Tori’s Dee is in rare air after he brought up a significant milestone for Emsley Lodge with his fourth consecutive win with a dashing front running display at Geelong.
The grey has reignited his career since partnering with apprentice Chelsea Thompson and his victory in the Right Mate 0-66 Hcp (1225m) brought up the 100th Geelong winner for trainer Jamie Edwards.
It is understood no other trainer based in the region has trained a century of winners on the Geelong track.
Trainer Jamie Edwards said the stable had been stuck on 99 wins since Tango Jewel won at Geelong on December 12.
“It’s a nice achievement to train 100 winners on your home track and particularly satisfying to reach the milestone with Tori’s Dee,” Jamie said.
If Tori’s Dee can win his next start, he would join top galloper Sertorius who is the only horse Jamie has trained to win five wins in row, which was achieved in the 2012 spring.
The only other horse to post four wins in a row for the stable was Fill The Flute with victories at Geelong, Morphettville and Moonee Valley twice between September and December in 2018.
Tori’s Dee’s winning run has spanned 41 days from May 9 at Ararat on May 9 and included successes at Stawell on May 18, Hamilton on May 26 and Geelong.
“It’s incredibly hard for a horse to win four in row, especially for a seven-year-old like him who was virtually retired last year,” Jamie said.
“He is not a big horse but has really clicked with Chelsea and benefitted from her apprentice allowance which was four kilos and is now down to three,” Jamie said.
Remarkably, Chelsea has had nine rides for Emsley Lodge and won her last seven, including an unbeaten hat-trick on Come Along Jeffrey.
On Friday, Chelsea flew the gates on Tori’s Dee to lead all the way with a ground saving ride on the rails proving a winning tactic.
Twice Chelsea glanced to her outside as the field fanned searching for superior ground on the heavy track, the second glance coming soon after entering the straight when she had stolen a two-length break before heading slightly away from the rails.
Challengers were coming thick and fast with Tori’s Dee ($20) holding off another grey Porsha Crystal ($6.50) to score by a neck.
“I could hear her (Porsha Crystal) coming but I trusted the horse,” Chelsea said.
“He’s so tough and such an honest horse and I love him to bits.”