Owner Josh Bloom is looking for a maiden win from his promising colt Turfane at Flemington this Saturday to set him a Group 1 spring mission this coming carnival either in the Golden Rose Stakes or Caulfield Guineas 2014.

The Saab Hasan-trained Turffontein two-year-old was the last horse Bloom’s father Maurice bred before he passed away on Christmas Eve three years ago giving the galloper special meaning to his connections.

A promising type who has had five starts to date, Turfane was born four months before his father’s death and Bloom is hoping they develop into a Group 1 winner to honour his late dad.

“Dad bred Turfane; he died the year that he was bred,” Bloom, 35, told Racing Victoria.

“He’d been in racing for 30 years; he actually started off with a pretty good horse called Coaltar.

“He really enjoyed his racing, loved horses and then got in to breeding after owning a horse called Make My Dane.

“He then got more in to his breeding and purchased Turfane’s dam, Paloma Bella, which is how we got this guy.”

“This guy” races again on Saturday at their home track looking to finally break their maiden status with a win in the $80,000 Murray Cox Handicap (1410m).

They line up from a wide barrier 13 gate however with Chris Symons riding, so will need to be at their best to improve on their narrow last start second to Gloop over the 1200m at Moonee Valley last weekend.

Current markets on Flemington Race 1 are led by Robert Smerdon’s last start Sandown winning filly Crafty ($4.60) but it’s an open affair with Turfane another top fancy paying $8.50 to win.

It’s the youngster’s first go at further than 1200m and Bloom is hoping the step up in distance will be key to unlocking their winning side.

Depending how Turfane handles the increase in metres, and their performance overall, Bloom and Hasan will have a look at tougher targets this coming spring season.

The big dream is for them to race at elite level either in Sydney or Melbourne with both the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) on September 13 and the $1 million Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 11 being considered.

A good performance in either race would be a well-earned reward for Bloom who has done it tough since taking over his father’s welfares, including ownership of Turfane and the Robbie Griffiths-trained Group 3 placegetter Singularity.

“It really hasn’t been easy,” he said.

“Because I wasn’t in a financial position to pay for the bills, my mum stepped in and helped me.

“If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be in the spot I am right now, but she has faith in me and my judgment and the decisions I’ve made with our horses.

“Since my dad has passed we spent nearly half-a-million dollars trying to get it all working, and it’s all starting to come really well right now with likes of Singularity and Turfane.”

It would also be a wonderful return for Hansen whom Bloom has grown close to over the past couple of years.

“Saab and I have become close friends,” he said.

“I can go to his Flemington stables any time and check on my horses.

“Whenever I call him, he’s always there for me and anything I don’t understand, he lets me know.

“He hasn’t shown me the wrong path yet too which is great.”

And Hansen is confident that Turfane will make the Group 1 grade too tipping him a better horse than another in his care, Group 1 SA Derby third placegetter Shoreham.

“Saab’s already told me he thinks Turfane is better than Shoreham,” Bloom said.

“If you come look at him, he’s a very good looking horse.

“He looks a bit like a Secreteriat, or even Turffontein.

“Hopefully, this Saturday can be his maiden win. If not, we’ll look straight to the spring.”

To back Turfane this weekend, or to check out the full futures Group 1 spring betting markets now open, visit Ladbrokes.com.au where you’ll find the right price on every horse in every race every day!