Toga Picta and Coruscate looking for Spring hope at the Valley

It will be all about the future when promising three-year-old Toga Picta is put to the test in the G2 Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

The colt whose only win has come in a modest Wyong maiden has raced twice this time in and at his most recent start finished down the field in Listed company over 1400m at Flemington.

His trainer, however, sees some positives in Toga Picta.

“He didn’t run quite as well second-up as we would have liked,” he admitted. 

“He had a month between runs and was a little flat after the Up and Coming Stakes, so I’m prepared to forgive him, he was wide throughout and really looked like a horse who needed the run. 

“If he can absorb that run and go ahead, then he’s really a chance to run top-three in the Stutt and build a framework for him to go on to longer distances as the Spring unfolds.”

Cummings sent Toga Picta to Moonee Valley to familiarise him with what is a unique racing environment and is satisfied improvement can come in the Stutt.

“He got a bit lost the first time in the gallop, but I think he’s ready to run an improved race,” he said.

Another promising Godolphin three-year-old engaged at the meeting who could be on a similar path is Coruscate who runs in the non-graded Three-Year-old Colts And Geldings Plate.

“He’s an interesting three-year-old who mixed it with some good horses at two,” Cummings said.

“If he can go out and win first-up I think we’re going to see a pretty impressive horse for the remainder of the Spring.”