Despite having no winners over the weekend three Cm graduates have us very excited for what’s to come this spring.
Triple Group One winner Tofane produced a top-class performance on her return to racing, finishing a close third to Behemoth in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
The six-year-old Michael Moroney-trained daughter of Ocean Park found the line really well after taking a little bit longer than usual to get balanced on the straight.
Her connections are sure to be encouraged by Saturday’s run, having labelled the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) (October 21) as her goal this season prior to the race.
Our other runner at Caulfield having the first run of her preparation was Annavisto who finished second in the benchmark 90 race over 1400m.
She raced more kindly than she has in her previous races and looked as though she would have won if she managed to balance up and change legs earlier in the straight.
Co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr, who trains in partnership with Mick Price, said today that she’s come back better this season and would improve from the run.
He confirmed that she would head to the Gr.2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) (September 11) and then either the Gr.2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) (September 24) or the Gr.2 Rose of Kingston Stakes (1400m) (October 2).
Up in New South Wales Tofane’s younger brother No Compromise was excellent at Kembla Grange. He’d had a little let up since his last win and came back to finish sixth in the Gr.3 Premier's Cup (2000m).
He found the line really nicely and we imagine trainer Chris Waller will be pleased with him heading towards the Gr.1 The Metropolitan (2400m) (October 2), if that is still his aim.
They’re three horses that we will be following very closely throughout the spring and we’re hoping the can put their hands up for some bigger races ahead.
With no racing in New Zealand due to the current COVID-19 Alert Level 4 Curraghmore was represented by just four runners across the Tasman on the weekend.
Our fourth runner Nerve not Verve set the pace in a slowly run race and was just out sprinted in the straight. She was beaten just over two lengths and she ran very creditably.
