What a spring carnival it was for renowned Tasmanian nursery Armidale Stud, the Whishaw family proud to have had the opportunity to cheer on a third W.S Cox Plate runner sired by one of their resident stallions - Mystic Journey as game as the likes of previous contenders The Cleaner and Sydeston.
And what a Cox Plate day it was for the Whishaws with the Ken Keys trained, Armidale Stud bred Soul Patch recording a dominant victory in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Vase en route to a gutsy third in the Gr.1 VRC Derby.
Described by Keys as a horse of "genuine quality" and by jockey Dwayne Dunn as "a lovely style of horse," Soul Patch was second favourite in the Derby, his gallant performance suggesting there is plenty more to come from the lightly raced bay.
"He just pulled a little firmly in the early part of the race," Dunn said, "but he put in a great effort."
Soul Patch is not the first classy Armidale Stud bred galloper to make his way into the Ken Keys stable with Like A Carousel being a dual stakes winner of over $720,000 in stakes whilst Listed winner First Course amassed in excess of $375,000. And then there were the Gr.2 mares Mellow Chateau and Hidden Strings by Armidale stallions Northern Chateau and Weasel Clause.
"We have a relationship that goes back 30 years," Keys said, "and I have had loads of good horses from Armidale."
"Their horses are always prepared well, as good as any other stud in the country. They grow, sound, natural horses."
Also in great form for Armidale over the spring has been the grand galloper Double You Tee who impressed winning four in a row before going so close in the Kyneton Cup. His dam Kandy Korn has a lovely yearling colt by Alpine Eagle being prepared for next year's Tasmanian Magic Millions whilst Soul Patch's half-sister by the same stallion heads to the Inglis Melbourne Premier…
Another eye-catcher is an Alpine Eagle filly out of the Delago Brom mare Pontington whose Armidale bred daughter Miss Elena - purchased by Robbie Griffiths for $185,000 at last year's Melbourne Premier - was so impressive breaking her maiden at Bendigo on Wednesday.
Meanwhile on Saturday they look forward to cheering on Exasperate, son of Armidale stalwart Tough Speed, in the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.
So there is plenty to get excited about at Armidale, both in the sales ring and on the track with the progeny of Needs Further in such great form.
Group One mare Mystic Journey is of course his star, but the regally bred Gr.3 winning son of Encosta de Lago is no one horse stallion - also siring the stakes winners Pateena Arena and Mystical Pursuit whilst his progeny are in the winners circle week in, week out.
In fact more than once a week with his sons and daughters already winning 19 races this season including a double at this week's Launceston meeting - the Whishaw family's Triple Strip recording her sixth victory from just 12 starts whilst Need A Bella impressed breaking her maiden.
It was the second week in a row that Needs Further had been represented with a double, at last week's Launceston meeting the Armidale bred pair Exclusively Ours and Needs Amore both easy winners.
Also in form are the Victorians Special Moment (winner of his last two by wide margins) and Kipketer whilst Honky Tonk Girl and Submit Another - along with Triple Strip - made up a Needs Further treble at Devenport in October.
And all this success for a stallion who has never served the opportunity afforded his mainland rivals, Needs Further doing a great job for a horse who from five full crops on the ground has just 252 foals on the ground.
News from Armidale Stud
