Tiger Town was the horse that put future Hall Of Fame trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith on the map. Tiger Town mark II may not reach the heights of the original, but the 3-year-old son of Jungle Cat (IRE) is proving a grand money-spinner for Greg Hickman.
With Rachel King in the saddle, Tiger Town made a sweeping run from midfield to down the favourite Little Jeanie (Savabeel) in a benchmark 68 over 1600m at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The Iffraaj filly Be Real was made up of many lengths, from last to finish third.
Tiger Town scored back-to-back wins at Orange and Wellington before a last-start sixth in the Prized Icon Guineas Prelude at Wagga.
“He didn’t have any luck last start and the horses that finished in front of him performed well in the Guineas,” Hickman revealed.
“His work has been good, and he is back on his home track.
“The thing that turned him around was a tongue tie.”
Despite Tiger Town’s starting price of $19, Rachel King said Hickman was very confident.
“He said his normal thing that I should give up my license if this does not win,” King joked.
“I might have got there a touch soon, but he was tough late. He had to dig in and show a bit of grit today.”
A $70,000 buy for his trainer from the Eureka Stud draft in Book 2 of the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Tiger Town is one of five winners for the Break The Vault mare Gentle Spirit.
Near the tail of the field in all five starts, Gentle Spirit is the black sheep of the family, being a half-sister to Group 1 winners and Queensland icons Spirit Of Boom and Temple Of Boom.
Kurrinda Bloodstock/Matthew J Dale Racing bought Gentle Spirit’s Nicconi filly for $160,000 at the 2023 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale and has been named Son Of Eureka.
Gentle Spirit died last year after producing a Better Than Ready colt.
Jungle Cat (IRE) stands for the value fee of $4,950 at Telemon Thoroughbreds in the forthcoming season.
