News Article

Rising Star Returns

18 / 05 / 2012 Article by: Editor
Leon Wells talks to Kelvin Sanderson
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The re-appearance of promising filly Black `N’ Tough will be one of the highlights of Sunday’s eight-race meeting at Devonport — but she won’t be much value for punters.

The Leon Wells-trained three-year-old is a red hot favourite to make it two wins from two starts when she resumes from a short break in the Class 1 Handicap.

Black `N’ Tough made her debut at the same track on March 4 with an easy all-the-way maiden win, starting $2.80 favourite and landing some good bets.

She had won a barrier trial five days earlier but it was what she had done in private that had Wells and owner Chris Wickham confident of success.

During her first preparation, when she didn’t race, Black `N’ Tough was working with highly-rated stablemate Rebel Bride and proving very competitive.

Rebel Bride went on to win a string of races including the $150,000 Bow Mistress Stakes.

“She was certainly keeping Rebel Bride honest last time in,” Wells said after the filly’s debut win.

“She’s a smart filly and, being a big gross doer, she’s only going to improve with racing.”

Wickham picked Black `N’ Tough out of a paddock at Armidale Stud and leased her from owner-breeder Tony Shadforth.

The Tough Speed filly is a full sister to five-time winner Speed Control and a half sister to Mr Buttkicka who ran fourth in the Hobart Cup and won the Newnham and Jockey Club cups.

Black `N’ Tough is opposed to a handy field on Sunday and drawn wide, so another win would confirm that she’s headed for better races.

Brendon McCoull, coming off a five-win haul at Mowbray last Saturday and only half a win behind Stephen Maskiell on the premiership table, has the ride.

Both jockeys have several good chances at the meeting and it would be no surprise if they rode five or six winners between them.

– Courtesy of the The Examiner