TALENTED young thoroughbred trainer Aiden Nunn went to last year’s Tasmanian yearling sales with the aim of securing a colt by Tough Speed that was a half-brother to former star Tasmanian juvenile Socks.
He left the sale with his mission accomplished and at Spreyton yesterday the colt delivered a brilliant debut performance to win a two-year-old and upwards maiden over 900 metres.
Count Out raced outside of the leader and race favourite Rocklea Road and when rider Ismail Toker called on Count Out for the supreme effort the son of Tough Speed-Count The Kisses sped clear and went on to defeat the favourite by almost three lengths with another first-starter Blaze Forth a length away third.
The colt stopped the clock at 52.79 to better former star mare Rebel Bride’s track record of 52.86 that she set in November 2011.
Nunn was thrilled with the effort and surprised at the ease with which the colt dealt with his first outing.
Listen to what trainer Aiden Nunn had to say about Count Out’s debut performance.