Todd Pollard has achieved his first Group success as a trainer, with Midnight In Tokyo winning the Show County Quality at Randwick. This milestone comes almost five months after his debut runner.
Having learned his trade with Annabel and Rob Archibald in Sydney, Pollard then moved to Queensland to oversee their satellite operation before launching his own training business earlier this year.
He made an immediate impact, securing a pair of Listed wins during the Brisbane winter carnival with Midnight In Tokyo and Zuleika, and also trained All Kinds Of Folk to a Randwick victory in July.
However, Midnight In Tokyo’s win in Saturday’s Group 3 sprint was a significant escalation.
“It’s absolute euphoria when it’s like this,” Pollard remarked. “It has its days for sure, but we’re lucky we’ve got a mare like her to be running well for us and to come to Randwick is just so special.”
The seven-year-old mare, Midnight In Tokyo, has now staved off immediate retirement following her win and might secure another racing season.
Pollard expressed confidence in her performance based on her fitness and strong winter form, believing she would be tough to beat if she dictated the pace. Those comparing the best horse racing betting sites would have noted the mare’s solid winter form leading into the Group 3 event.
“There was nothing I could knock about her today, and when she found the front I thought, if he could keep her going (she was a chance),” he said. “They were coming late, that’s for sure. She only just sees out the 1200, but if she can get in a good rhythm, squeeze her up and kick away and put a bit of a margin on them, I thought the favoured horses might be a bit too far back to catch her. It worked perfect.”
Midnight In Tokyo will head back to Queensland, with the Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on September 12 being her likely next outing.
Queensland jockey Ben Thompson was equally thrilled with the victory, giving credit to Pollard’s astute training and race placement for the mare.
“I’ll tell you what, he’s hit a lot of bullseyes in a short amount of time and he nailed it with her,” Thompson said. “He knows her really well through taking care of her for Annabel and Rob Archibald prior to going on his own. “She’s just a happy mare. She’s just turned seven, she’s not showing any signs of it.”
Midnight In Tokyo’s win provided Queensland with consecutive stakes race victories, as the Tony Gollan-trained Pembrey had earlier won the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) for three-year-old fillies.
The Sheraco Stakes is shaping up to be an exciting race, with punters keen to get involved through sports betting.