Tivaci exudes class with Kensington Stakes win at Flemington
TIVACI proved the class is permanent when the four-year-old kicked off a new campaign with a win in the $120,000 Kensington Stakes at Flemington.
The Michael Moroney-trained horse had a successful spring campaign without scoring the big win. The son of High Chaparral finished third in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap and third in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes before disappointing in the Mackinnon.
The drop back from 2000m to 1000m didn’t seem to worry the $16.80 chance at Bet365.com, as it held off the fast finishing Hellbent and former Sydney galloper El Divino.
Jockey Patrick Moloney put the four-year-old into the race early and while $2.20 favourite Hellbent was finding it hard to get clear running room, Tivaci was off and gone with the prize.
“He was fantastic, he prepped up really nicely for today,” Moloney said. The stable has done a terrific job getting him in order after his spring campaign – he’s come back well.
“He hasn’t missed a beat in his gallops. Terrific team effort to get him first up over 1000m.”
Tivaci looked a million dollars in the yard and Moloney likened the big striding horse to another large animal.
“He doesn’t lack confidence. He struts around like he’s a big bull,” Moloney said.
“It’s been awhile since he’s hit the front, he had a think about it, but he’s good enough to get the job done.”
Anthony Feroce was representing Michael Moroney and he was happy to see Tivaci get a change of fortunes after some unlucky efforts during the spring.
“We’ve always had a high opinion of him, always thought he was a group one horse,” Feroce said. “He won the Sunshine Coast Guineas and he’s come back… he raced really well in the spring without much luck and first up today, it’s fantastic.”
The plan moving forward could change after the surprise sprinting result, but Feroce believes the Newmarket Handicap will feature in the calendar.
“He’s still a bull. The plan is to run in as many group one races as possible. Our plan was to kick off here and go there (Caulfield) and then head to the Newmarket, but Mike (Moroney) might reassess that now after what he’s done today,” Feroce said.
“We may just head to the Newmarket, but he’s got a lot of options. He’s a magnificent looking animal.”
The hard luck story of the race was Hellbent, which got caught in traffic down the Flemington straight. Jockey Damian Lane pulled in for cover midway down the straight, but was only able to get clear running room late.
El Divino finished second in its first run for Darren Weir. The well-related colt turned around some moderate form last campaign and the signs are positive moving forward.