A daring last to first move before the turn by Billy Egan paved the way for Cherry Tortoni to get back on track with a courageous win in Saturday’s Group II Moonee Valley Drummond Golf Vase (2040m), which lost a major player when Young Werther was scratched earlier in the day due to the deteriorating track.
Trained by Patrick Payne, Cherry Tortoni held the challenge of the last start Listed Super Impose Stakes winner Khoekhoe (Turffontein) by a short-neck as the pair drew seven lengths clear of the third placed Johnny Get Angry (Tavistock).
A headline-hogger since winning his first three starts, the 3yo son of Night Of thunder (IRE) placed in the Listed Exford Plate and Group II Stutt Stakesbefore a disappointing hit and run mission to Sydney for the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick where he finished midfield behind Montefilia.
“Once we got down the side I gave him breathing room and let him build his momentum and swoop over the top of them,” Egan said.
“Every time he’s just got there off his ability without actually knowing what he’s doing.
“He’s got a lot of learning to do but he is doing it now on natural ability.”
Cherry Tortoni was promoted to the second line of betting for the Victoria Derby behind Young Werther.
The chestnut advances his record to four wins a second and a third from seven starts with earnings of $392,125.
Carrying the familiar red with white cap silks of Sandy Tait and Jill Nivison, Cherry Tortoni is out of the Strategic mare Tortoni (Strategic) who is a half-sister to the 13-time Group 1 winner Tie The Knot (Nassipour) who banked $6.2 million when trained by the late Guy Walter.
Also, a half-sister to the Listed winners Hood (Shamardal) and Dream Ballad (Singspiel), Tortoni is the final foal of the Group 1 VATC One Thousand Guineas heroine Whisked (Whiskey Road).
Tortoni has a yearling filly by Churchill (IRE) and was covered last spring by Mendelssohn (USA).
