Eight days after scoring a maiden victory at Warracknabeal, talented Tarzino three-year-old Torranzino graduated to city company and delivered the same result in Saturday’s A$150,000 Neds Punters Toolbox Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield.
The lightly raced gelding was a well-supported $4.20 chance on Saturday, having made a big impression with a powerful finish from third-last to win by more than three lengths on June 30.
Dean Yendall was in the saddle for that maiden victory on the raw galloper and rode Torranzino again at Caulfield, where an extremely slow pace made things much more difficult.
Torranzino was his own worst enemy, racing fiercely for much of the race and then laying in when launching his run down the straight. But he was still able to gather momentum, lengthen stride and finish over the top of Moveforlex and Gottabesavvy to score a convincing win.
“He’s a work in progress and has been ever since he first started trialling,” Yendall said. “We’ve been trying to teach him to relax a bit, but he didn’t do much relaxing out there today off that slow tempo.
“It was very different at Warracknabeal last start, where it was a fast-run race and he was able to settle and then finish it off strongly. Today they went much slower and we just had to make do. He did a very good job.
“I was able to get him to the outside in the straight, and then he wanted to lay in under pressure. He’s got a few tricks and really makes you earn your keep. But it was good to get a win with him today.
“Hopefully with a bit more experience and a bit more confidence, he’ll start to settle a bit better – especially if there’s a stronger tempo.”
Trained and part-owned by Paul Preusker, Torranzino has had seven starts for two wins, two second placings and A$113,040 in stakes. He now boasts a perfect two-from-two record at 2000m.
One of 20 winners in Australia this season for Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino, Torranzino was bred by Payne Family Racing Pty Ltd. He is the first foal to race out of the Helmet mare Goldilicious, who is a half-sister to the Group Three winner Showbeel.
Torranzino was offered by Phoenix Park as a yearling in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where Preusker bought him for $75,000.
Since Torranzino was foaled in the spring of 2019, Goldilicious has produced a filly by Belardo and a colt by Time Test. She was served by Cambridge Stud newcomer Sword Of State last spring.
