HAWKESBURY trainer Marc Chevalier is banking on a better surface lifting Torrens back into form in Thursday’s $200,000 Listed Grafton Cup (2350m).
But he admits the seven-year-old stallion’s racing career is at the crossroads.
The 10-times winner hasn’t been successful since landing the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) at Royal Randwick in December 2022, although he has been placed three times since; the latest when pipped at the post in the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm on January 26.
However, he has finished down the course at his last two Sydney starts on heavy tracks.
“Torrens continues to work well and looks a million dollars,” Chevalier said on Monday.
“In spite of the heavy track, he was still quite disappointing at his last run in the Stayers Cup (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on June 29.
“He can put in an ordinary run as we know.
“With a better surface at Grafton (the track was rated a ‘Soft 5’ on Monday), we’ll have a crack at the Cup and see if we can turn his form around.
“But if Torrens doesn’t perform well, then we’ll talk with his Singapore owner about whether to continue on with him.
“It may be that he just doesn’t want to be there any more.”
Torrens has won six races in Queensland and four in New South Wales but has never raced at Grafton, and it will also be a ‘first’ for his trainer and jockey Louis Beuzelin.
“I’ve never had a runner there, and Louis has never ridden at Grafton either,” Chevalier said.
“I’ll take Torrens to Grafton on Wednesday, and stay overnight.”
Chevalier, meanwhile, decided to give his three-times Sydney winner Everyone’s A Star a break.
“With all the heavy tracks, I thought it was best to stop and put her out for a month,” he said. “She will come back at the end of the month.”
The Grafton Cup has attracted a field of 15, with leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees the other provincial representative, having both Luncies (Michael Rodd) and Point King (Kyle Wilson-Taylor).
Torrens drew well in barrier two, and the Lees pair also came up with favorable alleys; Luncies (six) and Point King (three).
. There are four provincial representatives in Wednesday’s $200,000 Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m).
Lees has Enterprise Pomme (Andrew Gibbons), along with fellow Newcastle trainers Sam Kavanagh (Kayobi) and Nathan Doyle (first emergency Dalaalaat).
Robbie Dolan has been booked for Kayobi, and Ben Looker for Dalaalaat.
Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan runs Cecil Street Lad (Taylor Marshall).
The latter clinched a Ramornie berth by winning the John Carlton Quality Cup (1195m) at Grafton on July 7.
Clarence River Jockey Club declared six emergencies for its feature sprint, with a capacity field of 16 to run.
Enterprise Pomme drew barrier four, Kayobi eight, Cecil Street Lad 15 and Dalaalaat has barrier three.
Kayobi will race in a cross-over nose band for the first time.
Story John Curtis, July 15, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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