Tavidream the real thing
PROMISING three-year-old Tavidream may have secured an overseas assignment with a stylish victory at Ellerslie yesterday.
The showy Tavistock gelding embellished an already impressive formline when he registered his third career victory from just five starts by taking out a special conditions event over 1600 metres.
The Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs trained runner was handled expertly by rider Cameron Lammas who settled his charge within striking distance of the leaders throughout the early stages of the contest.
Lammas moved Tavidream into a challenging position early in the run home and when asked for a serious effort he put a length on his rivals in the space of a few strides.
He comfortably held that margin to the winning post ahead of gallant mare Needlepoint who finished well to snatch second.
Race favourite Sacred Way, who was the medium of some heavy betting prior to the start, made ground well from near the rear to finish third but never really looked a winning hope.
Logan was in high spirits after the win as she discussed the immediate future for the horse.
‘‘He’s still a work in progress but certainly is a promising type,’’ she said.
‘‘We’ve had some sale offers for him but at this stage he’s still with us and we couldn’t be happier with him.
‘‘You might see him in Brisbane in the Derby after this.’’
Lammas was equally impressed with the winning performance, his second on the gelding after they combined to win a similar event at Ellerslie last month.
‘‘You just have to keep him settled,’’ he said.
‘‘Once you’ve got him settled he just chills out and relaxes and when you ask him he really kicks on. He’s still doing a few little Trish Dunell things wrong but when I asked him today he kicked clear and did it easy.’’ ● Talented three-year-old sprinter Ferrando looks to have booked a trip to Sydney care of an all the way win in the Mongolian Khan Trophy (1200m).
Trained by Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, Ferrando notched his third straight victory and his fourth career success from six starts.
The son of Fast ’N’ Famous was expertly handled by apprentice Ryan Elliot, who ensured Ferrando pinged from the gates before controlling the tempo to prevail from the fast-finishing Royal Fashion, with Kingsman back in third.
‘‘He has the makings of a good horse,’’ Graeme Rogerson said. ‘‘He’s not there yet but I’ve had some great sprinters and this horse is up there with them.
‘‘He’s going to Sydney. How he gets there we will sit down and work it out.’’
The likely target for Ferrando is the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) at Randwick on April 8.