David Walsh almost certainly will not ride Toma Valea if he heads to the group 1 Telegraph at Trentham next month.
But make no mistake - Walsh has plenty of respect for the Al Akbar gelding, especially after his win in the listed 1200m open handicap at Wingatui yesterday.
The 7yr-old bounded to the lead with 200m to go, and galloped clear to win by a length over a game Valiant and favourite The Diamond One, who ran on late.
Toma Valea has been lightly tried in this campaign by Waikuku trainers Tarsha and Michael Stokes, a policy which has worked.
He won at Riccarton in September before putting in a strong finish for second behind rising star Soubrettes in the Stewards Stakes at Riccarton last month.
And it is wonder mare Soubrettes, who will keep Walsh from riding Toma Valea if he makes the Telegraph field, as Walsh is already booked to ride the Stewards winner.
''If he goes, I can't ride him, but we'll see what happens,'' Walsh said.
Walsh was full of praise for the Stokes training team's regime with the gelding.
''They've spaced his races. He's a big solid horse but it's just suiting him racing him fresh with a little trial in between.
''He's come back a much better horse this year - he can miss the start like he did today. It's nothing unusual but he's actually got a really strong finish.''
Walsh was travelling near the rear of the eight-horse field on the outer, and he decided to send Toma Valea for home at the top of the straight.
''The favourite was getttng in a bit of trouble across the top and I thought we'd just go forward - I knew he wouldn't stop - and we'd get a break on the favourite while it was getting held up.''
The Stokes' traveling foreman, Robyn Chamberlain, said this season's plan had revolved around getting Toma Valea to the Telegraph with the lightest weight possible.
The gelding came south from Mark Brosnan's Matamata stable shortly before the West Coast circuit in January.
''Since coming down, he's just had a new lease of life,'' Chamberlain said.
''He's had no issues really - he's a neat horse. We're lucky to have him.''
