Gentil Tonton returns to favoured track for Taumarunui Gold Cup
IRISH-bred gelding Gentil Tonton has done its fair share of travelling, but this Saturday it returns to a favourable track in the Taumarunui Gold Cup at Rotorua.
Having spent time in Ireland before having one run at Kembla Grange, the son of Melbourne Cup runner Yeats made a new home in New Zealand with Trevor and Martin Cruz before being transferred to the stables of Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott.
The six-year-old is now with Cambridge-based trainer John Bell who is hoping to see Gentil Tonton return to its best form which was good enough to run fourth in the Group 3 New Zealand Cup last year.
Returning to Rotorua for this Saturday’s Listed Taumarunui Gold Cup will suit Gentil Tonton, having finished second in the Rotorua Cup and second in the Jakkalberry Classic in 2016.
“He ran second to stablemate Storming The Tower here last year and he likes it,” Bell told HorseBetting.com.au. “He’s had a few different homes, but we’ve tried to make friends with him, tried to make him happy and keep him in the paddock.
“He doesn’t leave an oat so we’re pretty happy.”
It’s coming off a slightly disappointing run at Te Rapa where it finished eighth of 12 runners, but the track wasn’t to suit and the hard yards have been put in since to ensure a stronger performance this Saturday.
“He’s come through that run brilliantly. He had a blow, but not too much,” Bell said. “Young Sam Weatherley (jockey) was most pleased with him and said he felt quite fresh.
“We’ve had him up at Anne Browne’s, going for a hack up over the hill with Storming The Tower.
“He’s eating well and we’ve got no problem with him at all.”
Bell believes the race wasn’t run to suit at Te Rapa and the expected heavy track at Rotorua will be more to Gentil Tonton’s liking given its great record on wet tracks.
“I think it was the slick pace that undid him. I thought they’d back off down the back straight, but they had the handle bars down the whole way.
“Weather that was the determining factor, we’ll wait and see on Saturday at Rotorua.
“It could be bottomless there.”
The Taumarunui Gold Cup has been on the radar all season, especially for Sam Weatherley who labelled this race from the very start of its preparation.
“Sam is more than happy to ride him again. There’s a horse in the field in which he won on last start, but he’s opted for Gentil Tonton,” Bell said.
“It’s a good sign. From the very start he was on the phone and said he’d win the Taumarunui Gold Cup on him, so that’s a good sign from the young fella.”
Bell hasn’t set any future plans for the six-year-old and is reluctant to travel.
“He’s got a few air points, but we’ll take him quietly. We won’t bother travelling him, more so for me as opposed to him,” Bell explained.
“If we did travel we’d want him to come into some form, but last year his form was off and then he placed in some good races.
“He’s a bit of a mystery, so we just need to keep him positive and happy.”
Stablemate and seven-time race winner Storming The Tower won’t be running this Saturday and instead will target the Pakuranga Hunt jumping feature at Ellerslie.
The eight-year-old hasn’t been in the greatest of form, but Bell believes it could have some success over the jumps.
“He’s got his ticket. He’s a clever jumper and we just need to find a track that’s not too hard, but not too deep,” Bell said.
“We’re looking at Taranaki in the Open 2200m and then we’ll take him to the Pakuranga Hunt.
“He’s done most of his winning at Auckland and I didn’t want him to be strained too much and not complete a hurdle course because of the conditions.”
Bell said it has adjusted to jumping life well and given its speed on the flat, a successful campaign seems likely.
“He’s working a treat and if he jumps well, that’s his forte from now on.”