Everyone can spot a good horse when it is trained by Andre Fabre or Jean-Claude Rouget. Even if you miss it on the day, the social media hype when one of their horses makes an impressive start is enough to make sure that they won’t be missed next time. They are great trainers, of course they are, but there are plenty of other fantastic trainers in France when they get the right ammunition to go to war with and Patrice Cottier is definitely one of those. He has already proven that with the likes of Horizon Dore and Sauterne this year, but away from the limelight of the Paris tracks, he has another exciting prospect in the form of Tomakay.
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A son of Toronado, he has won all 3 starts since making his debut at Marseille-Borely in September and although he has yet to be pitched into Pattern company, I think it is only a matter of time and he has already shown more than enough on the track to suggest that he will take that rise in class in his stride. Sent off at 3/1 for his debut, he settled perfectly behind the leaders and once he was pulled out for a run in the home straight, he cantered past his rivals to win by 6-lengths. That was an impressive start and he built on that by winning a Class 2 contest at Lyon Parilly a month later before winning another Class 2 at Toulouse, this time under a penalty. Although I should point out that he did have a pacemaker at Toulouse, once he came through on the inside he lengthened with ease and readily held off the late challenge of Jean-Claude Rougets well thought of son of Blue Point, Keran. The pair pulled over 3-lengths clear of Grade Maker in 3rd, himself a 40-kilo rated horse and I think there is enough evidence here to suggest that he is probably a bit better than the average Class 2 winner in the South.
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Although I have not seen him in the flesh, it is obvious from the race replays and paddock videos that he is a big framed Colt and there should be more to come as he grows into that frame and steps up in trip as a 3-year-old. He is a half-brother to the Vichy Listed winner Hayejohn, but I think he may prove to be better than his sibling and I look forward to seeing what he can do in 2024.