It has been a very successful few days for leading Tasmanian nursery Armidale Stud that produced three winners including a stakes winner over the weekend.
At Sale in Victoria last Friday the lightly raced Trouble In Vegas (Savoire Vivre – Rule Britannia) trounced his rivals by five lengths over 1200m at Sale for trainer John McCardle.
The three year old has now had only eight starts, for two wins and a second.
Armidale will offer a half-brother to Trouble In Vegas by Tough Speed at the Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale in Launceston on February 13 and he is catalogued as Lot 96.
On Sunday at Elwick Perplexed (Tough Speed- Mysterious Times) also made light work of her rivals winning the Class 1 over 1600m for trainers David and Scott Brunton winning by over three lengths with Anthony Darmanin aboard.
Her next start is likely to be in the Listed Strutt Stakes for fillies (2100 metres) and she should be one of the main local hopes.
In the following race, the Listed $100,000 Betfair Hobart Guineas (3YO) over 2100m saw Moonless (Helike – Elfin Hill by Danehill) emerge triumphant in a three-way photo-finish.
Moonless was a well performed maiden until yesterday but his win in the $100,000 race now makes him an early local favourite for the Tasmanian Derby to be run on Hobart on February 2.
Moonless was bred by Armidale Stud but is raced on lease by Ken and Tanya Hanson and family.
Moonless was well ridden by apprentice Georgie Catania who was immediately booked to ride the gelding in the Derby.
Those smart enough to back Moonless to win the Hobart Guineas were rewarded with a dividend of $21.
Moonless is the third stakes performed horse bred by Armidale this season with Group 2 placed Queenstown and runner up in the Sandown Cup Like A Carousel the other two.
Armidale will offer a draft of 21 yearlings at the Tasmanian Magic Millions Sale in Launceston on 13th February and 6 yearlings at the William Inglis Premier Sale in Victoria in early March.