Co-trainer Michael Hawkes is expecting a bold showing from Toydini when he returns to Group 1 level in the 2014 George Main Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend.
Toydini will be chasing his maiden victory at Group 1 level in the 2014 George Main Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
Toydini made his racing debut for Team Hawkes in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 6 and he worked home strongly on an unsuitable heavy track to finish third behind Lucia Valentina and Tiger Tees.
Hawkes told Racing Ahead this morning that he was thrilled with the first-up performance of Toydini in the Tramway Stakes and said that he is delighted with the condition of the five-year-old heading into the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) this weekend.
“He was another run that we sort of had to run on the wet track,” Hawkes said.
“He is not really a wet tracker, but he was outstanding.
“He was going nowhere at the 300, but all of a sudden the two horses chimed in down the outside and he just thought that he better get going again.
“He really hit the line solid, his work on Tuesday was great and I really can’t fault him.
“He has definitely come on from that run, he looks super in the coat and I think he will give a bold showing on Saturday.”
Toydini was positioned towards the tail of the field in the Tramway Stakes and has generally been ridden as a backmarker throughout his racing career to date.
Hawkes said that he will not be giving jockey Corey Brown any strict riding instructions and is happy for the Singapore-based hoop to let Toydini settle where he jumps in the early stages of the 2014 George Main Stakes.
“He is the kind of horse that you have to have him where he is happy,” Hawkes said.
“It is up to him, wherever he wants to be in the race to get home.
“Being a mile he might be a touch closer, but wherever he is happy.”
Toydini has recorded four wins at Group level, but he is still chasing his maiden victory at the highest level of racing after being most competitive in races like the Epsom Handicap (1600m), Emirates Stakes (1600m), Canterbury Stakes (1300m), George Ryder Stakes (1600m) and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
The five-year-old is currently available at 2014 George Main Stakes odds of $10, with talented three-year-old Panzer Division ($4.80) a narrow favourite from Royal Descent ($5), Sacred Falls ($5.50) and Lucia Valentina ($5.50).
