In Brief
- Toorak Affair blitzes rivals in Summer Cup.
- Trinder confident his mare will be strong over 2400m.
- Hobart Cup win will give Trinder family clean sweep of feature Tasmanian races.
Astute trainer Michael Trinder today confirmed his Ladbrokes Hobart Cup prospect Toorak Affair has thrived since her brilliant Summer Cup win at Elwick last Saturday.
Toorak Affair gave her rivals a galloping lesson on her way to an almost three-length win over the John Blacker-trained pair of Glass Warrior and Triple Strip in the weight-for-age Summer Cup over 2200 metres.
Toorak Affair soared into major cup calculations after she won the Brighton Cup in Launceston two weeks ago but that paled into insignificance compared to her latest triumph.
Trinder is excited about her prospects of winning Sunday’s $250,000 Group 3 event over 2400m.
“To be honest I thought the mare went into the race a little bit underdone but the way she won the race I’m not so sure,” Trinder said.
“She has come through the Summer Cup run in top order.”
Trinder is keen to capture the Hobart Cup as it is the only major feature race on the Tasmanian calendar the family hasn’t won.
She hadn’t won beyond 1600m until her past two starts and it seems the longer the trip the better.
“The mare is very fit, and I have no doubts she will run a strong 2400m, in fact I am a little disappointed the Launceston Cup is not still run over 2600m.”
In the Summer Cup, rider Anthony Darmanin had the mare travelling comfortably at the hind quarters of interstate invader Mitrust from the Richard Laming stable, while Glass Warrior settled third ahead of Triple Strip and Paion.
When the leader started to feel the pinch turning for home, Darmanin released the brakes and Toorak Affair shot two lengths clear.
The daughter of Toorak Toff powered up the home straight to win by almost three lengths from Glass Warrior with her stablemate Triple Strip almost eight lengths away third.
Toorak Affair has won 11 of her 36 starts along with eight minor placings for just over $200,000 in stakes.
Depending on what barrier she draws in Sunday’s Cup, bookmakers are likely to install her favourite of the locals.
The Hobart Cup has attracted 16 nominations of which nine are from interstate.
Watch Toorak Affair easily win the Summer Cup at Elwick last Saturday.