Veteran hoop Robert Thompson is pleased to have picked up the ride on Teronado in Thursday’s 2016 Listed Grafton Cup (2350m), and is confident the horse is in the right form for a positive result.
Teronado will leave from barrier 9 in Thursday’s Listed Grafton Cup. Photo: Daniel Costello
Teronado has posted a number of standout results for Gold Coast-based trainer Bruce Hill through an twenty-five start career; claiming four wins and a further eight minors, highlighted by a number of strong performances at the highest level of racing.
While yet to prove himself at the distance of the 2016 Grafton Cup, Thompson told Racing Ahead he is pleased to be partnering the five-year-old in the country feature and believes he is primed to lay a good account for himself on Thursday.
“He’s only had a couple of runs back in, but Bruce said he ran a really good race last start and he’s on the way up,” Thompson said.
“The distance could be a little query, but he said the horse is going very well at this stage.”
An Australian racing hall of famer, Thompson has posted more than 4,200 race wins throughout a long career to date but has only tasted glory in the Grafton Cup once previously.
“Its been a while between drinks. Back in the 80s my father and I won the race with a three-year-old horse called My Star Sapphire,” Thompson said.
“There’s only been two three-year-olds win it, and he’s one of them.
“Everything’s good and I’m still enjoying my riding.”
Teronado immediately stamped himself as one to watch upon debuting to racing in Brisbane, but undoubtedly returned to racing in career-best form through an impressive three-year-old campaign in 2014.
Running fifth in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington, Teronado progressed to fifth in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and fourth in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) before mustering a big turn of foot late to run third behind Criterion in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) most notably.
Requiring a couple of runs to find form upon resuming this time, the Testa Rossa gelding savaged the line for second in the Listed AM Giles Quality (1830m) at Eagle Farm last time out on June 25th.
Allocated barrier 9, Teronado will carry only 54kgs and is currently available at 2016 Grafton Cup odds of $15 with Ladbrokes Australia.
