Tuvalu showed the grit of his sire Kermadec (NZ) when he held off all challengers on Saturday, 8 October to win the G1 Toorak Handicap over 1,600m at Caulfield in Melbourne.
The five-year-old gelding, out of the Exceed And Excel (AUS) mare Hangin’ Tough, proved too strong for Laws Of Indices and Military Expert to record his first win at racing’s highest level and his second Stakes race success.
Tuvalu won the Listed VRC Winter Championship Final this year and has now won eight races and run five placings from 13 starts.
Trained by Lindsey Smith at Warrnambool and ridden by Jarrod Fry, Tuvalu has now amassed prize money earnings of $1,109,300.
As a colt, Tuvalu was bred and offered by Merricks Station at the 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and bought for $200,000 by Boomer Bloodstock/Lindsey Smith.
Tuvalu has an unraced two-year-old half-brother by Lonhro (Shut It Down), a yearling half-sister by Lonhro and a weanling half-brother by Impending.
Kermadec was a dual G1 winner over 1,600m and has now sired the winners of 10 Stakes races.
Tuvalu joins four-time G1 winner Montefilia, 2021 VRC Oaks (G1) and Wakeful Stakes (G2) princess Willowy, Bendigo Guineas (Listed) winner Gundec and Singapore Derby (Listed) star Lim’s Kosciuszko.
Kermadec stands at Darley’s Northwood Park stud in Victoria for a service fee of $16,500, GST inclusive.
TUVALU CLAIMS THE TOORAK HANDICAP! 😮 @LSmithRacing pic.twitter.com/dj7ClSQrE7
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 8, 2022
