Winner: Toorak Toff (Show a Heart-Orong)
Race: MRC Vain Stakes LR (1100m)
Sold for: $135,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Glenlogan Park
Buyer: Bill Van Rooy
Earnings: $304,250
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 country’s best three-year-olds with a stunning first up win in today’s $100,500 listed Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
In storming home to beat a cracking field, Toorak Toff booked a trip to Sydney to run in the $1 million Group One Golden Rose in a fortnight.
And the Caulfield Guineas, a race dear to the heart of his trainer Rick Hore-Lacy, is well and truly in his thoughts.
Right from the time of his first start as a two-year-old, Hore-Lacy wasn’t afraid to spruik the stunning chestnut youngster.
And while plenty of trainers talk the talk, Hore-Lacy’s judgement has been proven spot on – with Toorak Toff proving himself in quality company ever since.
Hore-Lacy took a shine to Toorak Toff at the 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and stable client Bill Van Rooy went to $135,000 to secure him from the draft of Glenlogan Park.
“I’ve always thought he was pretty good,” Hore-Lacy said. “But they still have to come out and do it.”
“He’s a very good colt though.”
Hore-Lacy went into today’s race knowing Toorak Toff would acquit himself well, but wary knowing the quality opposition and how much improvement was in his charge.
“There’s not many better three-year-olds around that didn’t turn up today.”
“But he made it look easy. He’s come from last and just gone around them.”
“I need an oxygen mask. My heart’s going boom, boom, boom.”
“I knew he was a very good horse and I’ve ended up having something each way on him.”
“I’ve got a theory that if you’re not prepared to have something on your best horse you shouldn’t be having a bet on anything.”
“I thought he could win – so I had something each way.”
Hore-Lacy said bigger and better things were in store for the current stable star.
“We’ll go to Sydney now and run in the Golden Rose and eventually come back here and run in the Caulfield Guineas.”
“We’ll pop him around somewhere in between – maybe in weight-for-age.”
Toorak Toff not surprisingly returned the best figures of the race – the fastest sectionals for every split of the race – the only horse to break 35 seconds for the final 600 metres.
At the post, despite getting a little weary according to Oliver, Toorak Toff ($7-$9) held a head margin over Soul ($7.50-$10-$9.50), with fellow Magic Millions graduate, Blue Diamond Stakes winner Star Witness ($3.80-$4-$3.90 fav) another half length back third.
The rest of the field was headed by General Truce ($14-$16), who was another three lengths back.
An entire by leading Glenlogan Park sire Show a Heart, Toorak Toff is the only named foal to date for the unraced Grand Lodge mare Orong.
A daughter of the Group Two Sandown Guineas winner Blixen, Orong is a sister to the multiple stakes winner Avilde.
