TILLMAN PLAN PAYS OFF AT KEMPSEY

IT’S always satisfying when a well-executed plan comes to fruition!

Hawkesbury co-trainers Tara and Phil Vigouroux did exactly that with Tillman at Kempsey today.

The consistent four-year-old clinched the second win of his 14-start career – and he has been placed nine times and never finished further back than sixth – in the Class 1/Maiden Plate (1900m).

A well-backed $1.70 favorite and given a perfect ride by Aaron Bullock, Tillman appreciated the drop back to country company and handled the longest distance he has yet attempted with aplomb.

He finished best to defeat Crown’M ($6.50) and She’s Rewarding ($7.50).

“After Tillman’s last start fourth at Newcastle last Sunday week (over 1880m to fellow Hawkesbury representative Kandos Cosmos), Phil noticed this race in the calendar and felt it would really suit Tillman,” Tara Vigouroux said this evening.

“He took the horse up yesterday afternoon and stabled him overnight with Marc Quinn at Port Macquarie.

“Phil was pleased to be able to get Aaron (Bullock), and he gave him a beaut ride, so everything worked out well.

“We feel he will handle 2000m, but will see how he pulls up before deciding whether to give him one more run or send him for a break.”

Tillman, a four-year-old son of Epaulette, is the second foal of the Stratum mare Moneylegs, who died in January last year.

The gelding was bred by Dr Ian and Linda Duckworth of Fairview Park Stud at Grose Wold, and he was nominated for sale at the 2020 Inglis Classic yearling sale, but withdrawn.

“Ian and Linda gave Tillman to us to train, and they stayed in him and also got some of their friends to join the syndicate, and we also enticed some of our friends to join us in racing him,” Tara Vigouroux explained.

“It’s a nice group, and we are all having a lot of fun with Tillman.”

Team Vigouroux is looking forward to starting consistent mare Izfallingdown in Thursday week’s $150,000 Sky Racing Summer Provincial Series Final at Hawkesbury.

She qualified by finishing third in the fifth and final heat over 1600m at Newcastle last Saturday.

“Izfallingdown deserves her place in the field, and it’s good that Hawkesbury has so many representatives (five),” Tara Vigouroux said.

“She is back at home for the 1600m final and, provided there is pace on which would suit, we are expecting her to give another good account of herself.”