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| Second Group 1 Win For Turffontein |
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After a week when Black Caviar and So You Think reminded us of the fragility of the high-mettled racer, the admirable Turffontein restored our faith in the modern thoroughbred with a performance of class and courage to land his second win at the highest level in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Even with the absence of Black Caviar, the field of eight contained five Group 1 winners and it was Turffontein that proved best. Benefiting from a perfect ride from Glen Boss, Turffontein settled in third place early before easing off the fence at the 600m mark to be in a position to challenge into the straight. Turffontein rolled up three wide into the straight and then quickened past Wanted and Light Fantastic to go clear. Wanted and Light Fantastic fought back and Snipers Bullet closed strongly from well back but Turffontein galloped strongly to the line to score. The three-year-old Wanted (Fastnet Rock) stayed on gamely for second, half a neck away with Snipers Bullet a short neck off in third. The time for the 1200m was 1.11.67 with the last 600m run in 35.37. Last start Lightning Stakes winner
Nicconi failed to reproduce that form and the Sydney three-year-old Shellscrape disappointed, however Chris Waller’s colt was coughing on return to the mounting yard so he may have a legitimate excuse. Turffontein had galloped strongly at Moonee Valley earlier in the week but the real key to the race for him was the easy ground at Moonee Valley after some heavy showers during the week. “He is a terrific horse, when he has the right conditions he is up with the best of them,” Graeme Woolston, Cummings Melbourne foreman, said. “That is all he really needs, the edge off, if he gets dead or worse he will really produce.
Jockey Glen Boss was his usual restrained self afterwards and was fulsome in his praise for his partner. “I have a real soft spot for this horse, he has got an amazing turn of foot when he gets on these surfaces, dead tracks bordering slow he really excels, he is one of those colts that really has a good dig, I like him,” Boss said. “With this kind of colt you give them something to chase, you don’t really wait for them to come to you, you get on your bike and getting him doing what he does best. He kicks off a bend and maintains a relatively good sprint towards the end, he has a good two-length kick on him and if you wait for them it is too late. “He is a really good little colt and I am rapt for the owners, they are good people.” The Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1) over 1200m at Flemington on March 6 is the next race for Turffontein, who advanced his record to five wins – four of them at stakes level - and 12 placings from 30 starts with earnings of $1,239,250 having sold to Anthony Cummings for $70,000 as a yearling at the Melbourne Premier Sale.
Courtesy of ANZ Bloodstock news Darryl Sherer.
Sunday, 14 February 2010 |
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