Really coming into her own during the Brisbane summer carnival last year with two Listed victories, 6yo Kobayashi mare Midnight In Tokyo was having just her third start for new trainer Todd Pollard on Saturday, rewarding connections with victory in the $160,000 Listed BRC Hinkler Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
Narrowly beaten first up in the Listed ATC Trophy, connections were likely disappointed with her next effort in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes where she finished more than three lengths from the winner and as a result started double figure odds on Saturday.
With Matt Dunn’s Band Of Brothers going forward to take the lead, jockey Ryan Maloney had Midnight In Tokyo a length behind in second while the race favourite Pereille had just one behind him in the 11-horse field.
Robbie Dolan rounded the home turn with Band Of Brothers showing plenty of a kick, but it was clear that Midnight In Tokyo still had plenty to offer as the mare set out after the leader.
To his credit, Band Of Brothers fought doggedly down the home straight, and it wasn’t until right on the line that Midnight In Tokyo secured the victory, securing the race by a narrow short half-head with a short neck back to Tony Gollan’s About To Explode in third.
Trainer Todd Pollard was clearly over the moon with the victory.
“It's bloody awesome,” enthused Pollard. “t's been a long time coming. Thanks to the owners, the McKenzie's up in Rockhampton for sending her up to me.”
“Last start, you know, we got her right today. Didn't overanalyse anything about what went wrong. Good to see her back.
“She hasn't got long left to race. She'll be retired soon. One more race and that's it.
“I'm bloody happy. It's cool. It's a listed race and I've always wanted to train.
“I know this mare well and I said I was going out on my own, Annabel was fantastic. I learnt a lot from them. Little tricks of the trade along the way. We got her right today probably because of it.
“She was great. That horse is just fantastic and we are so lucky to have her going like this and she probably has one more run before retirement.
“We're so ecstatic. First-up she was good, second-up she was sort of, you know. We worked on her and got her right. It looked amazing.
“Great team at home. It's fantastic."
“I’m so fortunate to be in this position. I've only been training for three months."
Having lost his whip in the gates, jockey Ryan Maloney didn’t panic.
“You wouldn't believe it. When Payline went up in the gates, I lost my whip. It ripped out of my hand out of the gates, and it got caught in the barriers.
“If it was any other horse, I'd be worried but I know her so well. I asked her to find and you really don't have to use the whip. Thank God it was her and not someone else.
“I've ridden her before and got her out without using the whip. I wasn't too concerned but a lot of horses when they need encouragement, it is a different story.
“She was good first-up, second-up she went ok. We tinkered with a few things at home. I was confident.”
Taking her record to eight wins, three times at Listed level, coupled with 13 placed efforts from 35 starts with earnings of $855,900, Midnight In Tokyo continued her strong association with the Eagle Farm track, outside the top three in ten starts at the track.
Bred by Aquis Farm, Midnight In Tokyo is the third winner from four to the races out of the Casino Prince mare Orabelle, a three-quarter-sister to the Listed winner All Too Royal and a half-sister to G3 winner Bel Merci.
Also, the dam of the G2 ATC Challenge Stakes winner Generosity (Divine Prophet), Orabelle is herself a daughter of the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes winner Bel Mer.
Currently based at Parson Creek, Orabelle’s current 2yo is an unraced Russian Revolution filly named Bella Tatiana in the stable of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, while Newgate Farm (as agent) sold the Capitalist yearling colt out of the mare at January’s Magic Millions yearling sale for $130,000 to Stable 88.
Orabelle has since unfortunately missed to both Farana and Stay Inside.
Midnight In Tokyo is the best of four stakes performers for I Am Invincible’s Listed-winning son Kobayashi who is standing this season at Aquis for a fee of $9,900 (inc. GST).
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