It’s Tough maintains winning form 

It’s Tough (Bettor’s Delight) has now won eleven of his last fifteen starts and he’s handling his open class assignments every step of the way.

“He’s coping with the step up in grade,” winning driver John Dunn said.

In today’s $25,000 Cheviot Businesses Cheviot Cup, Diamonds Are Forever led early before Franco Sinatra took over with a lap to run. Dunn got a nice cart into the race with I’m Tough when Harrison John improved inside the last 800 and he saved the gelding for one run, peeling him off Harrison John’s back halfway down the straight. The Robert and Jenna Dunn five year old powered home to win by one and three quarters of a length from Harrison John.

ITS TOUGH REPLAY

“He’s a good follower of speed and he’s also a horse that can make his own luck. There’s a lot to like about him.”

It’s Tough won the Group Welcome Stakes for the late Katie Cox and shad a short stint with Colin and Julie DeFilippi before joining the Dunn stable in the middle of 2024. He’s now won twelve races from the Woodend Beach stable.

“He raced in some of those big three year old races. He ran second in the Flying Stakes and didn’t go bad in the Derby. We gave him a big spell and he’s come back physically stronger. He’s racing some nice horses. He’s going great and going the times.”

It’s Tough will head towards the G2 Superstars Pacing Championship in early May before tackling the $100,000 Hydroflow NZ Country Cups Championship two weeks later.

“We’ll then put him aside and have a crack at the lead up races to the New Zealand Cup.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink