Landstrasse resumes with handy trial under his belt
by Neil EvansThe record doesn't look flash for powerfully built four-year-old Landstrasse but the best is yet to come and Tuesday's feature Manning Valley meeting at Taree looms as an ideal starting point.
The Sepoy gelding returns for Gosford trainer Greg McFarlane in a class 1 handicap over 1400m for his first run since mid-May.
The former Godolphin galloper hasn't won since his maiden success at Kembla more than a year ago but showed plenty in tougher races in a brief first preparation for the McFarlane stable in autumn and threatens to return even better.
Landstrasse finished off smartly in an open trial at Gosford after sitting back off the speed. He worked through the line for second to Ramornie winner Signore Fox, who has since resumed with a nice closing run in the group 2 Theo Marks at Rosehill on Saturday.
Landstrasse showed potential beyond a mile in his early three-year-old days and is capable of running very strong closing sectionals off a good tempo.
McFarlane has found a nice starting point, although Forever Jude, Manhattan Whirl and Legendofoz all come out of a handy class 1 race at Muswellbrook.
Another promising four-year-old resuming is Wyong mare Toguchi, who kicks off in a maiden over 1300m with key gear changes after a seven-month spell.
Toguchi was consistently in the placings amongst stronger company in her first campaign and has two steady trials under her belt.
Completing a trio of resuming four-year-olds, all with bigger targets on the radar, Rosehill-based mare Vox Populi tackles a class 1 handicap over 1000m with no public trials but reportedly is in good shape and has a sound fresh record.
Supplied by Racing NSW