Tomasina’s (NZ) (Darci Brahma) victory in the Dynes Transport Tapanui Cup (1335m) at Gore on Sunday couldn’t have come at a better time for owner Stanley Jones.
He is in hospital recuperating from surgery after breaking his leg this week and trainer Sabin Kirkland said his mare’s win would be a great tonic for Jones.
“I am very happy, especially for the owner’s sake,” Kirkland said. “He fell over and broke his femur this week, so he is in hospital and had a major operation. I am sure he was pleased to see that.”
Tomasina took a solid form line into the race, having finished fifth in the Listed Stewards’ Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton last month before finishing runner-up in the Winton Cup (1400m), and Kirkland was confident of another bold showing.
There was plenty of early speed in Sunday’s feature, with the field spread out four wide over the first few hundred metres, but jockey Terry Mosely elected not to get involved in the early skirmish and settled Tomasina midfield.
He asked her to improve three-wide at the 800m mark and turning for home she entered a duel with Henry Hubber, and the pair quickly opened up several lengths on their rivals. Tomasina proved too strong in the concluding stages and dashed away to a four-length victory.
Kirkland was pleased with the performance, and said treatment of her joints has been a key factor to her recent success.
“It was sensational,” he said. “She had a bit of trouble with her fetlocks, we got them injected and she is just a different horse.”
Tomasina may now back-up in the KB Contractors Open 1200 at Wingatui on Boxing Day, but Kirkland said he will wait to see how she comes through Sunday’s race before deciding.
“You can’t make plans on raceday, we will just see how she pulls through, but looking at her now, she looks great,” he said.
The daughter of Darci Brahma will be joined in her race on Boxing Day by stablemate Buoyant (NZ) (Dalghar), who scored one of the biggest wins of his career at the same meeting three years ago in the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m).
He finished fifth in his two lead in runs and Kirkland is confident of an improved result on Friday.
“I am very happy with him,” Kirkland said. “He got caught three and four wide at Cromwell the other day, he tried his heart out. If we get a good draw at Wingatui, he can sit back a bit and he will be right there.”
Kirkland will also head to Wingatui with Belardo Ace, who will contest the Property Brokers – Ray Kean R65 2200.
“He has been working super, I just hope we don’t get too heavy of a track, that’s my biggest query,” he said.