Tokaido continued his improvement for Amy Murphy on Sunday as he took the Group 2 Robert Papin in good style.
It was a first French Group 2 winner for Murphy, who relocated to Chantilly last March. It was a rather sorry state of affairs however, as Tokaido took on just two rivals. Both opponents were trained by Joseph O’Brien, with the race run remarkably without a French-trained runner.
Nevertheless, Tokaido comfortably dispatched of the Chesham winner King Of Cloughan with relative ease.
Speaking to Sky Sports, via Racing TV, Amy Murphy said: “That was amazing, obviously we wanted to see him do that. It was more like a racecourse gallop today, he’s done it well so we’re very happy.
“We’re very lucky to have found him and huge thanks to the owners for sending him to me. adly he’s a gelding so he can’t run in the Prix Morny so he’s going to run in the Harry’s Half Million at York.”
It will be a welcome return to the Knavesmire for connections, who won the 2023 John Smith’s Cup with Pride Of America.
‘I hope I can win a Group One with him’ – Tony Piccone
Tony Piccone hardly had to get animated in the saddle, as he continued his blossoming relationship with the gelding. Piccone was evidently impressed, as he said: “For me he is a champion because he can go in front, he can wait .He is a very easy horse and he was good today.
“I didn’t know how the tactics were going to go. But Amy told me to try to wait and then come when you want.
“He was relaxed and the pace was not so very fast in the first 200 or 300 metres. When he came he came so easy and he won easy. I didn’t ask him the maximum and, for me, I think he could be better at seven furlongs.
“When you ask him to be relaxed he relaxes. He is better on the softer ground. But when a horse is good they can go on fast ground and soft ground. I’m very happy for Amy and it is a good day.
“I hope I can win a Group One with him.”
Nearly £250,000 in prize money goes to the winner of the Harry Half Million next month. Connections can dream big with their promising juvenile. With Group 1 aspirations on the cards, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf appears to be the grand target this season.