LAST year’s November Charity Mile favourite Toro Rosso’s merit rating had dropped from 102 to 92 before he took on a MR91 field in a 1400m handicap at the Vaal on Tuesday, so shrewd punters would have helped themselves to the surprisingly generous 8-1 on offer about Mary Slack’s four-year-old colt.

Toro Rosso, good thing in the right handicap.

Top weight doesn’t come into play when a horse is well placed like this, and Callan Murray steered Toro Rosso home to an easy win over King’s Archer, the galloper not affected by his 60,5kg.

Now a MR95, Toro Rosso could win again soon as he has posted a previous victory off a MR98.

Brazilian-bred by Haras Old Friends, Toro Rosso is a son of Elusive Quality from a mare by Mutakddim.