Young trainer Ethan Ensby’s pleas to keep promising stayer Torrens in Australia continued to pay dividends at the Sunshine Coast.
Torrens ($2.90) made it four wins from four starts when he raced away in the straight for an easy win in the Coastal BMW 1 Series Handicap (2200m).
There were only five runners but the minor placegetters were Ruby Guru ($3.80) who has won 10 races and Group One winner Capital Gain ($3).
It was a super effort from a three-year-old who had won three NSW country races and was stepping up to a city racing.
Ensby, who trains at Ballina in the northern rivers, is now looking at the Group One Queensland Derby in June.
“He will have a short break now and we might even look to the Australian Derby but it might be a bit rich,” Ensby said.
“The Queensland Derby looks a better option. But I have said all along I can win a black type race with this horse.”
Ensby has had to do a lot of talking to keep Torrens in Australia.
“He was going to Singapore but he often struggles in humidity and I don’t know if he would be comfortable there,” he said.
“I said if he stayed here we could win a good race with him.”
Ensby said it was a good end to a sad week after a storm hit his stables and one of his horses was killed.
Torrens has the breeding to be a top horse as he is one of the few horses by Cox Plate winner Adelaide racing in Australia.
Apprentice Nori Masuda has ridden Torrens in all four of his wins.
“Torrens is still green and will only get better,” he said.