At Werribee all eyes were on four-time Group 1 winner Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) who has not been sighted since her second-place finish in the G1 All-Aged S.
However, the daughter of Ocean Park (NZ) was still making headlines even during her absence, having been snapped up by Yulong for $3.1 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in May.
Lining up alongside nine fellow triallers, including G1 Doncaster H. winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante), Tofane looked comfortable over the 800-metre trip and Yulong Investments’ Chief Operating Officer, Sam Fairgray told TDN AusNZ it was pleasing to see the mare clearly retain her enthusiasm for racing.
Watch: Heat 3 featuring Group 1 stars as Callsign Mav (NZ), Tofane (NZ) and Mr Brightside (NZ)
“Today’s (Friday) trial was good and Mike (Moroney) was really happy. She had been going really well in trackwork and so he was pleased. She was very strong through the line and showed a good level of fitness,” said Fairgray.
“Obviously, there are a couple of nice targets for her early on in the spring; the Memsie would be the main one and we will see how she goes heading towards that, whether we keep her racing or whether we breed her. All signs are that she is really bright and well and still enjoying being a racehorse.”
While nothing is off the table for the daughter of Ocean Park, Fairgray said they will let the mare herself dictate her future.
“Obviously, there are a couple of nice targets for her (Tofane) early on in the spring; the Memsie would be the main one... All signs are that she is really bright and well and still enjoying being a racehorse.” - Sam Fairgray
“Looking after her is the main priority and Mike knows that if at any point he thinks she’s not enjoying the racing side of it then she will embark on a new career as a broodmare. But it is all very positive at the moment so we will keep on progressing with her.
“She is maturing and getting stronger each season and it will be interesting to see how she performs. Nothing is off the table for Tofane, we will wait and see what she tells us and we will very much be guided by Mike and what he thinks, if he isn’t happy with her she will be retired straight away.
"Nothing is off the table for Tofane, we will wait and see what she tells us and very much guided by Mike (Moroney) and what he thinks and if he isn’t happy with her she will be retired straight away." - Sam Fairgray
“She is a very valuable broodmare and we have got her mother and her sister, so we have invested in the family. It is a good thing if you can keep building families within the industry and it really gives your broodmare band a lot of depth.”
Meanwhile, Moroney was also pleased with the Tofane’s morning's work and was looking forward to seeing her press on to the G1 Memsie S. at Caulfield on August 27.
“I am really happy with her. This is probably the first of three jump-outs she will have going into the Memsie,” Moroney told Racing.com.
Mike Moroney
This will be the second time the mare has kicked off her preparation in the Caulfield Group 1, having finished third behind Behemoth (All Too Hard) in the 2021 edition of the race.
“We are sort of following the same pattern as we did in the autumn. She is quite forward considering the way the ground is. She didn’t have much of a blow at all, her fitness levels are pretty good.
“She really looks at her full strength now,” he said. “I think the fact that she is lightly raced will stand by her.
“She (Tofane) really looks at her full strength now. I think the fact that she is lightly raced will stand by her.” - Mike Moroney
“She really looks like she is starting to hit her straps. This last prep she was at her best and she has continued on.”
No concrete plans
Moroney admitted he was not sure of the future plans after the G1 Memsie S., but is resigned to the fact that she will likely be served by Yulong’s resident stallion this spring.
“I have got to discuss it with the owners about her plans after the Memsie.
Multiple Group 1 winner Tofane (NZ) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“I am picking they will get her served after that because the breeding season starts on September 1. I am only guessing as we haven’t discussed any further than the Memsie.”
Co-trainer Ben Hayes revealed Mr Brightside would likely kick off his campaign in the G2 PB Lawrence S. at Caulfield on August 13.
“I was really happy, he’s never been a good trialler but Craig (Williams) just let him balance, and I thought his last 200 metres through the line was excellent,” Hayes said. “Craig (Williams) was thrilled, gave him a glowing report, we think he’s right on track.
Mr Brightside (NZ) will kick off his campaign in the G2 PB Lawrence S. | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“He looks fantastic, looks like he’s developed and strengthened a little bit which you want to see.
“He has to improve now because he has to race at weight-for-age, the team couldn’t be happier, we think he’s spot on.
“We’ll look to kick him off in the PB Lawrence, we’re going to trial next week and then we’ll have two weeks to just play around with him until the race.”
“We’ll look to kick him (Mr Brightside) off in the PB Lawrence, we’re going to trial next week and then we’ll have two weeks to just play around with him until the race.” - Ben Hayes
Smooth trial from Anamoe
Meanwhile on the polytrack at Warwick Farm, Godolphin’s Group 1-winning pair Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) and Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) were seen for the first time, while Richard Litt’s top flight-winning colt Profondo (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was having the second trial ahead as he looks to get his career back on track in his 4-year-old season.
Group 1 winner Anamoe | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Anamoe, a three-time Group 1 winner, who was last seen running a disappointing ninth in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick in April, will kick off his preparation in the G1 Winx S. at Randwick on August 20 and he tuned up for the Group 1 in Heat 4, an Open event over 740 metres.
The James Cummings-trained son of Street Boss (USA) was caught three and four wide throughout in the trial and he kept under a strong hold from start to finish by James McDonald, finishing 1.4l off the leader in a time of 44.62s.
Meanwhile, fellow elite-level winners Cascadian and Profondo clashed in the Heat 2 over 740 metres.
The pair were given an easy time, stretching out in the latter stages, with Profondo finishing fifth, 7.8l off the pace, while Cascadian was seventh, 8.3l behind winner Not Another Reiby (Denman), who stopped the clock in the time of 43.13s.
Cascadian, whose most high-profile victories came in the 2021 edition of The Doncaster H. and last year’s G1 All Aged S., where he beat Tofane into third, and he could clash with Moroney’s high-class mare again this year, with the pair potentially set to butt-heads in the G1 Memsie S.
Road to redemption starts for Profondo
Profondo - a $1.9 million purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2020 - looked to have the world at his feet after his victory in the G1 Spring Champion S. last year.
However, after a lacklustre autumn preparation which saw him finish 13th in the G1 Australian Guineas and fourth in the Rosehill equivalent, the son of Deep Impact (Jpn) will very much be seeking redemption as he attempts to get his career back on course.
Profondo, winner of the G1 Spring Champion S. | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
While trainer Richard Litt has not revealed his plans for Profondo’s first-up assignment, he said he was pleased with the way the colt had returned ahead of his latest preparation.
“I was happy with him,” Litt said. “He trialled well, did everything we asked, and he’s pulled up very well.”
