Sun Stud’s Bel Esprit is never without a handy sprinter and his talented six year-old Tactical Advantage hit top form at his third run back from a spell to score a barnstorming win in the Listed Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
In his pre-race interview, Kris Lees indicated that a good run was likely from Tactical Advantage, who was one of three runners in the race for the champion Newcastle trainer and he proved correct.
Eighth and fourth at his first two runs back from a spell in Group races on wet tracks, Tactical Advantage came from the clouds with Josh Parr to score a narrow win carrying 59.5 kg over Foxwedge’s flying filly Villami.
“Kris gave me a lot of confidence pre-race and said to expect a very quick last furlong from him and he was right,” said Parr, who took pride in wearing the ANZAC colours carried by all top weights on ANZAC Day.
“He was back in grade and showed his class when he pinned those ears back.”
Bred and raced initially by Gooree Stud, Tactical Advantage was sold as a tried horse to a syndicate put together by Australian Bloodstock and has proven to be a great investment winning 11 races and placing nine times from 33 starts with prizemoney now just a whisker shy of $1million.
Now a three time stakes-winner, he is the best of six winners from six foals to race from Group III placed Encosta de Lago mare Above Perfection, whose stakes-winning dam Actress comes from the family of $3million earner and six-time Group I winner Desert War and Group I winner Laser Hawk.
She has a yearling colt by Shalaa (IRE), a filly by Smart Missile and is in foal to Exceed and Excel.
