Tolaga Bay putting unbeaten record to the test
Lara Antipova may be Fortuna Racing’s pin-up horse at the moment, but fellow three-year-old filly Tolaga Bay is bidding to snap at her heels this spring.
The New Zealand-based syndicator’s colours were to the fore at Flemington last Saturday when Lara Antipova bounced back to winning form in the Listed Michael Moroney (1400m).
She suffered her first career defeat when first-up in the Gr.3 Quezette Stakes (1100m), having previously been unbeaten as a two-year-old in New Zealand for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, including victory in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), with her feats leading her to be crowned Champion New Zealand Two-Year-Old.
While Lara Antipova commenced her career in New Zealand, Inglis graduate Tolaga Bay remained in Australia and joined Te Akau’s Cranbourne barn. She made the perfect start to her career when winning on debut over 1200m in February and resumed in the same fashion when victorious over 1300m at Sandown a fortnight ago.
The daughter of Alabama Express will face her sternest test to date when she heads to Caulfield on Saturday to tackle the Gr.2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m), with her connections dreaming of returning to the Melbourne track next month for the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m).
Trainer Mark Walker is pleased with Tolaga Bay heading into the weekend and he is looking forward to seeing how she handles the step up to stakes level.
“Ben (Gleeson, assistant trainer) and I are happy with her and she galloped nicely on Tuesday, so I am looking forward to seeing what she does on Saturday,” said.
“All going well she will probably go to the Edward Manifold because that is a nice lead-up race (to the Thousand Guineas).”
The Gr.2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m), which will take place at Flemington on October 3, is also on the cards for Lara Antipova, and Walker said she has pulled up well following her weekend triumph.
“She pulled up well and is really good,” he said. “She had really come on in the coat, and we think getting back to a firm track really helped her.
“She will go to the Edward Manifold and then after that she will go to the Thousand Guineas.”
Back in New Zealand, Te Akau Racing will head to Ellerslie on Saturday with an eight-strong team, including exciting three-year-old System Of Play, who will resume in the Hello Youmzain – Champion 2nd Season Sire (1400m).
The Ole Kirk colt was set to contest last Saturday’s Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m), however, Walker and Bergerson elected to avoid the Heavy9 track at Hastings in favour of better footing at Ellerslie a week later.
While Walker said kicking off over 1400m on a campaign geared towards the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in November isn’t ideal, he is looking to history for solace.
“It is not perfect being first-up over 1400m, but Sam and I discussed it, and I remember we did the same thing with Darci Brahma (2005 NZ 2000 Guineas winner) first-up as a three-year-old,” Walker said.
“It is certainly doable, but you would have preferred it to be 1200 or 1300m, but your hands are tied trying to get a suitable track to get going.”
Walker is also looking forward to Wootton Bassett gelding Day One resuming in the Golf Warehouse 1300 and Group Two performer Top Shelf resuming in the Windsor Park Stud 1400.
“Day One was quite a promising horse and then he just had an injury, and he is on the way back,” Walker said. “He has got untapped ability that’s for sure.
“Each year Top Shelf has just got a little bit stronger. She has been a tall, lanky, immature horse, but she looked good in the trot ups last week. I think even in the autumn she will be better again.”
