A Winning Start to the Week

Having just his second start, promising four-year-old Black Tomahawk impressed with a determined maiden victory at Warrnambool on Monday.

Settling nicely off the pace for Mark Pegus, the good-looking gelding got into clear running early in the straight – engaging in a two-horse battle for the final furlong, getting the upper-hand late.

Appreciating a step up to 1700m having been sound at his 1400m debut at Cranbourne last month, Black Tomahawk gave Pegus a good feel.

“He improved from his first start,” he said, “and I think he will make into a nice horse.”

Michael Moroney agreed – “he is a handy stayer in the making,” he said, adding that Black Tomahawk is “still a bit on the weak side so he will head to the paddock now.”

Bred by Sylvia Mooney, Black Tomahawk is raced by her with Alan Schmedje, Dean Finch, Adam Kustron, Michael Knaap, Hendricus Knaap, Andrew Fairbairn, James Clark, Mark Connolly and Grant Leyden.

By the stakes winning stayer Seul Amour (now in South Africa) – a son of Zabeel and the wonderful mare Grand Archway – Black Tomahawk is the third winner for the city winning Vite Cheval mare Willisa.

Also dam of the metropolitan winner Spirited Will, Willisa is a full sister to the stakes placed multiple city winning stayer Impulsive Risk.

Hopefully the winners continue to roll this week as we had to Benalla on Tuesday with three runners – Silent Humour, Macpherson and Little Hero.

Second up in the Sam Miranda Wines Maiden Plate, Silent Humour is expected to show more up to the mile from a good gate.

“He has been improving,” said Moroney, “and we expect to run a way lot better this time.”

Resuming in the Rettkie’s F&M 0-58 Handicap, Macpherson is having her first run since April.

“Hopefully she is in for a good campaign,” he said, adding that whilst “she will improve upon whatever she shows, she is forward enough to run a good race.”

Little Hero, running in the Inglis Ready To Race Sale Handicap, is the final of our three Benalla runners; gaining a run as third emergency.

“He has had a couple of jump-outs and is also forward enough,” said Moroney – “he has drawn nicely and he has got a reasonable first up record, he should prove hard to beat.”

On Wednesday we saddle up runners in two states with Muirfield (pictured) dropping in class in the Australian Turf Club Handicap – the first on the Warwick Farm card.

“We would love some rain for him but he is going well, he is drawn nicely and this looks the right race for him.”

Meanwhile Surpass lines up in race eight at Mornington, the Sportingbet Handicap over 2000m.

The five-year-old impressed at his local debut at Sandown late last month and heads to Mornington in order to gain track experience enroute to a crack at the Ansett Classic.

“He has trained on really well and should again prove hard to beat.”