TALENTED TONY K’S THE ONE
TALENTED TONY K ran his best race in a year-and-a-half on November 30, beaten by ROYAL ASSAULT in a fastrun 1100 metres, finishing a length-and-aquarter behind 1:05.0, caught stealing home after attempting to go all the way.
Fitted with blinkers by trainer Patrick Lynch that afternoon, TALENTED TONY K ripped splits of 22.2, 45.0, leaving the horse expected to bother him on the lead, DREAMLINER, five lengths behind at the top of the lane, never to get any closer throughout the stretch run.
The pair renews rivalry in tomorrow’s eighth event, a decent line-up which includes other dangerous runners such as GARY GLITTER and SIR BUDGET, the horse who threw a scare at 77-1 on last Saturday’s Diamond Mile Day, swooping down on CHOO CHOO BLUE in the 1400-metre BGLC Stakes.
Sunday’s 1000-metre straight overnight allowance sprint should come down to the horse with the best sustained pace at 1000 metres straight - a bill which fits a seemingly rejuvenated TALENTED TONY K, joint track record holder at the distance, clocking 56.1, January 2015.
The 2000 Guineas and Governor’s Cup winner two years ago, TALENTED TONY K found himself trapped between strong stayers and talented sprinters on reaching grade one. However, he reminded all of his blinding speed in races such as last year’s 1100-metre Lotto Sprint, outfinished by POTCHEEN and FORTUNEONEHUNDRED.
MISSING FOR OVER A YEAR
The five-year-old went missing for over a year after placing ninth behind TRADITIONAL PRINCE in August 2015, his last run out of Lorne Kirlew’s barn. He reemerged in September of this year, running out of Lynch’s stable, and placed fourth in an open allowance behind POLLY B A THOUSAND STARS and PUDDY POOH.
Since then, Lynch has been slowly getting TALENTED TONY K back to his speedy best. A month later, he chased lightningfast CRUCIAL APPEAL to the last furlong after being slowly in to stride at 1000 metres round.
Carrying 53.0 kilos and drawn at postposition four on Sunday, TALENTED TONY K’s natural speed should take him home ahead of GARY GLITTER, DREAMLINER and SIR BUDGET, even though they are drawn on his outside where the track bias favours horses at 1000 metres straight.