Toro Dorado
Good Afternoon from Newmarket. Yesterday was another one that we can file under frustrating! Qawamees ran well at Ripon, but got going too late and found one too good, delivering us yet another dreaded second. Meanwhile at Carlisle, Perla Blanca proved too stubborn to enter the stalls, which meant an unfortunate wasted journey.
This evening I run two horses at Nottingham, both two-year-olds that are in the early stages of their development. First up is Toro Dorado in the 5.20, a six-furlong novice median auction. We are one of the outsiders, but I don’t think that means we got without hope. Toro was green and slowly away on his recent debut at Newmarket, but he showed a bit of ability mid-race, before tiring late on. I am certainly not suggesting we are strong win candidates, but this looks as weak a race as we could find for him, and I am hoping for a bit of progression. It might be that he wants an extra furlong sooner rather than later, but he should have a small each way chance. Dan Muscutt rode at Newmarket and knows him from home work, so retains the partnership today.
Half an hour later Hallallulu goes in the mile 0-70 nursery. She hasn’t beaten many home in three starts, but she is crying out for this step up from six furlongs. I trained her half-sister Al Nafoorah, who was half-decent, but didn’t do much until she went overa mile, even though she was by Bated Breath. The reason for this stamina is that the dam is a Motivator mare that stayed up to two miles in her racing days, so it is hardly surprising that Hallalulu was outpaced over six, even though she is herself by Kyllachy. She has an opening mark of 61, which is difficult to assess, but I certainly hope to see a step forward this evening from a filly that is clearly a long-term project. Luke Morris rides.
All the best,
Ed.