Its Toro Loco's $125,000 Ladbrokes Classic

Local gelding Toro Loco (Sportswriter) proved his last start heat win was no fluke when he scored a dashing harness racing win in the $125,000 Ladbrokes sunshine stars Yearling Sale Classic final for two year old colts and geldings at Albion Park last night.

Settled back in the field by ace reinsman Nathan Dawson, Toro Loco stayed mid-field for most of the race. My Ultimate Felix held the lead from the pole position, and favourite Stay Foolish could not take the lead and had to race outside the leader. 

However, at the bell, Grant Dixon on Happy As Can Be made a lightning dash around the field, but even with a trail Stay Foolish was struggling to stay in touch. Along the back straight, Dawson unleashed Toro Loco with a devastating burst, and in the twinkling of an eye he dashed away with a winning lead. 

Fakistra, who had a trail behind the leader, finished well for second with outsider Taking a Punt a close third, but all credit was with Toro Loco. 

TORO LOCO REPLAY

Trainer Ben Battle was a proud man after the event.

“We’ve had a real average run with him. About one month before the heat we got pretty cold and he was pretty well crook. It was a bad run into the heat. But as turned out he got a great run in the Heat. It’s probably best they had the meeting washed out last week for us to have another week with him. 

“It feels surreal to win a big race, it’s what we dream of. He’s only a little fella and he’s got a good turn of foot. He made the right move tonight.”

The gelding was named by Ben and Tamara’s son Bailey who named him after his favourite truck El Toro Loco. 

Ben has a useful team in work, including Joan’s Rising Star, who performed admirably earlier in the evening, but Toro Loco is easily his most successful performer to date. 

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink