Top filly revives fond memories for Vern Brockman
Octogenarian trainer, Vern Brockman says emerging three-year-old Toropa is trending in the right direction and will progress to Saturday grade after keeping her unbeaten record intact at Belmont on Wednesday.
The excitement continues to grow for Toropa, a $230,000 Perth Magic Millions purchase, who met the expectations of punters again when she made it three wins from as many starts in the McMahon Handicap (1200m).
Despite coming back from a virus, a month between runs, carrying 60kg and ploughing through heavy ground, punters had no concerns with daughter of Toronado starting a short-priced $1.65 favourite.
Jockey Brad Parnham gave Toropa a perfect run, he settled her fifth before the daughter of Toronado exploded down the middle of the track to bolt in and record an easy 1 ¾ length win over Jaz Session.
Brockman, twice the winner of the Railway Stakes and Perth’s leading trainer in 1980, is a big admirer of Toropa and says after three excellent mid-week wins, the next step is to go to Saturday company.
“She’s all class and from here on end we’ll be looking at a Saturday,” Brockman said.
“I don’t know what the ceiling is, but the art of racing is to have a first-class horse in a second-class race and then you keep winning.
“Now we’ll be running against better class horses, but what more can she do.”
Toropa’s progress has ignited fond memories for Brockman.
“It reminds me of a horse we had called Junction Girl,” Brockman said.
“It won ten straight and they have similar abilities.
“She won a Bunbury Stakes, and we took her to Adelaide and ran second in the Goodwood Handicap.
“She was a sweet mover, the same as this filly (Toropa).”
Toropa gave the in-form Parnham the second leg of a treble. He booted home Natural Gem and lifted No Brainer across the line after he was headed.
Parnham is two from two on Toropa after Joseph Azzopardi rode her to victory when she made her debut at Belmont a year ago.
Brockman said Parnham is cementing a good relationship with Toropa.
“He knows how to ride this horse,” Brockman said.
“He’s in great form, Brad and he likes her a lot.”
More Racing News
Patience pays off with A Little Deep in Chautauqua Stakes
Patience is a rare commodity in racing, but the Ciaron Maher stable and the owners of A Little Deep have been rewarded with a Stakes win at Moonee Valley. A Little Deep took out the Listed Chautauqua Stakes (1200m) on Saturday in a patient ride by Jamie Kah who timed her run to perfection. Settling...
Japanese galloper confirmed for the 2024 Cox Plate
Japanese galloper Prognosis has been confirmed for the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley with Damian Lane expected to take the ride. A three-time Group 2 winner in Japan, Prognosis was keenly sought after by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to come to Melbourne and run in the Group 1 showpiece over 2040m on...
Evaporate headed to Stakes level
Having completed a winning hat-trick in taking out the Ladbrokes Own Spring Handicap (1600m), the Lindsay Park team is looking to raise the bar with Evaporate. Success in a maiden at Cranbourne was followed by a win at Moonee Valley on August 24, but Evaporate went to another level with his...
Angel stamps his class in McKenzie Stakes win
Trainer Clinton Mcdonald fears Angel Capital may be too brilliant to run a strong 1600m after his return victory at Moonee Valley. Angel Capital resumed to take out the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) on Saturday with McDonald hopefully plotting a course towards the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 12. The slowest into...
Gavin Bedggood savours Group 1 Glory
Trainer Gavin Bedggood and the connections of Mornington Glory were banking on the fittest horse supplying them with a Group 1 win at Moonee Valley. Sustained speed over the 1000m journey of the Moir Stakes on Saturday saw Bedggood land his first Group 1 win and gift the owners of the sprinter a...
Pericles dominant in So You Think Stakes
Godolphin galloper Pericles registered his first win in 12 months with a dominant display in the So You Think Stakes (1500m). The James Cummings-trained five-year-old had not been successful since winning the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) on the corresponding weekend last year. However, Pericles had collected placings in the Silver Eagle, the...
Ciaron Maher mare to the fore in a cracking Concorde Stakes
Under-rated sprinter I Am Me has claimed several high-profile scalps to score a brilliant first-up win in the Concorde Stakes at Randwick, putting herself in the frame for an Everest slot. The Ciaron Maher-trained mare, who started at $4.80 with betting apps in Australia, denied evergreen stablemate Bella Nipotina ($4.40) by a...
Freedman brothers quinella the Furious Stakes
After having to settle for a minor role behind big brother Anthony and his filly Ameena in the first leg of the Princess Series, Michael Freedman has been delighted to see Manaal turn the tables in the Furious Stakes at Randwick. The Group 1 winner resumed with a narrow third in the Silver Shadow...
Silmarillion runs up to form in Atlantic Jewel Stakes
There is never good thing in racing, but if ever there was one, it was Godolphin filly Silmarillion in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m). At her last start, The James Cummings-trained Silmarillion split Ameena and Manaal in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on August 24. Ameena and Manaal met again...
Godolphin opt for easier Moonee Valley option
Missing a run in a Group 1 contest may provide Godolphin galloper Pericles a long overdue return to the winner’s enclosure at Moonee Valley. Pericles is down to contest the So You Think Stakes (1500m) on Saturday, a new race at The Valley to compensate for the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m)...