TASMANIAN two-year-old filly Triple Asset gave Mowbray Tassie trainer John Keys his biggest win when she won the Group Three Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes over 1200metres at Flemington today (Saturday).
Triple Asset shared the lead down the straight course and when jockey Michael Rodd called on her for the supreme effort 200 metres out she dug deep and answered the challenge .
She hit the line a short-half head ahead of Metonymy with Altar the same margin away third.
Keys was ecstatic after the race.
“This is something special,” Keys said.
“We came here hoping she’d measure up and now we know what she can do at this level,” he said.
The trainer admitted he only decided to tackle the race as a last-minute decision last weekend.
“It was last Sunday when we decided to enter her for this race.”
“Originally we were looking at the Jansz in South Australia but thought this race would give us an idea of whether we should go to SA but we are definitely heading there now,” he said.
Triple Asset went into the race on the back of an effortless win in the Shaw Magic Millions Tasmanian 2YO Classic at Launceston.
She was ridden by Rodd that night but it was courtesy of an injury suffered by the filly’s regular rider Lincoln Coffey who broke ribs in a freak barrier mishap earlier on the program.
Rodd was delighted with the filly’s performance.
“Every time a horse would challenge her she’d keep sticking her head out, so she’s got plenty of guts and she’s got the right attitude,” Rodd said.
“It’s been a month between runs since she’s come here and it’s a bloody good effort,” he said.
Triple Asset was bred at Armidale Stud and is a graduate of the 2010 Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale where she was purchased by her trainer for $28,000.
Triple Asset is by former Blue Diamond winner Nadeem from the Hennessy mare Caralowe.
A half-sister to Triple Asset (x Churchill Downs) was the sale topper at this year’s Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling sale, sold for $62,000 to Victorian trainer Mark Riley.