The last two weeks of racing in Melbourne, once again highlights the class and calibre of the Tasmanian thoroughbreds.
Life To The Full got things rolling at Caulfield on 17 April with a super impressive win coming from near last to win a $100,000 race over an unsuitable distance of 1200m. Although he was well supported in betting, the race was being used as a lead up run for this Sunday’s $200,000 Group 3 RA Lees Stakes at Morphettville. Life To The Full is by the well-performed Savoire Vivre, one of Tasmania’s leading stallions. Life To The Full was bred by his owners, and his dam Sinizzor this season has produced what Armidale Stud’s Robyn Whishaw describes as “an outstanding full brother”. Buyers should look out for him at the 2011 Tasmanian sale. Sinizzor has now been served by Ladoni, another resident Armidale stallion.
Saturday’s Sandown meeting continued Tasmania’s recent Victorian success with Tasmania’s best horse in recent times, Conquering, winning the $70,000 Open Hcp over 1500m. Conquering showed his normal courage to lead all the way, holding off all challengers. That was his 21st victory and has now taken his stakes earnings past $770,000. Conquering is by Dangerous from the smart Acidity mare Currently, and was bred by Runnymede Stud. Currently hails from one of Runnymede Stud’s impressive families that have produced many outstanding performers over the last 25 years.
Forbidden Quest’s win was similar to Conquering in that he led all the way. Forbidden Quest was clearly headed in the last 200m, however he fought back strongly to win in a great finish. Saturday’s win was his 10th and takes his career stake earnings past $165,000 - a great return on the $20,000 his trainer Jason Clifford paid for him at the 2005 sale. Forbidden Quest was bred by Armidale Stud and he is by Tasmania’s leading stallion West Quest out of the former smart Weasel Clause-mare Echarpe. David Brunton purchased an athletic Helike yearling filly out of Echarpe at this year’s Tasmanian sale. Echarpe is now in foal to Ladoni.
The David Brunton-trained Life To The Full and his stable mate I’m A Hussey both won listed races during the recent Tasmanian Carnival. Since then, they have both won races in Melbourne. I’m A Hussey won a $100,000 mare’s race at Moonee Valley in March. Interestingly, both of these horses hail from the same family. Life To The Full’s dam Sinizzor is out of Langtry’s Image, who is a half sister to I’m A Hussey’s dam Vain Dane. This family stems from another of Runnymede Stud’s impressive families, originating with the Seventh Hussar mare Vain Hussey.
I’m A Hussey is yet another Tasmanian sale graduate, being passed in with a reserve of just $10,000 at the 2006 Magic Millions Tasmanian Select Yearling Sale.
Both Life To The Full and I’m A Hussey will be chasing more black type in the next 10 days with Life To The Full contesting the $200,000 Group 3 RA Lees Stakes this Sunday and I’m A Hussey will run in the $100,000 Listed Wangoom held during next week’s Warrnambool 3 Day Carnival.
