Hughes hoping history repeats with Toranaga

By Glenn Davis

Townsville trainer Graham Hughes admits he’s throwing Toranaga into the deep end in the Magic Millions Whitsunday Guineas at Mackay on Saturday.

But, Hughes is a great believer that you need to have a line in the water to catch a fish.

Hughes has been training for more than half a century and got his biggest catch of his career when he won North Queensland’s biggest sprint, the Cleveland Bay Handicap, at Townsville with Prince Lonely in 1979.

“I threw Prince Lonely into the deep end in the Cleveland Bay and he won as a three-year-old,” Hughes said.

“You’ve got to have some bait to catch a fish.”

Hughes is showing no signs of slowing down after his stable numbers increased to 17 recently.

“My wife says I’m getting sillier every day having so many in work,” he said.

Hughes has booked regular rider Ivo Fry to partner Toranaga, who steps up to 1560 metres for the first time.

“I got him cheap off Todd Howlett after his previous owners gave up on him,” Hughes said.

“He only had four runs down south and didn’t do much for them as he was very immature and still is.

“He’s a bit like a delinquent juvenile, but he’s not a harmful horse to train and Ivo and his daughter Sasha ride him in his trackwork.”

Toranaga is a son of Japanese sire Maurice and Hughes is confident the three-year-old will handle the step up in trip.

In his most recent outing, Toranaga beat only one runner home when sixth to the Terry McGovern-trained Mind Over Matter in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap at Townsville on July 5.

“I thought he should nearly have won last time with a clear run, but when he went for a run along the fence it closed on him,” Hughes said.

“He won a Benchmark 65 at his previous start in Townsville, which was a big jump in class.

“He only just won that day, but it was against older horses.”

Hughes is uncertain of his next move should Toranaga win the Magic Millions Whitsunday Guineas.

“If he runs well, I’ll keep him going, but I’m not sure where he’ll head,” he said.

Hughes concedes Toranaga has a long way to go to be in the same class as Prince Lonely.

“Prince Lonely is a better horse than him at this stage, but Toranaga is very promising and is getting better each run,” he said.

“He’s bred to run this trip and he won his maiden over 1400 metres, so I think he’s a good chance.”