Trainer Rick Hore-Lacy was the toast of his hometrack of Caulfield today when quality galloper Toorak Toff led home a stable quinella in the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).

On the speed throughout, Toorak Toff was able to power past the early leader Master of Design and then easily hold out stablemate Pinnacles for a second Group One success.

The win completed a wonderful comeback for the son of red hot Queensland sire Show a Heart after an aborted stud career and a throat operation.

“He’s always been a good horse,” Hore-Lacy said of Toorak Toff.

“With all the problems he’s had it’s just wonderful to see him come back and beat a good field like that the way he did.”

“He had the throat operation and I’ve just had a lot of problems with him.”

“But this time everything has gone smoothly.”

“I think he suits Craig’s style of riding – he doesn’t give away these huge starts.”

“They didn’t want to give us enough money. Now it’s going to cost them more.”

The win continued a great Williams family tradition in the race – which over the years has had a number of names including the Show Day Cup and Dubai Racing Club Cup.

Winning rider Craig Williams said the race had been won by his father as a rider and trainer and it was one of his first big wins after returning from Hong Kong aboard Barely a Moment.

“It’s great to win the race again on Toorak Toff, who has been plagued by injuries and setbacks – full credit to the stable and Rick Hore-Lacy as well,” Williams said.

“He really flew the machines and I had to be positive. I got into the box seat.”

“He’s a strong, keen horse – similar to riding a train I would imagine. He got onto the back of the horse that led up – it took a while for him to come off the bridle.”

“But in the end he was very good and solid late,” he added.

Toorak Toff was purchased by part owner Bill Van Rooy for $135,000 at the 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

He is from the unraced but well related Grand Lodge mare Orong – one of the top mares at Glenlogan Park in Queensland.

The mare’s latest yearling – a beautiful filly by the stud’s top young Flying Spur sire Jet Spur – will go under the hammer at January’s 2012 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

She will be one of the standouts in a draft that will also include a Sebring half sister to last Saturday’s Group Two winning sprinter Love Conquers All.

Winner: Toorak Toff
Breeding: Show a Heart-Orong (Grand Lodge)
Race: MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes G1 (1400m)
Sold for: $135,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Glenlogan Park
Buyer: Bill Van Rooy
Owner(s): RG Hore-Lacy, W Van Rooy, T Morrissey, P Coffey, P McNamara, S Cheng, A Mithen & Shandy Kristo Syndicate
Earnings: $1,269,020
Trainer: Rick Hore-Lacy (Caulfield)