Tasmania’s thoroughbred breeding industry has experienced one of its strongest racing season ever according to Tasbreeders, the association representing thoroughbred racehorse breeders in Tasmania.
Tasbreeders’ Executive Officer, Brett Williams, said a recently completed review of the 09/10 racing season highlighted the success of Tasmanian bred racehorses in major feature races and the recent racing awards.
“Horses of the caliber of Lady Lynette, Life To The Full, I’m A Hussey, Bank Robber and Conquering all performed outstandingly well interstate last season, as they competed against some of the best horses in Australia,” he said.
“However, one of the most pleasing aspects of this past season has been the local domination of Tasmania’s feature races.”
Mr Williams said that while local trainers often expressed dismay about their inability to compete with interstate runners in feature events, this past season was a standout with the list of winners including:
$80,000 Newmarket Hcp - Life To The Full,
$60,000 3yo Cup - Obstinado*
$30,000 Alfa Bowl - Royal Miswaki*
$120,000 Devonport Cup - With Decorum*
$80,000 Tasmanian Stakes - Dream Pedlar
$80,000 Premium Stakes - Twenty Grand
$120,000 Tasmanian Derby - Geegees Blackflash
$80,000 Elwick 2yo Stakes - Radha Rani*
$150,000 Gold Sovereign Stakes - Strike The Tiger*
$100,000 George Adams Plate - Life To The Full
$80,000 Vamos Stakes - I’m A Hussey*
“In recent years, local breeders have worked hard to improve the quality of our local product, and the results from this past season reinforce this fact,” Mr Williams said.
Mr Williams said that the newly developed Autumn Carnival also saw the emergence of a range of exciting Tasmanian gallopers including Socks*, Trysty*, Tough Future, Gea Force* and the St Leger winner, Stadacona.*
“This year’s Autumn Carnival contained 12 feature races, with 11 won by locally bred gallopers,” he said.
“Of these 12 races, eight were won by Tasmanian yearling sale graduates.
“Furthermore in May 2010, of the 42 races conducted in Tasmania as part of the Autumn Carnival, half of these races were won by graduates of the annual sale,” he said.
Mr Williams said all the winners in each category of last week’s Race Horse of the Year Awards were also Tasmanian bred.
“To cap off a good year it was pleasing to see Life to the Full win Horse of the Year, Gee Gees Blackflash win 3yo of the Year and Strike the Tiger* win 2 year old of the year,” he said.
Additionally, the last winner of the Horse Of The Year award that wasn’t bred in Tasmania was Bitter Spring who won the award in 1991 – 19 years ago.
* denotes Tasmanian Yearling Sale graduates
