In Brief
- Courageous mare holds on to win Sheffield Cup.
- Blinkers led to narrow winning margins.
- Mar has fully recovered from a suspensory ligament injury.
TOORAK AFFAIR confirmed her status as a genuine Devonport Cup contender when she scored a courageous win in the Barry Diprose Transport Sheffield Cup over 1650m in Devonport on Sunday.
If there were any doubts about her being capable beyond 1400 metres they were erased by her latest performance with Daniel Ganderton in the saddle.
On a hot speed set by Dothraki Princess, Toorak Affair was able to settle on the rails, forward of midfield, and she travelled comfortably to the home turn where Ganderton called on the daughter of Toorak Toff to stake her claim.
The mare cruised to the lead and then had enough in hand to stave off a late challenge from outsider Newhart (Craig Newitt) by a half-head.
Trinder was delighted with the win and confirmed she would progress to the Devonport Cup, a race he has already won four times.
“She has done a great job this preparation and I’m expecting her good form to continue,” Trinder said.
“This mare has won by narrow margins three times this time in, but that I’m sure that has to do with her wearing blinkers because she doesn’t see the other horses coming at her,” Trinder said.
Trinder said he won’t change the mare’s racing gear and any of her training routine.
“I’ll just suggest to the rider in coming events that she should be ridden a bit further back so that she has something to challenge (in the home straight).”
Toorak Affair suffered a suspensory ligament injury on the morning of last season’s Devonport Cup, which is why she was in the racing wilderness for nine months.
“The suspensory injury had her sidelined for six months and she had her first trial in September after which she ran a great second first-up in Launceston that she probably should have won.
“She has since won three in succession and that is a great reward for the owner’s patience.”
Watch Toorak Affair win the Sheffield Cup in Devonport on Sunday: