Toast of New York wins in return; on to the Pegasus World Cup?

By Jonathan Lintner

Jamie Osborne said he wasn’t expecting a win in Toast of New York’s return to the races, but the 6-year-old — last seen 1,130 days ago — proved his trainer wrong.

Now, is it on to the Pegasus World Cup?

Appearing larger than in his 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up finish, the horse won Wednesday over the dirt at England’s Lingfield Park, which has a dirt course and runs counter clockwise as with American tracks.

The son of Thewayyouare went 1 1/4 miles in a final time of 2:04.12, moving to the lead under a hand ride by jockey Frankie Dettori before maintaining his advantage with heavier urging in the stretch.

"He still feels a little rusty, but after three years off I can't emphasize enough how brilliant everyone has been to get him back," Dettori said, according to AtTheRaces.com. "He's only 70 percent at the moment, but he still won. That's a step forward and should improve him a lot. After three years that was a great effort."

Toast of New York turned back Petite Jack and held off the rallying Intern in what was just a field of four in the Betway Conditions Stakes. The winner went off at 1-9 in the American pool and sported a hood for the first time.

Toast of New York, only a nose behind Bayern three years ago at Santa Anita Park, was training up to a try at the 2015 Dubai World Cup before retired due to a tendon injury. His time at stud was unsuccessful, and earlier this year he returned to Osborne for training, now campaigned by Al Shaqab Racing.

Osborne said this week the $16 million Pegasus set for Jan. 27 would be a “dream scenario” for Toast of New York.

“Obviously that would be a huge ask,” the trainer added, “but as far as we're concerned the dream is still alive at the moment.”

Harry Herbert, the horse's racing manager, added Wednesday that "obviously we don't have a slot but they usually become available."

• Who's in the Pegasus? Check out our updated look at the field