A well timed run from jockey Damian Lane saw Land Of Plenty storm home to win the Group 1 $500,000 Aquis Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield today.
Land Of Plenty, above, stormed home to win the 2018 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Land Of Plenty’s Toorak Handicap win was the second Group 1 win for the day for trainer Darren Weir after he saddle up his filly Amphitrite to win the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) in the previous race.
As with Amphitrite, Land Of Plenty had to jump from the outside barrier in the large field but a solid pace up front played right into the hands of Lane who had the five year old year stallion ready to attack the leaders as soon as heads were turned for home.
The lightly weighted Land Of Plenty ($4.20 favourite) had no trouble reeling in the leaders and went on to score a one and quarter lengths win over the old war horse Hartnell ($8.50) who had to carry the top weight of 59kg.
Siege Of Quebec ($10) from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable worked to the line strongly to fill third spot.
Land Of Plenty had worked his way up through the grade and showed that he had Group 1 potential after running third to Jungle Cat in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield three weeks ago.
“He got the perfect cart into it,” Weir said.
“The Rupert Clarke and the Toorak were the races that were targeted for him.”
“He is a great type of horse, a nice pedigree and a stallion and he is a Group 1 winner now and I don’t whether it will be his last one either.”
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