Memsie target for Tofane

[Wandering Eyes]

Trainer Mike Moroney’s association with four-time Group One winner Tofane is set to continue.

The Flemington trainer farewelled the New Zealand-bred mare before she was sold to Yulong Investments on the Gold Coast, but to his delight he was approached to continue training the daughter of Ocean Park into the early stages of the spring.

“We thought that she would make at least A$3 million, and she made A$3.1 million,” Moroney told RSN.

“I was quite lucky afterwards – Yulong approached me and said they were going to put her back into work and asked me to take her back for a crack at the Memsie (Gr.1, 1400m), which she won last year.

“At this stage, that is what she is doing. It would be nice to see her back for a while, albeit a quick campaign.

“We might have her for another couple of runs yet.”

Moroney said she could be back in his care within the next week.

Meanwhile, Moroney is looking forward to this weekend where he will line-up two fellow Kiwi-breds at Caulfield on Saturday.

Last start winner Bermadez will run over 2000m for the first time, while Tokorangi will be met by a mile assignment before she heads for a spell.

“Bermadez handles all sorts of ground. He probably wants a bit of give in the ground so that will be the question mark,” Moroney said.

“I thought he was really strong at Warrnambool and he is versatile, he has won down the straight. 

“I would like to see him at the 2000m just before we give him a break heading to the spring.

“Tokorangi can be reliant on what sort of pace is on in the race. We will have to go back from that gate (16), she hasn’t got any gate speed at all.

“The further she gets into her preparation, the slower she is out of the gates too. 

“She will be a back marker and will be reliant on the speed. 

“She got into a bit of a bumping duel at Morphettville, but she didn’t round that last bit off as well as we thought she might. We were pretty confident going to the race that we had her right, her work had been superb heading into it.

“This will probably be it for her this campaign as we will probably go to the spring with her as well.”

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