The Group III Centenary Vase (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday delivered another stakes success for quality Toronado (IRE) gelding Senor Toba, who has a half-brother to be offered at Inglis Premier.
Ridden by Hugh Bowman, the Caspar Fownes trained Senor Toba forged clear to win by the best part of a length.
“It was a really strong performance, it’s probably not the most suitable distance for him, but it was run at a really nice and even pace which I thought it was going to be as that’s Money Catcher’s style,” Bowman said.
Money Catcher fired through to take up the lead, while Ka Ying Star sat second behind him with Senor Toba stalking the pair. Bowman clicked up the grey in the home straight to hit the front with 150m left to play.
Senor Toba was assigned 133lb, while Running Glory carried 116lb into second place with Ka Ying Star allotted 131lb. Senor Toba is now a two-time Group 3 winner in Hong Kong, having landed last season’s G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m).
“He showed us in his trial last week that he was going to give us a nice run today. Obviously it’s definitely on the sharp side – the 1800 metres – but it’s nice when these types of horses can pull a race off like that under handicap conditions,” said Fownes.
“The tempo was good and we knew he was going to run the trip out strong and always, the last part of the race is his best part, the 1800 (metres) is just when he’s starting to come into his own.”
Second in the Group I Queensland Derby before his sale to Hong Kong, Senor Toba was a $180,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Mill Park draft for Hermitage Thoroughbreds and has the overall record of five wins and six placings from 18 starts.
Bred by well-known South Australian breeder David Peacock, Senor Toba is a half-brother to Group II winning 3YO Berkeley Square and is the first foal of Group I placed Teofilo (IRE) mare Bahamas, a half-sister to Group II VRC Matriarch Stakes winner Affair to Remember, who is also by Toronado.
Bahamas has a yearling colt by Harry Angel (IRE) that will be offered at Inglis Premier by Mill Park as Lot 288.
