Touchdown completes Caulfield treble

[Wandering Eyes]

Caulfield Heath has been a happy hunting ground for promising four-year-old Touchdown (NZ) (Almanzor) in recent weeks, and the New Zealand-bred son of Almanzor recorded his third consecutive win at the venue in Saturday’s A$80,000 MRC Membership Feel The Thrill Handicap (1800m).

Trained by Ben, Will & JD Hayes at Flemington, Touchdown has now had six starts for four wins, two second placings and A$136,915 in stakes.

He was a maiden winner over 1400m at Sale in September, then picked up a 1600m Benchmark 66 handicap at Caulfield Heath on November 12 and returned there to add an 1800m Benchmark 66 handicap on December 3.

Touchdown was a $1.60 favourite to complete a treble in Saturday’s Benchmark 70 handicap, and he delivered in impressive style.

Ridden by apprentice jockey Jackson Radley, Touchdown settled in third place along the rail. Sigiriya Rock (Alabama Express) was on his outside and holding him in a pocket, but then began to slide forward from the 700m mark. Radley took that opportunity to switch across heels and get away from the rail, and Touchdown took care of the rest.

Soon after turning for home, the favourite cruised up alongside the leader while still under a firm hold from Radley.

Ridden with hands and heels to the line, Touchdown kicked away to win by two and a quarter lengths.

“The original plan was to lead, but we went 100m and he’s a bit of a laid-back character and just couldn’t hold a spot,” Radley said. “I was a bit worried about having to settle back on the fence, and especially when we were in a pocket around the 800m, but he was just too good for them. Once we got to the outside, he let down very well and he’s a nice horse going forward.

“When you’re in a bit of an awkward spot, it always helps when a horse is travelling as well as he was. Once we got out, he was never going to get beaten.

“I think he’s going to get a lot further than this, and he was very strong to the line today.”

The Lindsay Park team believes Touchdown’s best is yet to come.

“He’s one of our more progressive horses in the stable,” Ben Hayes said. “He’s going through the grades nicely.”

Touchdown was bred by Brett Wilkinson and is by Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor out of the Shamardal mare Shamardal Luck. Herself a two-time winner on the track, Shamardal Luck is the dam of five winners from five foals to race including Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) winner Shocking Luck (NZ) (Shocking) and Listed placegetter Analytica (NZ) (Shocking).

Offered by Sullivan Bloodstock at the 2023 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Touchdown failed to meet his $100,000 reserve.

Rich Hill Stud will offer a half-brother to Touchdown during Book 2 of Karaka 2026. The colt by Shocking is catalogued as Lot 625.

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