Sydney, February 14 – The open handicap at Randwick on Saturday over 1600 metres was won in good style by progressive four year-old Tobique, who was consigned for sale by Yarraman Park at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Tobique might be a blue-blood, but he was also an unwanted blue-blood when offered for sale, passing in shy of a modest $200,000 reserve.
Bred by Geoff and Beryl White, Tobique was prepared for sale on their behalf by Yarraman Park as agent, but there was scant interest in the backward colt by Redoute’s Choice.
Foaled on November 17, he is the second foal of the metropolitan winning Marscay mare Mammoth, a half-sister to Group Two winner Dandify and Group Three winner Manner Hill being from former glamour mare Mannerism, a four time Group One winner of races such as the Caulfield Cup.
Taken home by the Whites and given time to mature Tobique, was given to Alan Denham to train and showed real ability this time last year when winning the $100,000 Canberra Guineas and finishing fourth in the Group One AJC Randwick Guineas.
Third up from a spell at Randwick on Saturday, he motored home to win by nearly two lengths, taking his overall record to three wins and a second from nne starts with prizemoney of $180,250.
"He’d been off for ten or twelve months and being a stallion he needed a little while (to get fit)," Denham said.
"Corey (Brown) came to ride him Tuesday morning and was very happy with him.
"I’ve got him in the Doncaster. I was thinking of the BMW but I won’t get enough miles into his legs.
"He’ll probably run in the George Ryder and then step up into the Doncaster."
