Not that it’s massively unusual for a Tavistock, but TAVIS TOWN took his own time getting his head around this racing caper.
But once the coin drops, most of the Tavistocks charge ahead. If that’s the case with TAVIS TOWN he’s in for a big new season starting in two weeks.
At Ipswich this week the upstanding gelding realised his potential jumping straight to the front for Brad Pengelly and destroying his opposition.
Joint favourite Bombay Nights was left struggling three lengths in his wake for the entire length of the home straight.
If you ever wondered about trainer Paul Duncan’s patience, the Ipswich race was just TAVIS TOWN’S 10th raceday appearance.
Remember Bart Cummings’ words: “Patience is the cheapest element in racing, and the least used.”
It was also the gelding’s first start over a distance significantly further than 1600m. He led on his own here and that was a key element. “Yes, being up front and dictating his own rules seems to suit him fine,” says Duncan. “It’s easier to find the front at distances beyond 1600m.”
Paul Duncan purchased TAVIS TOWN at Karaka, not just because of his looks, but also because he is closely related to Duncan’s Gr1 New Zealand Oaks winner Midnight Oil and that relationship would be borne out dramatically in coming months.