It’s all about the present for Tomorrowland

There won’t be any excuses from Matamata trainer Danica Guy should Tomorrowland fail to measure up in Saturday’s Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Hastings.

Guy says she could not have the Fast ‘n’ Famous five-year-old in any better order going into what looms as the biggest test of his short career to date.

A winner of five of his 11 starts, including the Listed Shaws Wire Ropes Sprint at Te Rapa last December, Tomorrowland warmed up for the Makfi Challenge Stakes with a gritty second in this month’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa for jockey Craig Grylls.

Grylls retains the ride on Saturday and from barrier three is set to make all the running in the first Group One race of the new season.

“He’s come through the Foxbridge terrific,” Guy said.

“It was a buildup run for him and he wasn’t hard fit. He’s definitely improved. He galloped sensationally on Tuesday for Craig and I can’t fault him.

“He’s a horse who needs to find the rail and he can be a bit wayward if he doesn’t, so barrier three is absolutely perfect for him. If Craig had been able to find the rail a bit earlier in the Foxbridge, it might have been a different story.

“The draw this week makes Craig’s job a lot easier anyway. He’ll be right there for a long time. With a frontrunner, it’s just whether he can hold on long enough and whether they swamp him at the end.”

Tomorrowland is on the fifth line of betting on the TAB’s fixed-odds market for the Makfi, which is headed by Kawi at $4.60 and Turn Me Loose at $5.

Guy said Tomorrowland was at peak fitness for the assignment.

“I’m not going into the race with any thoughts that he’s not quite there or he’ll need the run. I’m going there thinking he’s ready to perform at his best,” she said.

“We haven’t really thought about what’s next for him after this one because this is his target. The mile [of the Windsor Park Plate at Hastings on September 19] might be too far. We’ll get this one out of the way and then assess him. I don’t have any solid plans. We need to know if he’s a genuine weight-for-age horse.”

Guy will produce four runners at Hastings, with impressive trial winner Thornhill sneaking in off the ballots for the special conditions maiden and potential Hawke’s Bay Guineas candidates All The Raaj and Superman contesting the three-year-old event. – NZ Racing Desk