Winner: Toorak Toff (Show a Heart-Orong)
Race: STC Golden Rose Stakes G1 (1400m)
Sold for: $135,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Glenlogan Park
Buyer: Bill Van Rooy
Earnings: $975,645
Owner(s): RG Hore-Lacy, W Van Rooy, T Morrissey, P Coffey, P McNamara, S Cheng & Shandy Kristo Syndicate
Trainer: Rick Hore-Lacy (Caulfield)
Toorak Toff confirmed his status as one of the new stars of the Australian turf with a brilliant second up win in today’s $1 million Group One Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill.
Sent out as one of the fancied runners after a brilliant last to first win in the recent Vain Stakes at Caulfield, Toorak Toff made the step to racing’s elite level in style.
Trainer Rick Hore-Lacy has always spoken highly of Toorak Toff, thinking he could be the best horse he’s ever trained.
He shot to prominence last season when he scored a brilliant win in the Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic.
Today at Rosehill he was able to notch up a third stakes win in a third state with his outstanding half neck win.
The entire by Show a Heart will now return to Melbourne and be set for his ultimate aim this spring, the Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
A $135,000 purchase by part owner Bill Van Rooy at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Toorak Toff has now earned over $975,000.
“He’s a very good horse,” Hore-Lacy told reporters after the race.
“His next major aim is the Caulfield Guineas – he’ll probably run in the Guineas Prelude and then the Guineas.”
Hore-Lacy had the season’s first Group One race on his radar quite some time ago and admitted to having something on him in the early markets.
“One of the owners got $20 about him about a month ago, so I had something each way on him.”
When asked what he thought Toorak Toff’s pet trip would be – Hore-Lacy was quick to respond.
“I think 1600 (metres). He’ll really enjoy the mile.”
Damien Oliver, who notched a treble in winning the Group One feature, was delighted with the win.
“It was a great effort,” the champion Melbourne jockey said. “He was chasing some pretty smart horses there.”
“There wasn’t a lot left in the tank at the finish there but that’s the true sign of a very good horse – when the chips were down he kept answering to the challenge.”
“He’s a strong horse and he’s got a good turn of foot. He finished right over the top of them.”
“This horse has always shown a lot of promise and he’s starting to fulfil it now and all credit to Rick he can certainly find a good horse.”
The result confirmed the status as the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale as the value sale of the world.
As well as the winner, who cost $135,000, it threw up the runner-up Squamosa, a $140,000 purchase for Star Thoroughbreds.
The two which cost a combined $275,000 have already earned a staggering $1,347,395 – and both have only had a handful of starts. And also importantly for connections both are still colts and look to be exciting sire prospects.
The win of Toorak Toff capped a magnificent day for Queensland’s Glenlogan Park Stud.
The win was the fourth on the day for their resident sire Show a Heart. Another of his winners was the Caulfield stakes victor Rightfully Yours.
They were also cheering home Ringa Ringa Rosie, by Bradbury’s Luck, to a brilliant win at Doomben.
And the breeders of Toorak Toff have plenty more to look forward to.
Glenlogan are preparing a full sister to the Golden Rose winner for January’s 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“She’s a magnificent individual,” Glenlogan’s Steve Morley reported.
“She doesn’t have the same big baldy face as Toorak Toff, but she’s very much in the same mould.”
“A real dead spit for her brother – the same physique – a really lovely filly who is sure to appeal to buyers and trainers,” Morley added.
