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Brisbane galloper Transatlantic claimed a thrilling victory in the 2025 Toorak Handicap results at Caulfield on Guineas Day giving trainer Tony Gollan back-to-back wins in the prestigious mile race.
Snitzel five-year-old Transatlantic ($10) turned the tables on last-start conqueror Evaporate, holding off the fast-finishing rival to win by a narrow margin in the $1 million showdown thanks to an aggressive ride by in-form hoop Mark Zahra.
The gelding jumped quickly from barrier nine, took up the lead, and controlled the tempo throughout the 1600m contest to win his first Group 1 at his second attempt at the top-level following a ninth at home in the winter’s Stradbroke Handicap behind the now The Everest confirmed War Machine.
In an eye-catching third to round out the Toorak Handicap trifecta was Chris Waller‘s NZ Oaks winning filly Leica Lucy with the now four-year-old daughter of Derryn coming from out of nowhere late to run into the money at just her second start down under.
Zahra meanwhile was full of praise for the winning horse who he stuck with having partnered him for the first time in his narrow lead-up loss at Sandown.
“Went out the gates, he was very quick out, which allowed him to get to the front and then just had him where he wanted to be,” he said.
“He gave a good kick off the corner, and he’s used to seeing Evaporate’s big head.
“This time, he was able to sort of be on the other side of the photo.
“It was a good win, well done to Tony.
“I knew I had a really nice time in front, and when I kicked, I knew I kicked good, and he thinks a bit, and I switched to the left, and I was hoping I wouldn’t see anyone coming at me late.
“Then I knew it was Evaporate, I didn’t have to look and showed good fight the last fifty to dig in and win.”
Gollan, who won the race last year with Antino, was thrilled with the result and the execution of the plan.
“Mark executed his plan beautifully, he wanted to be aggressive that first hundred, negate that barrier,” he said.
“That’s what he did, and that was the winning tactic.
“He had a plan; he had a fit horse; we got him in the right weight. Mark did the rest, you know?
“Horse and jockey, great combo, great to be back at Caulfield winning Group 1 races.
“He’s been a nice horse to get going, to win a Group 1 with him; it’s just a great result.
“There’s something in the water in Brisbane at the moment!”
The win was especially sweet for Gollan, who had endured two narrow defeats with Transatlantic earlier in the prep, including a photo finish loss to Evaporate in the Sandown Stakes.
“That’s why I didn’t walk away from Sandown feeling like I lost, to be honest,” Gollan said.
“I thought the two narrow defeats, both by the Hayes boys, got me in two photos.
“It just got him in at the right weight (56.5kg).
“We had to overcome the wide gate, but Mark had an absolute plan straight away what he wanted to do.
“The horse reacted beautifully to it. We got the job done today on the day that it mattered, the Group 1.”
Evaporate was gallant in defeat, racing three-wide with cover and finishing strongly.
Jockey Blake Shinn noted the weight swing may have been the difference
“He was gallant in defeat,” Shinn said.
“I think winning that Sandown Stakes against Transatlantic and getting the weight penalty was probably the difference.
“All-in-all we had a reasonable run, three-wide with cover, and with the norton-bit on today he raced a bit more truly and he went down fighting.
“I thought it was an admirable effort.”
The shock disappointment of the race was Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner, Sepals, running dead last as the beaten favourite after copping lots of interference.
“Copped a lot of interference this horse up the top of the hill,” Sepals’ jockey Ethan Brown said.
“There were plenty of excuses and hopefully he comes through the run OK.”
There’s a chance now Transatlantic could be set for a race like the Group 1 $3 million Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington over the Melbourne Cup Carnival with Gollan convinced the horse will get further.
“The last mare that beat the mighty Winx, Gust Of Wind (is his dam),” he said.
“So, he’s got a beautiful pedigree.
“I’ve got no doubt he’ll get further, but he was bloody good at a mile today.”
Toorak Handicap 2025 Results
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1st
6. Transatlantic (9)
J: Mark Zahra 56.5kg
T: Tony Gollan |
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2nd
3. Evaporate (6)
J: Blake Shinn 58kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
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3rd
9. Leica Lucy (10)
J: Damian Lane 54.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
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4th
11. Athanatos (1)
J: Craig Williams 52kg
T: Phillip Stokes |
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5th
7. Lazzura (5)
J: James McDonald 56kg
T: Chris Waller |
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6th
10. Damask Rose (3)
J: Jamie Melham 54kg
T: Mark Walker |
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7th
2. Pinstriped (2)
J: Jamie Mott 58.5kg
T: Enver Jusufovic |
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8th
4. Feroce (8)
J: Billy Egan 58kg
T: Dominic Sutton |
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9th
1. Desert Lightning (7)
J: Luke Nolen 59kg
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
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10th
5. Sepals (4)
J: Ethan Brown 57kg
T: Cliff Brown |
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