There’s a touch of excitement in trainer Todd Howlett’s voice when he talks about promising three-year-old Tanglewood but he’s trying to keep things in check as he attempts back-to-back wins this preparation at Grafton on Sunday.
Trainer Todd Howlett (Pic: Steve Hart).
Howlett is always conservative when assessing his horses but he admits this gelding’s runaway first-up win, at just his third start, captured his attention and showed he clearly has something to work with.
But he’s keeping the steps small as he says Tanglewood is very much a work in progress so feels the Holiday Coast Meats Handicap (1006m) is the right move for now.
“I don’t know where his top is yet but he’s shaping up all right,’’ Howlett said.
“I don’t think he needs rushing at all, this start and maybe one more at the most and put him out. Just to get his head right.
“I think he could go the wrong way if you put too much pressure on him. He’s still got a bit to go but hopefully he can keep improving.”
It’s highly likely Howlett has never had a $1.10 chance in a race before, at least to his recollection, but that’s the price Tanglewood started in his 5-1/2 length maiden win at Taree on June 27.
He was never going to be beaten in the run and all jockey Aaron Bullock had to do in the straight was point him at the winning post and shoot.
Howlett is adamant Tanglewood, $2.15 with TAB on Friday. can be a little more versatile but while he’s on a learning curve is happy to go with the flow.
“With no disrespect he hasn’t beaten a lot, has he, but he did it pretty well,” he said.
“He probably still is a work in progress and that’s one of the reasons I thought we’d go to Grafton and give him a trip away to help him settle down.
“It’d be nice to sit him off something. I think that’s what he needs for his education, to be tractable and sit off something.”
If Tanglewood can be as tough and durable as his stablemate Two Big Fari he’ll go a long way in life and Howlett is hoping his stable stalwart can earn another shot at the Little Dance in the spring.
He’d take a berth in the $3 million Big Dance if it came his way and the seven-year-old will attempt to secure one in the $80,000 Grafton Toyota South Grafton Cup (1600m).
Two Big Fari ran fifth in the inaugural Little Dance, which is now worth $750,000, following a second in the Dubbo Cup last year.
Howlett said he was pleased with the gelding’s first-up effort behind Garrison at Rosehill three weeks ago but is wary he’s jumping straight to a mile.
“He’s a good honest horse. I thought it was a good run, he’s found a strong race and it’s a bit tough from the barrier but sometimes you’ve got to try,” he said.
“He hasn’t won for a while but his runs have been good and he’s not been beaten that far.
“Going to a mile second-up, if I was going to query anything that’s what I would query.”
The winner of a Big Dance eligible race is placed at the top of the ballot, by benchmark, while the runners-up are also eligible but with 29 qualifying races they are unlikely to gain a start.
However, runners up are placed at the top of the Little Dance ballot.
So Howlett has his sights set on the Forbes Cup in August and the Dubbo Cup in September to give Two Big Fari his best chance to be at Randwick on November 7.
– Racing NSW
