Toga Picta ready for Stutt Stakes test

Darryl Sherer - Monday September 25

Toga Picta had his first look at Moonee Valley on Monday ahead of him racing in Friday night's Group II Stutt Stakes (1600m) and passed his first test comfortably.

Advertisement
Toga Picta (outside) galloping with Etymology on Monday. Photo: Darryl Sherer

The James Cummings-trained three-year-old was paired with the older Etymology over 1200m, speeding up to run the last 400m in 24.05 seconds and please Godolphin's Melbourne assistant trainer David Charles.

"I was very happy with his work this morning," Charles said.

"His form is solid for a race like the Stutt Stakes and his performance on Friday will give us a good indication of where we head with him."

Toga Picta only weakened late on when finishing 12th behind Royal Symphony last time out in the Exford Plate at Flemington over 1400m and featured in the stewards report having to be eased to avoid interference in the home straight

The son of Group I winners Lonhro and Purple will be fitted with winkers for the first time on Friday to sharpen his focus and Charles is anticipating an improved performance.

"Colts like him have to perform at this level if they are going to progress on to better races," Charles said.

"We'd be hoping he can how he's good enough for a race like the Caulfield Guineas but we'll find out Friday - he should run super I think."

Advertisment
More Reading...
One to Watch – Ballarat
Synthetic track meetings at Ballarat can throw up some misleading form, but a debut winner from the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable that started in the red and won by nine lengths is probably worth a closer look.
Buccleuch - First Stakes-Winner for Peltzer
The $175,000 Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday was won back in 2020 by Cherry Tortoni, who went to on to become a multiple Group winner of nearly $1million and the same colours were carried by this year’s winner Buccleuch.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 4
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday morning and the winners include unraced youngsters by Cool Aza Beel and I Am Invincible, plus a Farnan colt that tried his luck in Group races in the autumn and was far from disgraced.
High-flying Pencarrow Stud offers well-bred mares in Online Breeding Stock Sale
The 2024-25 season has been one of the best ever for Pencarrow Stud, and some of the renowned bloodlines that have underpinned that success are now available for purchase in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Marble Nine Brings Up Second Stakes Winner For Aquis’ Kobayashi
The withdrawal of the top weight in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed VRC Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington saw the field down to just six, with Marble Nine continuing his outstanding recent form to secure his first black type victory.
Third Winner for Peltzer
Twin Hills Stud’s young sire Peltzer added a third winner to his tally with a debut victory at Canberra on Friday for the well named gelding I Show Speed.
Spring Potential for Darby Racing's Raging Force
Unplaced in the Group III ATC Breeders’ Plate last spring on debut, Raging Force came out of that race with an injury that required significant time on the sidelines, but since returning to full work his progress has been swift.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Invincible 2YO Colt wins for Bennett Racing
The $150,000 VRC Next Gen Sprinters Series Final (1200m) for two year-olds at Flemington on Saturday drew a competitive field of progressive juveniles and the colt that stood out on type in the yard was the one that got the cash with I Am Invincible colt Jimmy Recard proving too good for race favourite Bacash.