Hot-pot untested to deliver again

Weight of expectation sat easily on the powerful shoulders of commanding favourite Touchdown when he completed a hat-trick of wins on the Heath course at Caulfield.

The four-year-old son of Almanzor is rapidly working through his classes for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes with four victories and a pair of runner-up finishes from six appearances.

Touchdown has posted his last two victories over 1800 metres and there’s confidence he can continue his form when stepped up over more ground.

“He’s a very talented galloper and being by Almanzor and the way he attacks the line you wouldn’t think that would be a problem,” JD Hayes said.

Touchdown settled third on the fence in a small field before apprentice Jackson Radley was able to angle away from the rail before the turn.

They ambled to the front halfway down the straight and won untouched by two and a-quarter lengths.

It was a tactical race and he was really good and grabbed the race by the scruff of the neck very quickly,” Hayes said. “We’ll just keep him going through the grades.”

He is a half-brother to the G3 Rough Habit Plate winner Shocking Luck with their dam Shamardal Luck from the family of the G1 Australian Cup winner Starstruck.

Touchdown failed to meet his A$100,000 reserve at the Inglis Australian Yearling Sale and subsequently won a Taupo trial for trainer Glenn Old before he was purchased by clients of Lindsay Park.

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