Quality mare Tomodachi gained the first black-type victory of her burgeoning career when she overcame trying conditions to claim the G3 Rotorua Stakes.
The daughter of Westbury Stud’s Tarzino proved too good in the fillies and mares’ feature with connections confident she can be a player at the elite level next season.
“What a mare, it doesn’t mater whether its quick ground or wet, she’s is just a very, very good racehorse,” said Andrew Scott, who trains the mare with Lance O’Sullivan.
“She’s still got it all in front of her and a valuable broodmare for Pencarrow Stud.
“We can get really serious with her next season, she has got a really good turn of foot on quick ground.”
Tomodachi settled back in the field at Rotorua and picked up ground quickly into the straight when rider Joe Doyle elected to cut the corner.
It proved to be a decisive move and was then able to come up under runners and the mare finished off resolutely.
“The track was in bits and it was tough, so I didn’t see much point in going wide and spending more petrol than I needed to,” Doyle said.
“Going into next season, when she gets on a good track, she can run some savage splits. She’s very high-class. All credit to Lance, Andrew and the owners.”
Tomodachi is out of the High Chaparral mare Quintessentially, who is a granddaughter of the champion stayer and multiple Group 1 winner Ethereal.