Golden start for Toorak Toff

Toorak Toff has opened the spring racing season in style by winning the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trained by Rick Hore-Lacy, Victorian raider Toorak Toff ($7.50) came from midfield to storm home down the outside of the straight in front of Gai Waterhouse's Squamosa ($9) and the Grahame Begg-trained Ilovethiscity ($26).

Patiently ridden by Damien Oliver, Toorak Toff's win will give Hore-Lacey some fonder memories of Rosehill than the last time he had a runner at the track 11 years ago.

On that day, the Victorian trainer was forced to scratch star sprinter Redoute's Choice from the Golden Slipper, but this time around, his win may just be laying the platform for bigger and better things over the coming Spring.

"We thought he could win," Hore-Lacy told racenet. "He's a very good horse."

"The Caulfield Guineas (will be the aim) now, but I might give him a run in between in the Guineas Prelude."

"We'll just wait and see," he said.