The Patrick Payne-trained Cherry Tortoni (4g Night Of Thunder – Tortoni by Strategic) bounced back to winning ways when he landed the Golden Mile (Listed, 1600m) at Bendigo yesterday.

Having not tasted victory since his win in the Adelaide Guineas (Listed, 1600m)last May, the son of Night Of Thunder (Dubawi) beat Hi Stranger (Zoffany)by three-quarters of a length with Milford (Savabeel) another half a length away in third.

Payne said the addition of blinkers had helped Cherry Tortoni who needed to be at his best to land the prize in what the trainer described as a strong field.

“He’s a very genuine horse and maybe he’s tagged with a little bit of a stink next to his name, but he’s a very honest horse and he’s still only a young horse,” Payne said. “I was thinking there might be a race for him in Adelaide, but we’ll just wait and see. He’s only a young horse and we don’t need to rush him.

Article courtesy of the ANZ Bloodstock News.