One of a small team sent to Melbourne to target spring riches by Queensland’s Champion Trainer Tony Gollan, Snitzel gelding Transatlantic improved off his narrow last start second to win the $1m Group 1 MRC Toorak Handicap (1600m), giving the stable consecutive wins in the race after Antino’s victory last year.
Under jockey Mark Zahra, Transatlantic went forward with last season’s Group 1 Australian Guineas winner Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) settling in second while race favourite Sepals (Calyx) encountered some trouble before losing his handy position and dropping back in the field.
As the runs started to come from back in the field, one of the first to make a move was Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai), before second favourite Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) came even wider rounding the turn.
Tracking the leader throughout, the Phillip Stokes trained Athanatos (I Am Immortal) looked as if he would play a role in the finish if he could secure a run.
As Evaporate raced up to Transatlantic, it looked as if it would be a repeat of the Gr3 Sandown Stakes where the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 4yo got the better, but alas, Transatlantic kept fighting all the way to the line to turn the tables on Evaporate and record victory.
Chris Waller’s Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) showed further improvement this, working home well into third, just ahead of Athanatos who battled strong back on the rail.
With this being the target race for Transatlantic, Gollan knew that his lead in runs were very much just that.
“I've had one of those preparations where I've been beaten point one, point one,” said Gollan. “But I was never really worried, I’d always planned to be here today. I think those defeats got him in here at the right weight.”
“Mark executed his plan beautifully, he wanted to be aggressive that first hundred, negate that barrier. That's what he did, and that was the winning tactic.
“He had a plan; he had a fit horse, we got him in the right weight. Mark did the rest, you know? Horse and jockey, great combo, great to be back at Caulfield winning Group One races.”
“We bought him as a yearling; we've had some ownership changes along the way. It's just terrific. We've had a bunch in and out of him, and it's just a great story, really. He's been a nice horse to get going, to win a group one with him; it's just a great result.”
“There’s something in the water in Brisbane at the moment!”
“We gelded at him at the end of his three-year-old year and that was the making of him.
“He's a really busy horse at home, I just thought a trip down here in a new environment, training him away from his home base.
“He's always had the potential and the ability to go to this level, and the trip away has made him, and he's a really quality horse. I don't see why he couldn't be a weight for age horse in the future.”
When quizzed about his pedigree, Gollan indicated he felt the gelding would get further.
“The last mare that beat the mighty Winx, Gust Of Wind (is his dam). So he's got a beautiful pedigree. I've got no doubt he'll get further. But he was bloody good at a mile today.”
Once Zahra took up the running, he knew he would be hard to beat.
“Went out the gates, he was very quick out, which allowed him to get to the front and then just had him where he wanted to be,” said Zahra.
“He gave a good kick off the corner, and he's used to seeing Evaporate’s big head. This time, he was able to sort of be on the other side of the photo. It was a good win, well done to Tony.”
“I knew I had a really nice time in front, and when I kicked, I knew I kicked good, and he thinks a bit, and I switched to the left, and I was hoping I wouldn't see anyone coming at me late.
“Then I knew it was Evaporate, I didn't have to look and showed good fight the last fifty to dig in and win.”
The ninth individual Group 1 winner for trainer Tony Gollan, the win took Transatlantic’s record to seven wins and eight placed efforts from 20 starts with earnings of $1,314,550.
Transatlantic was purchased for $360,000 by Tony Gollan Racing, Harbour Equine and John Foote Bloodstock from the Inglis Easter yearling sale draft of Segenhoe Thoroughbreds, who remained in the ownership.
Bred by Go Bloodstock, Transatlantic is the third winner and first at stakes level from three to the races out of Group 1 ATC Oaks-winning Darci Drama mare Gust Of Wind, the last horse to ever defeat Champion Winx (Street Cry).
Gust Of Wind has a 2yo colt from the first crop of Newgate Farm’s Stay Inside who will be offered at the upcoming Inglis Ready2Race Sale as Lot 26 in the draft of Hannover Lodge.
The mare then has a yearling filly by Dundeel and unfortunately missed last season to Wootton Bassett (GB) with what would have been a very valuable foal.
One of 161 stakes winners for Arrowfield Stud’s Snitzel, Transatlantic became the 25th individual Group 1 winner for the multiple Champion Sire who was unfortunately euthanised earlier this year.
