French import Pornichet was amazingly unable to make the field for last Saturday’s featured Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) and appears likely to contest Saturday’s Toowoomba Cup (2150m) in place, despite his likely allocation of a race-high 61kgs.
Pornichet appears likely to take his place in Saturday’s Toowoomba Cup. Photo: Steve Hart
Pornichet took a few races to find his feet this time but has since registered typically strong form; winning the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) at a jog on March 28th before backing-up for a credible fifth in less-than ideal conditions in the featured Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) a week later.
Unable to make the capacity field when third emergency for the Hollindale, trainer Gai Waterhouse conceded her plan to enter the Vespone entire in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 9th may now be out of the question, meaning the 2015 Toowoomba Cup likely figures as the best alternative.
“Well if he did trackwork he would be carrying more than that and there’s no guarantee he will get a run the following week either, so why not run him?” Waterhouse told The Courier Mail.
“I think it would be a great thing for the club to get a horse like him up there.”
Racing Queensland handicapper Nathan Bourke confirmed he is yet to settle on weights for this year’s edition of the Toowoomba Cup but revealed Pornichet will more than likely be allocated topweight.
“I will have to weigh it up but a horse with his record and current form will be allocated somewhere in the vicinity of 60-61kgs,” he said.
Posting five wins and a further three minor place finishes through his 14 career starts so far, Pornichet secured several commendable results in his homeland before being purchased and transferred to the care of Waterhouse prior to the 2014 Spring Carnival.
Debuting for a credible fourth behind subsequent two-time Group 1 champion Contributer in the Group 3 Yellowglen Stakes (1400m) before easily taking out the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) over a short spring prep, Pornichet placed ninth in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) and fifth in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) prior to his Doncaster Prelude triumph this time.
