The Lindsay Park trained Thronum will be tested at Group 1 level during the 2018 Autumn Carnival following his all the way win in the Group 2 $200,000 Carlton Draught Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley last Friday night.
Australia Stakes winner Thronum,. above, will be tested in G1 company during the 2018 Autumn Carnival. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Winning jockey Mark Zahra rated Thronum ($6.50) perfectly in front and held the small field at bay to record a one and a quarter lengths win over Mr Sneaky ($4.20) with $17 outsider Stellar Collision filling third position.
The Darren Weir trained Japanese import Brave Smash was sent out as the $2.20 favourite but faded in the straight to be beaten three and a half lengths in fifth spot.
Lindsay Park co-trainer Tom Dabernig was on hand at The Valley to watch Thronum win his second race from three starts for the stable and said that the Snitzel stallion will step up to Group 1 company and possibly step up in distance as well.
Dabernig pointed out that Thronum could be kept for the Group 1 $500,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 24 and the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 10 or be tested over the 1400m in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 10.
“We have a lot of options and we will be aiming at a Group 1 with him now,” Dabernig told racing.com.
“I am not sure if he will be sprinting in an Oakleigh Plate or a Newmarket or go up to the 1400m in the C.F. Orr, but there are plenty of options.”
Thronum was the winner of three races for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable before being transferred to the Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig.
The four year old scored a five lengths win first up the for the new stable in a 1100m BenchMark 78 Handicap at Bendigo on November 1 before finishing third behind Jungle Edge and Casino Wizard in the Group 3 $150,000 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown at the end of the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival in November.
“He came to us from Gai Waterhouse. He is a horse that has a stack of ability and we have only had him for the three runs,” Dabernig said.
“He won at Bendigo and then he narrowly missed at Sandown at weight for age and then tonight (Friday night) I thought he controlled the race and gave a good kick.”
“He likes a bit of wet track form and although there hasn’t been enough rain to rally affect it, just getting his toe in probably helped him as well.”
“He is a well bred colt who has got a stack of ability and he is going places.”
“He arrived to us in great order and has been great. At the moment he is holding together. He is only a lightly raced horse and I think he has a lot ahead of him.”
Early betting for the 2018 C.F. Orr Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au has Thronum marked at $11 while the Darren Weir trained Tosen Stardom at $4.50 and Black Heart Bart at $5 are fighting it out for favouritism.
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