now back on track for a tilt at next weekend’s Classic.
Cherry Tortoni has a pedigree to suggest he can master the Derby distance as his dam Tortoni (Strategic) is a half-sister to the great Tie The Knot (Nassipour), who 13 Group 1 events including two editions of the Sydney Cup.
Cherry Tortoni
They are out of the G1 Thousand Guineas and G2 Tea Rose S. winner Whisked (Whiskey Road {USA}), who died giving birth to Tortoni.
Tie The Knot and Whisked were bred and raced by Sandy Tait and his sister Jill Nivison and their colours are now carried by Cherry Tortoni.
He was hotly pursued in the closing stages on Saturday by Khoekoe (Turrfontein), but clung on grimly to win by 0.2l with Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) a further 7l back in third spot.
