In Brief
- Trinder's mare getting better with each start.
- Devonport Cup main target for Toorak Affair.
- Newhart will probably need to win the Sheffield Cup to earn a start in the Devonport Cup.
Talented mare Toorak Affair looks set to tackle the $100,000 Ladbrokes Devonport Cup after she delivered another stellar performance to win a benchmark 84 handicap over 1400 metres in Launceston on Saturday.
The Michael Trinder-trained six-year-old was having only her third start this time in, for what was her second win in succession.
Trinder said the mare had ticked all the boxes this time in.
“We expected a very forward showing and she’s delivered the desired result,” Trinder said.
“I am confident she will be better when we get her over more ground and right at the minute the Devonport Cup looks a likely target.
“She seemed to be always travelling well for Anthony (Darmanin) and when he had to call on her to try and win, she dug deep.”
Darmanin said the mare is getting better with each run.
“The race was run at a muddling tempo, but she settled really well and when the leader (The Master Speed) kicked she had to find another gear, but she did it and in the end, it was a reasonably soft win,” Darmanin said.
Trinder said Toorak Affair would most likely have her next start in the Sheffield Cup over 1650 metres and then head to the Devonport Cup.
“She will run in the Sheffield Cup in a fortnight and that will tell us a bit more but if we get a result in that race then the natural progression is to the Devonport Cup,” Trinder said.
The Master Speed was brave in defeat and the John Blacker-trained mare Glass Warrior was doing her best work over the concluding stages, coming from near last on the home turn to grab third.
Newhart’s Devonport Cup aspirations may be determined when he gets to the Sheffield Cup in which he would probably need to win to be guaranteed a start in the Devonport Cup.
The Leanne Gaffney-trained gelding finished fifth after settling near last and could improve only slightly when rider Craig Newitt called on the gelded son of Fighting Sun for the big effort at the top of the home straight.
However, Newitt said connections had to be mindful that the gelding was running well out of his grade and that there was still a lot of improvement in the horse.
Watch Toorak Affair score as a decisive win in a benchmark 84 handicap over 1400m in Launceston on Saturday.