Toby ‘Springs' To Slick City Success

LE Affair was a successful and durable performer for trainer Peter Rodgers but her even more talented descendants have not been so fortunate as far as injuries are concerned.

Le Affair scored 16 wins, 21 seconds and nine thirds from Rodgers but while she has also been a marvellous producer her offspring have been wretchedly unlucky.

“Simply Skoda, a daughter of Le Affair, won a heat of the group 3 Magic Maiden at Wentworth Park in March, 2012,” Rodgers recalled.

“Later I trialled her over 535m at Richmond she clocked 30.49, posting splits of 5.19 and 15.20.

“I thought ‘wow, what have I got here?'

“But then she broke a hock at Gosford in April, 2013, and her career was over before it really got started.

“When retired Simply Skoda whelped Simply Roadster, who won the Grafton Maiden Classic without having even seen the track before the series commenced.

“Then I took her to Wentworth Park for a look at the track and Simply Roadster recorded 29.72, sensational time for a newcomer.

“But before she got the chance to race there Simply Roadster suffered a serious stopper bone problem and had to be retired.”

Rodgers is, so far, enjoying better fortune with Simply Toby, a son of Spring Gun and Simply Skoda, so he is a half brother to Simply Roadster, who was by Barcia Bale.

Simply Toby broke through for his first Wentworth Park win yesterday week, finally nailing the start to lead throughout in a nippy 30.05sec.

The dog was heavily backed, firming from $21 to $12, on the stength of a desperately unlucky fourth at WP at his previous start.

One of Sydney's best judges “filled up” on Simply Toby at the long odds, telling me before the race: “This dog's runs have been fantastic and it is only a matter of him jumping cleanly and he will win!”

Rodgers agrees, saying the dog's poor strike rate of two wins from 21 starts going into last week's WP race was not a true reflection of Simply Toby's talent.

“Anytime I slip him post-to-post at Wenty Simply Toby will clock 24.30 and run home in 11.60, that's how much ability he has got,” Rodgers said.

“But he can be a mediocre beginner and when he gets back in the field he can do some dumb things!”