Tough Tilly back to continue the fight

The Emma Stewart-trained daughter of Captaintreacherous closed out her 2020 preparation with a heart-warming win in the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series 2YO Fillies Final on New Year’s Eve, before returning for a three-start campaign through February that finished with a fourth placing in the NSW Oaks.

Tough Tilly is back at the races on Thursday night for a first round heat of the Australian Pacing Gold 3YO Fillies series, which is one of five $7500 qualifiers on the Bendigo card.

“It’s great to be reunited with her. She’s a great filly so we are looking forward to it,” Gath said.

“I think she should lead and be really hard to beat. Obviously, (stablemate) Beach Music is a quality horse and Momentslikethese (Jess Tubbs) has been going well, but she’s beaten them before.”

The filly is named after Tilly Wilkes, an inspirational youngster who was born with epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genetic condition that results in wounds that never heal, disfigurement, blisters, bleeding and ever-present pain.

Craig Judd, from Benstud Standardbreds, donated a 25 per cent share in Tough Tilly as part of a fundraising auction for EB Research, with the winning bid going to a syndicate including Tilly’s father Corey Wilkes.

READ MORE: The flying filly fighting for a cure

“It’s one of the greatest things of being involved in her really, everything she stands for. And trying to raise funds for EB and make people aware of it,” Gath said.

“I think most of us hadn’t even heard of it before Tough Tilly began racing, so it’s a great story.”

The well-bred three-year-old, who is a half-sister to the late Centenario, has won six of her 14 races for nearly $200,000 in prizemoney.

Stewart looks to have a strong hand in the other heat for the fillies with Joanna, who is returning from a runner-up placing in the Group 1 Gold Bracelet at Bathurst. The Cardigan stable also has runners in all three of the first round heats for the three-year-old colts and geldings, including the exciting Act Now who resumes from a break.

Round one APG 3YO heats have already been run in Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales, with second round qualifiers also complete in the Sunshine State. New South Wales will follow suit next week, as will Victoria at Kilmore on May 21, before fields are then assembled for $350,000 Group 1 national finals at Tabcorp Park Melton on May 29.

By Tim O’Connor for HRV