Torio’s Quest Begins In Sebring Sprint

Torio's Quest

Torio's Quest will resume in the Sebring Sprint

Torio’s Quest gets back in action this weekend at Rosehill Gardens when he contests the Theo Marks Stakes or ‘Sebring Sprint’ over 1300m.

He hasn’t raced since he won the Queensland Guineas back in June, a fantastic run where he gapped the field by a full four lengths.

That victory has set him up nicely for a big spring however trainer Brett Partelle says you can expect a very different horse this time in.

The results he hopes remain the same, it’s the physical makeup of the horse that’s changed dramatically.

“He’s in fantastic order, he’s put on probably about 25kgs since Brisbane…he probably looks a little bit big to the eye but that’s just how he’s built, he’s a powerhouse,” Partelle said.

The trainer isn’t expecting any miracles going into his first up run, but the horse has performed fresh before and he gives him a punchers chance.

“He’s going to get improvement out of his first up run but they don’t want to be doing too much wrong up front,” he said.

“If he’s within striking distance inside the furlong he’s going to give it a good shake.”

To be fair the horse was very disappointing in his campaign leading up to the Queensland Guineas, but Partelle blames a lot of that on the damp ground.

“When he’s been on those other tracks he can’t use that acceleration, to get a firm track is to our liking and that’s going to be the key to our spring,” he said.

“It wasn’t the horses fault, we just couldn’t give him a crack on a dry track, we just had to keep him ticking and I held my nerve a little bit.”

It looks likely the surface at Rosehill this weekend should suit Torio’s Quest as he embarks on a very ambitious spring program.

“Maybe leading towards the Shannon Stakes in two weeks time, then Melbourne for the Toorak and then the Cox Plate,” he said.

Hugh Bowman will maintain the ride in the Theo Marks Stakes after doing such a good job in Brisbane.

“He (Bowman) was really happy with him, he said he’s improved since Brisbane which is very good to hear,” he said.

“I’m really looking forward to Saturday and I think he’s in for a great campaign.”

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