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Pollard to have first Group 1 runner

Growing up in Matamata, Todd Pollard had always dreamed of becoming a trainer, and now he is living that dream in Queensland where he is set to line-up his first Group 1 runner this weekend. It’s been a whirlwind last six months for Pollard, who established his own stable at Eagle Farm after heading Archibald Racing’s Queensland barn for four years, and he has struck early with eight victories already to his name, including his first stakes victory a fortnight ago. That black-type triumph came courtesy of Midnight In Tokyo (Kobayashi) in the Hinkler Handicap (Listed, 1200m) at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke Day, and Pollard understandably cut an emotional figure following the win. “I was quite emotional afterwards,” Pollard said. “There is a lot of work that goes into it throughout your career and even just with that horse alone, you ride the rollercoaster. You have to quickly learn as a trainer to enjoy those wins because it doesn’t come easy, especially during the Winter Carnival, it has just gotten tougher and tougher, you are always up against it and it is hard. It is also great to be competing with some of those trainers and horses. To have a winner on Stradbroke Day, everyone is there and it is just so important, and those big wins can really catapult your career.” Buoyed by that success, Pollard is now aiming higher with Midnight In Tokyo, and she will become his first Group 1 runner on Saturday when she tackles the Tattersall’s Tiara (Gr 1, 1400m) at Eagle Farm. “We are really happy with her,” Pollard said. “She is a mare that always puts in and she looks terrific. They have given me the visitors’ draw [barrier 18] as if I have come over from New Zealand, which is a bit of a bugger, but we will have a go. I can’t fault her, but the draw is extremely hard, so we are going to have to work out what we do from there. She is not really a mare that has a massive turn of foot, she just grinds away. It would be hard to win if we defaulted to going back to last on her from the draw, so we will see how she springs the lids and go from there. I am hopeful that she can run well and if she can run top four it is massive for her pedigree and shows that she is up to that company as well.”

Dwyer fillies chase stakes success in Adelaide

Anything that two-year-old filly Mountjoy (Street Boss) achieves from here is a bonus, but the progressive juvenile has the opportunity to add valuable black type when she heads to Adelaide for Saturday’s $120,000 Oaklands Plate (Listed, 1400m) at Morphettville. The Henry Dwyer-trained daughter of Street Boss (Street Cry) earned her chance with an impressive victory in the Elvstroem Classic (1300m) at Swan Hill earlier this month following a debut placing at Ballarat and Dwyer believes the form has already received a timely boost. “The horse she beat at Swan Hill came out and won at Flemington the other day, so her form is good,” Dwyer said. “She can definitely run a place, if not win, and she’s a well-bred filly that would be worth plenty if she could win over there.” Purchased for NZ$150,000 from Karaka last year, Mountjoy was initially aimed at the Karaka Millions 2YO (RL, 1200m) but a setback forced a change of plans. Dwyer now has the 2027 Karaka Millions 3YO Classic (RL, 1200m) in mind before a well-earned spell. “We’re going pretty deep into the winter with her and I reckon she probably wants a decent break, so we might even try to get her over to New Zealand for the Karaka Millions three-year-old race,” he said. “We wanted to get her there as a two-year-old, but we might just be a year behind.” Dwyer will also saddle And There You Go (Hellbent) in the Oaklands Plate after she caught the eye when third on debut against older horses at Donald. “She surprised us running so well. It was an open-age maiden and she got home strongly and nearly won,” Dwyer said. “I think that’s more than enough to measure up against these two-year-olds, so it wouldn’t surprise me if she ran a placing.”

Biancelli set to bounce back at Caulfield

Michael Kent Jnr is hoping to see an improved effort from Biancelli (Cosmic Force) when the four-year-old mare takes to the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Fillies & Mares Benchmark 84 Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The daughter of Cosmic Force (Deep Field) ran third first-up in a Benchmark 78 (1050m) at Morphettville, her first run since a fourth placing in the Black Pearl Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Geelong on January 3, and Kent Jnr expects a bigger showing with that run under her belt. “She gave way for race fitness first-up, she’s four weeks fitter now and had a tick-over trial between that went well,” Kent Jnr, who trains in partnership with Mick Price, said. “There are a few positives for Saturday. She’s going to present much fitter, I think 1100 [metres] is a nice journey for her and she’s going to drop in weight. We’re hopeful more than confident, but I think she’ll run a much better race than she did first up.”

Stayers Cup test for improving Tulloch Lodge gelding

Tulloch Lodge will send lightly raced stayer Centenario (Contributer) to Rosehill on Saturday to contest the Stayers Cup (2400m). The Kiwi import ran third over 2400 metres on the Kensington track last start, and with that run behind him, alongside a 6.5-kilogram drop in the weights, co-trainer Adrian Bott expects a bold showing from the five-year-old gelding. “He’s a bit out of his grade, but true weight can hopefully help offset that,” Bott, who trains alongside Gai Waterhouse, said. “I feel he’s improving nicely, and he may have needed that strong run at the distance last start because he has come on well. I expect to see continued improvement from him, and it’s the right time of the preparation to be testing him.” Bott and Waterhouse will also be represented by three-year-olds Albany Road (Exceed And Excel) and Lady Invictus (I Am Invincible) in the Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines Handicap (1100m). Albany Road landed back-to-back wins over the distance in the summer but has a wide draw. “It took us a while to figure him out,” Bott said. “It’s an awkward draw for him, but he’s a horse that gets back in his races anyway and enjoys the speed on. He might need a bit of luck, but he has come back better this time around.” Meanwhile, Lady Invictus earned an opportunity in Saturday grade with a smart first-up win at midweek level at what was just her second career start. “That was a really good win. She’s up quickly in grade, but she has improved nicely, and there was a lot to like about her performance at Warwick Farm,” Bott said. “She has trained on the right way, and it looks a nice race for her. It’s a good time of year for these three-year-olds to try to step up into that grade and take that next step in their careers.”

Hayes hoping for change of luck with Madiyya

Having run in the top four on her last five outings, Madiyya (Super Seth) will be bidding to get back into the winner’s circle on Saturday when she heads to Caulfield for the Sportsbet Feed Benchmark 78 Handicap (1700m). The Ben, JD and Will Hayes-trained mare will be returning to Caulfield for the first time since completing a double at the track in May last year. The daughter of Super Seth (Dundeel) has been beaten in a photo at her past two starts, each when she was unable to get clear until around 250 metres from home. “That’s been her problem as a horse, she’s never really handled her training,” Hayes said. “But this prep she’s actually held weight and doing really well. She’s an older mare now and hopefully we can get the result, because when she gets it all together she’s got the ability. I think [Benchmark] 78, over 1700 [metres] should be ideal for her and she’s building fourth-up.”

Ole Kirk and Extreme Warrior juveniles impress at trials

There were a couple of standout performances from the eight juvenile trials held at Warwick Farm on Friday, with the first being Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) filly Chanterelle who took her trial record to two wins from as many outings with a 4.7 lengths success. Ridden by Tim Clark for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the filly defeated Lighthorseman (Zoustar) with Albert Palais (Snitzel) narrowly back in third in the 821-metre event. A $650,000 2025 Inglis Easter purchase from Gilgai Farm for McKeever Bloodstock and Watership Down Stud, Chanterelle runs in the colours of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Watership operation. She is a full-sister to Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner O’ Ole, who made $1.5 million at the recent Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when bought by Japanese breeder Katsumi Yoshida. The other big eyecatcher of the morning was Extreme Warrior (Extreme Choice) colt Half Pipe. The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained juvenile defeated Hearts Affair (Home Affairs) by 5.4 lengths in the 818-metre trial, with Solid Heart (Snitzel) narrowly back in third. A mere $25,000 purchase for Troy Redden during Book 2 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year, Half Pipe ran sixth at his only raceday appearance to date and has won four of his five trials.

Armidale’s Tough Speed dies aged 29

Armidale Stud has announced the passing of resident stallion Tough Speed (Miswaki), who was humanely euthanised at the age of 29 following a decline in health. Tough Speed stood at Armidale Stud for a remarkable 21 seasons having been purchased by the late Denis and Robyn Whishaw in 2004, and became one of Tasmania’s most respected stallions. A son of Miswaki (Mr Prospector), Tough Speed sired 127 individual winners of 443 races, including 20 stakes performers, with his progeny earning almost $10 million. His best performers included stakes winners Take The Sit, Black ‘N’ Tough, Lyell, Tiesto and Tough Chik, while outstanding stayer Banca Mo won the Mornington Cup (Listed, 2400m), Warrnambool Cup (Listed, 2350m) and Pakenham Cup (1750m). Tough Speed’s influence as broodmare sire is evident with 49 winners from 77 runners, including stakes performers Deroche (Needs Further), Alpine Flyer (Alpine Eagle) and Gee Gees Darl (Cluster). Armidale Stud principal David Whishaw said the stallion was much more than a successful sire. “Toughie was one of those horses that quietly became part of the family,” Whishaw said. “In his later years, some of the staff would even wander up and have a beer with him in his paddock after he’d sired a winner or covered one of the small group of mares that made up his harem in his twilight years. He had that sort of personality. Dad purchased him because he believed in him, but sadly he never got to see the full rewards of that decision, passing away during Toughie’s first season at stud. Fortunately for us, Tough Speed went on to justify that faith many times over. We’re certainly very proud of the job he did from the very limited opportunities he was given. He left us more than 120 winners, 20 stakes performers and countless memories, but more importantly he earned the affection and respect of staff, breeders and owners. His loss will be felt by everyone at Armidale.” In keeping with Armidale Stud tradition, Tough Speed will be laid to rest on the farm, buried standing and facing the rising sun alongside other horses that helped shape the Armidale’s history.