A massive week of racing both here in Melbourne with the Warrnambool May Carnival and in Adelaide with the running of the G1 SAROA Robert Sangster Stakes.
Some incredible performances on the track, close finishes and wonderful stories have unfolded over the last seven days.
I have covered 29 races from the mounting yard and have settled on six horses to follow across the three meetings.
Warrnambool 4th May
Race 2 – Western Districts Electrical Services Maiden Plate 1400m
Toregene
One of the more impressive fillies that raced over the Warrnambool Carnival – she is a brute of a three-year-old. A tall, rangy type who stands over ground and has an impressive hindquarter on her. A lot of horse to deal with if they don’t do things right! Trainer Matthew Williams made comments to suggest she was a challenging filly to deal with when she arrived from New Zealand but his team at Warrnambool have done a fantastic job with her. There is always a question when a horse debuts with blinkers, a cross-over nose band, pre-race earmuffs, a stallion chain, doesn’t spend much time in the mounting yard and is lead to the start off the pony. Despite the extensive list of gear and race day management, Toregene was on her best behavior, but it does leave questions about her mental maturity.
Using gear on a racehorse is just another tool a trainer can use to get the best out of each individual horse, all the gear used on Toregene aid (amongst other things) in getting a horse to settle, focus and relax both in training and on race day, this mix seemed to work perfectly on this occasion.
I’m making her a horse to follow for two reasons, firstly, despite winning over 1400m on debut, I think she will get better as she steps out over ground, physically that’s what she is looking for (providing she settles) and secondly, she still has some mental maturity to come.
These comments were apart of Jayne Ivil’s mounting yard review, which can be ready in full through Racing.com here.