| History was made at Launceston’s Mowbray Racecourse late this afternoon when hot favourite Jaguar Stone and Melbourne visitor Blonde Venture dead heated in the $75,000 Magic Millions Tasmanian 2YO Classic. |
| In the 35 years since Snippets sprinted to victory in the first Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast, no race forming part of the Magic Millions Race Series had ended in a dead heat for first place. That all changed when Jaguar Stone lunged in the final strides to hit to line locked together with Blonde Venture, who dashed clear in the straight in the juvenile feature. Sent out the $1.50 favourite after a placing in the recent listed Gold Sovereign Stakes, Jaguar Stone was able to knuckle down late under replacement rider Harry Coffey and split top spot. The Adam Trinder prepared daughter of Spieth, a $28,000 purchase by Berkeley Park Stud, won on debut at Hobart on January 7. Capitalist filly Blonde Venture made good improvement from a recent fifth in Victoria on debut to break her maiden status in style under Lachlan Neindorf. Trainer Shane Nichols paid $200,000 for her from the draft of Newgate Farm and she looks to have a nice future back on the mainland for her connections. Meanwhile, connections of third placegetter Vokes had extra reason to smile when they pocketed $10,000 for being the winner of the Magic Millions/Tasracing Racing Women’s bonus winner. First up from the break, the daughter of Needs Further made it three third placings from three career runs when another impressive performance for her 11 female owners. Later in the card First Accused emerged as one of the rising stars of Tasmanian racing with a stunning win in the $65,000 Magic Millions Tasmanian 3YO & 4YO Classic (1400m). The Scott Brunton prepared son of Turffontein cruised home under Blaike McDougall with connections confident he can emulate his highly accomplished stablemate Mandela Effect who is raced in similar interests. An $18,000 Tasmanian Yearling Sale buy for owner Andrew Scanlon from the draft of Motree Thoroughbreds, First Accused now boasts an impressive record of seven wins and seven placings from just 15 starts. Mandy Gunn’s Motree Thoroughbreds will offer half sisters to First Accused and the runner-up Azara at tomorrow’s 2022 Tasmanian Yearling Sale. First Accused’s half sister, by former star sale graduate Palentino, is Lot 113, while a Needs Further half sister to Azara is Lot 121. The 2022 Tasmanian Yearling Sale will commence at 11am (AEDT) at Quercus Park on the outskirts of Launceston. To view the catalogue click here. |
