Trish Dunell
First impressions of Te Toro Pearl have counted for nothing.
The daughter of Bullbars did little early on to encourage trainer Jon Miller, but it’s a completely different story now.
Te Toro Pearl finished sixth on debut and hasn’t been beaten since with Saturday’s success at Tauranga in the Sanpellegrino Premier (1400m) her third consecutive victory.
“When I first got her I nearly sacked her, but she has kept improving all the time and she’s a nice filly now,” Miller said. “Not many can win three in a row.”
“She’s just kept showing something extra. I thought she was under pressure at the top of the straight after being three wide, but she kicked away nicely in the straight.”
Te Toro Pearl got to the front 250m from home and went clear to score comfortably.
“I might look at a three-year-old race at Taranaki for her next, I’ll see how she comes through this race first though,” Miller said.
Te Toro Pearl has already proven herself at New Plymouth, having broken her maiden there on a heavy track last month.
Experienced jockey Michael Coleman was having his first ride on the filly on Saturday and he was suitably impressed.
“We got posted out early, but she was always comfortable and relaxed,” he said.
“She’s got a lot of upside to her, she gave me a nice feel.”
Black type placegetter Blanco Belle gave a sound account of herself in finishing runner-up in her first appearance since she ran fifth in the Gr.2 Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie in March. – NZ Racing Desk.
Video replay: Te Toro Pearl winning the Sanpellegrino 3YO Premier