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Relentless Toned honed for more success at Mt Barker

Headshot of Cameron Newbold
Cameron NewboldAlbany Advertiser
Toned wins the L.T.Toovey and Sons Handicap (1850m) with Mitch Pateman aboard.
Camera IconToned wins the L.T.Toovey and Sons Handicap (1850m) with Mitch Pateman aboard. Credit: Laurie Benson Albany Advertiser

Old marvel Toned is right on track to tackle next month’s Mt Barker Cup (2000m) after continuing trainer Mark Bairstow’s wonderful form, saluting in the L.T. Toovey & Sons Handicap (1850m) on Sunday.

Still racing as good as ever, 10-year-old Toned finished strongly for red-hot hoop Mitchell Pateman to make it successive wins at Mt Barker.

Bairstow and Pateman combined for a winning double at Ascot on Saturday with Dam Ready and Special Delivery and the stable has now trained eight winners this season at a strike rate of 23 percent.

The $35,0000 Mt Barker Cup on April 6 will be the next target for Toned, likely to be start 129 for the More Than Ready gelding.

“He’s a freak here, goes lengths better in Mt Barker than Albany,” Bairstow said. “He is an old marvel, that’s for sure and just loves racing, he gets cranky when we don’t take him to the track.

“He won’t have another start and just go straight into the cup now.”

Jockey Ryan Hill returns to scale after winning the Hit FM R'N'B Fridays Handicap aboard the Paul Hunter-trained Sax On Que.
Camera IconJockey Ryan Hill returns to scale after winning the Hit FM R'N'B Fridays Handicap aboard the Paul Hunter-trained Sax On Que. Credit: Albany Advertiser

Sax On Que gave the Paul Hunter stable a winner on the Grapes and Gallops meeting, Ryan Hill lifting the five-year-old desperately in the final stages to grab Pink ‘N’ Grey on the line.

A head was the margin between the pair in race five as Sax On Que made it two wins in three starts for his new trainer. Earlier in the day, Jade Reef spanked her rivals in the Triangulee Maiden (1100m) and Degrey Lady also broke her maiden status.

Laufey produced a big win in race three, ridden by jockey Daniel Staeck, who finished with a winning double after taking out the Mungrup Stud Sprint as well.

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