Honest galloper Toompine had his consistency rewarded when he posted another win for his owners, John and Helen McPhee, on his home track at Geelong.
The six-year-old was the second winner for the year for the McPhees after they celebrated nine wins with the Malady stable in three months between February and May last year.
“John and Helen have been very patient after having a handy winning run a year ago,” trainer Vincent Malady said.
“Jugiong broke a bit of a drought for them in February this year and it’s satisfying to see Toompine get over the line for them today.”
The McPhees have been loyal supporters of Malady Racing and Toompine broke a 14-month losing run with his Geelong win.
The son of War was among McPhees’ list of nine winners with the stable last autumn, winning at Ballarat in March while others were Alice Downs (3 wins), Morning Darling (3 wins), as well as Goats on Oats and Magic Bertie, with a win each.
Toompine is trained out of Vincent’s Geelong stable, where Asher Trom-Wright is the stable foreman and rides the gelding all his work.
“He’s a grouse little horse, nice and energetic, but he just takes a little bit of racing to get to peak fitness,” Asher said.
Ridden by John Allen, Toompine was well placed in fifth spot before being hooked out into the clear running entering the home straight in the Dare Charged BM64 Hcp (1125m).
The 3.30 favourite launched his winning run with Transactions ($3.50) and in a driving finish scored by a half-length, with Under My Thumb ($4.20) 2-1/4 lengths away third.
Toompine has been very consistent with his win following two seconds, a third, a fourth, and a fifth from his other five runs this campaign.
He has now won three of his 24 starts, with his Geelong victory taking his earnings to more than $100,000.