PATIENCE REWARDED WITH TOFANE

Mike Moroney resisted temptation with Tofane and was rewarded with a Group race victory when the mare proved too strong at the finish of the Northwood Plume Stakes over 1200m at Caulfield on Saturday.

Tofane had disappointed at her previous start over 1200m and Moroney resisted the temptation to step the daughter of Ocean Park up in trip.

“We always knew that she had that in her. We took a real risk and dropped her back to 1200 (metres), but I just felt after the last run (over 1200m) she was a bit flat,” Moroney said.

“We didn’t take the temptation to step up to the 1400m. When I saw the winner of that race (Manicure) which we beat at Moonee Valley, I thought maybe we had done the wrong thing.”

Tofane has now won three of her eight starts and Moroney believes the best is yet to come.

“When I looked at her today, I knew that we had done the right thing. She looked terrific and she’s come into her coat finally,” Moroney said.

“She missed a couple of days work with a foot abscess but in saying that, coming back to the 1200 was even better. We got her right and that’s the turn-of-foot that we know she’s got. She’s going to be really exciting.”

“There’s a 1400m race at Flemington over the carnival which will give her time between runs. We’ll go that way. We probably won't run in the Group 1 this time. We’ll give her a chance at Group 1 in the autumn.”

Moroney explained he had suggested another name for the mare out of Baggy Green.

“I wanted to call her Sandpaper but they wouldn’t let me.”

Congratulations to B & C Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, Wright Racing, Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Mr C H Madden, Gee Gee Equine Limited, Mr K N Good, Mr W A Richardson, Dr J T Kennedy, Mr R A Ford, Mr F D Brown, Mr G Mellis, Mr M F Merton, Mr A R Pezzimenti, Mr S M Pezzimenti, Mr J Pezzimenti, Mrs J G Madden, Mr A F M Panozzo, Mr J A Kennedy, R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd and Ballymore Stables (Aust) Pty Ltd.