By Isaac Murphy
Sydney gelding Tonsor has given himself every chance to feature in the 2019 TAB Queensland Winter Racing Carnival after a dominant win in Saturday's Open Handicap at Doomben.
The lightly raced five-year-old hasn’t missed a place in his seven starts for Sydney trainer Matthew Smith and displayed his massive upside in beating The Chairman by five-lengths.
“I saw the opportunity to send him up while he was in form to see how he would take to Doomben ahead of a possible winter carnival run," Smith said.
“He passed the test and more, ultimately the decision to keep him in Brisbane or bring him back to Sydney hinges on where we think he can get some Black Type form."
The impeccably-bred gelding is by champion sire Redoutes Choice out of 2010 VRC Oaks winner Egyptian Pulse.
“He’s beautifully bred, we always knew we had something with him and for that to be coming to fruition is a relief,” Smith said.
“Now he’s healthy and flying it’s his time to show what he can do.”
Jockey Robbie Fradd gave a glowing assessment of the gelding, firmly hoping he gets to the chance to ride him again.
“This horse is in great form, ultra-consistent over his last five starts in strong company and the 1350 metres at Doomben was no problem for him today,” Fradd said
“My only instructions were to keep him switched on, so it was important I got that spot just behind that speed.
“Big thankyou to Matthew (Smith) to have the confidence in me to do right by the horse and I’d love to get on him again.”
Fradd said the horse could not have been more professional in how he went about race day, predicting black type form to come.
“He’s a hell of a horse, he’s got a beautiful action he just ambled up to them and let go, I had time to smile at the camera,” he laughed
“He’s got a beautiful temperament he walks around like he’s been in the game longer than me, which is a long time.”
“He’s definitely up to listed quality, with the right weight I’d take him up to 1400 metres, but probably not beyond that.”