Toffee Tongue – Cheeky!

The exploits of three siblings created massive demand for Toffee Tongue (NZ) (Tavistock) at Karaka 2018, but a superb victory in Saturday’s A$400,000 Gr1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville has ensured that her value now dwarfs her $500,000 purchase price.

By high-class sire Tavistock out of champion broodmare Bagalollies (Zabeel), Toffee Tongue is a full-sister to the multiple Gr1 winner and Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther (NZ) (Tavistock).

Toffee Tongue (NZ) (Pic – Atkins Photography)

That celebrated champion provided another Gr2 victory and multiple Gr1 placings as late pedigree updates in the lead-up to Karaka 2018, while fellow full-siblings Gobstopper (NZ) (Tavistock) and Milseain (NZ) (Tavistock) also rose to prominence after the catalogue went to print. Gobstopper won the $250,000 New Zealand Cup (3200m), while Milseain placed in multiple black-type events including the Gr1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).

On Saturday, Toffee Tongue added her own name to the family’s growing roll of honour.

Perfectly ridden by Damien Thornton, the highly talented filly settled in the second half of the field and hugged the running rail. She was more than half a dozen lengths from the leaders coming up to the home turn, but Thornton never panicked.

Toffee Tongue drove through an opening along the inside in the straight and raced clear, scoring by a length and three-quarters from Moonlight Maid (Puissance de Lune) and Affair to Remember (Toronado).

The Oaks was the first career victory for Toffee Tongue, but she had placed in five of her previous eight starts. She finished second in the Gr1 Australian Oaks (2400m) and Gr3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) during last month’s Championships at Randwick.

“I felt she was always improving,” trainer Chris Waller told AAP. “Her run in the Adrian Knox Stakes was great, and her run in the Australian Oaks was brilliant. She perhaps should have finished at least a bit closer. It’s great to get the Group 1 with her.

“She has got the breeding to be a really good horse. She is a sister to Werther, a Hong Kong Horse of the Year and a Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner. It was 2000 metres today, but 2400 metres is certainly not a negative.”

Carrying the colours of Pinecliff Racing, Toffee Tongue has earned A$413,000 in stakes and is now worth significantly more.

This was the second consecutive Schweppes Oaks victory for a Karaka graduate, following on from the $120,000 purchase Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral) 12 months ago.