'It's a nice story' - Cursory Glance's first foal secures black type in Wulfruna

Tinker Toy took out Wolverhampton's highlight of the year on Saturday to record his first stakes success for owner-breeder Craig Bennett.

The five-year-old gelding is the first foal out of Bennett's Moyglare Stud and Albany Stakes winner Cursory Glance, who was likewise trained for him by Roger Varian.

Tinker Toy was partnered by Jack Mitchell in the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes, the feature on Wolverhampton's ITV Racing day in the sun, and the duo kept on well in the final furlong to repel Happy Power and Misty Grey, the winning margin being three-quarters of a length.

Watch Tinker Toy prevail in Wolverhampton's calendar highlight

Tinker Toy, who can now boast a 50 per cent strike-rate having won four of his eight starts, is by Grade 2 Saratoga winner War Front, who stands at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, this season at a fee of $100,000.

His dam, by Distorted Humor, was also homebred by Bennett's Merry Fox Stud, and won three of her four starts, her only defeat coming when second to Tiggy Wiggy in the Lowther Stakes.

Tinker Toy's two years younger half-sister, Voodoo Queen, by Frankel, was third and then second in two maidens for Bennett and Varian last autumn.

Varian said of Tinker Toy, who scored at 8-1: “We are very pleased because it had been the plan for a long time to run him in this race.

“We have always rated him highly but he has been very delicate to train. He has tested us for sure and the patience of his owner Craig Bennett, but Craig is a very patient owner.

“It is a nice story because Tinker Toy is the first foal out of Cursory Glance, who won the Albany and Moyglare for us, and the priority this year was to get some black type."

Cursory Glance shows her class to win at Royal Ascot in 2014Credit: Steve Bardens

The Newmarket trainer added: “Where we go from here, I am not sure. I would think a minor Group-race programme will be on the agenda but we might consider the mile race on Finals Day now that he is qualified, especially given he has already won over the course and distance.”

Mitchell added: “We have always held Tinker Toy in high regard. I am not one for mentions but Joe, who led him up, rides him every day and takes such good care of the horse.

“The horse is lightly raced because he has been fragile. It's a team effort of course but Joe does a really good job with him and got him here on song.

“Last time out at Lingfield, Tinker Toy went to win his race but was still a bit rusty having not run for a long time, and the winner set a track record that day, so we knew his class was still there.”

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