Tuscan Falls’ star continues to rise
FAR North sprinter Tuscan Falls has produced a gutsy first- up run to cause a boilover in yesterday’s Open Handicap ( 1000m) at Cluden Park.
The Stephen Massingham-trained gelding made it two wins in a row as he resumed from a fivemonth spell, but he had to work hard to hold out the well- backed Imanui for Jeffrey Caught.
Tuscan Falls ($ 62) sped clear from the barriers before Imanui ($ 2.10 favourite) wound up down the outside and he was closing fast as they hit the home straight.
Jockey Rhiannon Payne called on Tuscan Falls for one last effort and he held on to beat Imanui by a nose, with Septimo ($ 13.80) for trainer Garry Dickson coming in third.
“He went super,” Massingham said of Tuscan Falls’ run.
“The horse has always shown a ton of ability, he’s just not the most reliable. But I think we’ve worked out how to ride him.
“He’s been working enormous, but we’ll just find some nice races. We’ve got no big plans for him.”
Meanwhile, this year’s Townsville Cup- winning trainer Michael Geaney is enjoying a golden run after saddling up two winners yesterday.
Deputy Dan ($ 5.50) brought up his fourth- straight victory with an all- the- way effort in the Benchmark 70 Handicap ( 1400m).
The Roy Chillemi- trained Best Hoffa ($ 5.50) kept the pressure on as he stormed down the outside for second with favourite Pure Hawk ($ 1.55) for Jeffrey Caught a length back in third.
Lieutenant Dan ($ 4) then showed an explosive turn of foot to win the Class 3 Plate ( 1000m) at just his second start for the Geaney stable.
The well- backed Dalon ($ 1.70 favourite) was second for trainer George Colman with Good as Done ($ 8.40) for Chillemi holding on for third.
Jockey Chelsea Jokic rode three winners on the eight- race card after teaming up with Geaney as well as Prequel ($ 4.10 favourite) for trainer Tony Comerford in the Benchmark 60 Handicap ( 1609m).