Topclass import Mugatoo has settled into his Gold Coast base without a drama this week, with connections believing the 35 days between runs and a soft draw are the keys to his Doomben Cup winning chances.
Mugatoo last raced when sixth in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in April.
On that occasion, he was backing up just seven days after his fourth in the Doncaster Mile.
Cameren Swan, who has travelled the horse right down the eastern seaboard of Australia for trainer Kris Lees this season, says Mugatoo has freshened up nicely since that run.
“He’s not really a back-up horse. Kris likes to space his runs. He got beat less than two lengths by Addeybb and that’s very good form,” Swan said.
After the Queen Elizabeth, Mugatoo spent a short time out of the stable just to freshen up and has had a recent trial to “get him up to the mark.”
“He hasn’t missed a beat up here,” Swan said after Mugatoo landed at Mel Eggleston’s Gold Coast stables early in the week.
“I think he can go better than what he did in the Doncaster,” noting Mugatoo meets Doomben Cup favourite Zaaki on better terms for having beaten him home in that race.
“He had a light gallop on Tuesday. We’re really happy with how he’s come through it.”
Group 1 winning mare Tofane could be having her final start when she runs in the Group 3 BRC Sprint at Doomben.
Trainer Mike Moroney supervised the mare in a sharp piece of work at Doomben on Tuesday morning.
He said a final decision on her future will be made after this race, but at this stage, the plan is for her to go to next week’s Magic Millions National Sale.
Moroney feels Tofane has lost some of her sharpness and wants more ground now.
“She was struggling to keep up with them over 1200m,” he said. “We would have liked it to be around Eagle Farm to be quite honest. We will get a line on how she’s going before the owners make a decision on what they are going to do.”
Stablemate Yatton goes to the Doomben Roses and Moroney says she has more ability than what the form guide says at the moment.
“She’s been a bit disappointing. We always thought she was a Group filly,” he said.
“She disappointed me at the Gold Coast, she was still making ground but she hasn’t got the zip we’ve seen on the track at times.
“She will get the trip all right. It’s just a matter of getting her going all right because she certainly looks well.”
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au