One weekend, three states, three winners.
Another achievement for the rising star of Tasmanian breeding, Armidale's exciting young stallion Needs Further.
On a roll ever since his star daughter
Mystic Journey burst onto the scene, the regally bred Gr.3 winning son of
Encosta de Lago from the family of Zabeel just keeps racking up the winners
with Bold Star, Kipketer and Flourishing Future all creating a good impression
over the weekend.
It was no mean feat for the three-year-old Bold Star to carry 58kg against the older horses at Morphettville on Saturday but the promising Gordon Richards trained gelding was always travelling well on pace for the in-form Raquel Clark - gamely chasing the leader down and drawing clear late in a BM70 contest over 1200m.
Declaring herself "eager to get back on this horse" after her successful recent trip to Singapore, Clark noted that "he was not weighted to win this race and it was a decent field - but he was full of running at the turn and I could not have been happier."
"He is a lovely looking type who covers the ground really nicely. He is still learning his trade and I think he has the potential to win a nice race when he puts it all together."
And that nice race may well be the Listed Lightning Stakes at Morphettville on July 27, Gordon Richards confident that Bold Star can measure up in stakes company.
"We have always had a good opinion of him, we had high hopes for him at two but he had niggling issues so we tipped him out. He doesn't like being under saddle much during the week but he loves the aqua walker and he is thriving."
Richards headed to the 2017 Tasmanian Magic Millions specifically to secure a Needs Further - "I just had a good feeling about him" - and has purchased another one, who is ready to trial for the first time, since.
The winner of three of just 11 starts Bold Star is out of the Danewin mare Alzahra Star who paid a return visit to Needs Further last spring.
Within just over half an hour on Sunday another two Needs Furthers were in the winners circle, kicking off with the John Keys trained Flourishing Future who, at her first run since February, was able to break her maiden in easy style.
Straight to the lead from an inside gate, the lightly raced three-year-old was always travelling well for Troy Baker and in the run home just kept on kicking, her winning margin a soft length.
"She was a red hot favourite; it wasn't my money," John Keys laughed - "but I did expect her to win."
Confident enough in her ability to run her in a couple of feature events last summer, Keys said that "she has always shown talent."
A home-bred for Keys who also bred and trains her two times winning one year older full brother Submit Another (due to resume next weekend), Flourishing Future is the final foal produced by the five times winning Redding mare Starred.
Keys has always been a Needs Further fan, sending four mares to him during his debut season and also putting his hand up for one in the ring. He currently has a mare in foal and will again be supporting him this spring.
The third leg of Needs Further's weekend treble was the John McArdle trained Kipketer, impressive claiming his maiden at just his third start at just his second run this time in.
Patiently ridden just off the pace by Jamie Mott, the handsome bay was cruising in the turn - gamely wearing down the leader as it kicked, drawing clear late to put two lengths on his rivals.
Mott has been aboard at each of Kipketer's
three runs and has been impressed - "he is a beautiful horse with a lovely
action and he will keep improving into his preparation."
"It was a really nice win today and I can't wait to see how far he can go."
"He is an up-and-coming horse who I think will prove city class," John McArdle added, noting that he has had a few of the Needs Further breed and is a fan - "they are good moving horses and nice types, he is doing a great job."
Bred by Armidale and sold for $40,000 at the 2017 Tasmanian Magic Millions, Kipketer(pictured as a yearling) is the fourth winner for the stud's multiple city winning Perugino mare Grisbi.
For further information on Needs Further contact David Whishaw on 0407 868 269 or Robyn Whishaw on 0419 100 634.
http://armidalestud.com.au/
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