A change in lifestyle has worked wonders for Seymour gelding Tomanado, who completed a hat-trick with victory in the bet365 Bet Boost BM56 Handicap (1200m) at Echuca last Friday.
Despite wins at Narrandera on June 13 and on the Ballarat synthetic on July 3, the five-year-old Toronado gelding drifted from $14 to $18 at Echuca. However, clearly enjoying his racing, he settled on pace and kicked clear to score by an impressive 3½ lengths in the hands of Ryan Hurdle. 
Trainer Don Dwyer has had to iron out a few issues with the horse, with back treatment and corrective shoeing playing a part in the form turnaround. 
On top of that, a complete change in lifestyle, involving spending the daytime roaming a 30-acre paddock on Dwyer’s Northwood property with Dwyer’s other horses (establishing himself as kingpin in the process), has added to Tomanado’s confidence. 
Last Friday’s win was Tomanado’s fourth for the season, and the stable’s 23rd.
Shelley shines
Earlier in the program at Echuca, Shelley Houston scored her second win as a trainer with Lyttleton ($16) in the Moama Bowling Club Maiden Plate over 2100 metres. Seymour-based Houston was formerly a leading jumps jockey in New Zealand.
Immortal kicks off Brisbourne brace
Last Sunday’s Wodonga meeting presented plenty of opportunities for district trainers, Wangaratta-based Ben Brisbourne leading the way with a double. 
The Quiet Immortal ($1.24favourite) had been knocking on the door, with placings at his previous three starts, and duly opened proceedings with a comfortable win in the Snap Print Solutions Maiden Plate (1400). 
Three races later Brisbourne struck again with Just Landed ($4.40) in the McGrath Family 0-56 handicap over 2050 metres. 
Both horses were ridden by Lachie King. 
In the next race Frostration ($3.50 favourite) completed a hat-trick for Kilmore’s David Dean by taking out the Vin Tobin 0-56 Handicap (1400m) under apprentice Caitlin Hollowood. 
The three-year-old Frosted filly was a $3250 purchase in an online sale in August 2025 and scored her maiden win at the picnics on December 27 at Alexandra. 
Frostration kicked off her latest winning run at Wodonga on June 27, winning again at Donald on July 11. She has now amassed $52,805 in earnings. 
For the second time in recent weeks the late stallion Frosted had a double, with the three-year-old filly Frosted Miss having taken out race two on the card, the Denise Casey Maiden Plate (1200m), for Geelong trainer Chris Calthorpe. 
The passing of Frosted at age 14 is a sad loss to the industry.