Trainer Mike Moroney is banking on Tofane preferring autumn to spring to get her across the line in the C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield.
But in the back of Moroney’s mind is a difficult gate for Tofane as she prepares to claim her first Group 1 victory in Melbourne.
Saturday’s Group 1 race is over Tofane’s preferred trip of 1400m which has seen the mare win three Group 1 races – the All-Aged Stakes, The Stradbroke and Tatt’s Tiara.
After campaigning in Brisbane, Tofane finished a close third to Behemoth and Beau Rossa in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes to start her spring campaign and Moroney is confident the mare is poised to run well.
“She’s dappled up in the coat and she’s usually better in the autumn we find,” Moroney told RSN.
“A lot of mares are after the spring, so I’m hoping she will find her best form which she would have to, to win this race, I would think.”
While winless fresh, Moroney said he had left freshness in Tofane’s legs this campaign giving the mare two jump-outs instead of three for her first-up shot at 1400m.
Moroney said he felt Tofane was a shade dour after three jump-outs last campaign and the mare was given the thumbs up by her track rider following a gallop on Wednesday.
Tofane has drawn barrier eight in the 12-horse field and Moroney said it would be up to Mark Zahra to navigate the best path to victory.
“It will be Mark’s job as to whether we go forward or back,” Moroney said.
“I just think if we go back, we’ll be caught wide, so it might be best to press forward and try and get in.
“She’s better with cover. It would be nice to get some, but I can see it will be hard from that draw, but I’m sure we’ve got the right rider on to do it and she is proven at weight-for-age.”
Moroney said following Saturday’s race Tofane would head to the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 26 after which a decision would be made on the direction the mare takes.