Launceston, G3 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup, $250,000, 2400m
Race summary:
Home By Midnight (NZ) (Domesday) secured a fourth stakes win and his first in Australia with an emphatic victory in the G3 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup on Wednesday.
Now trained by Patrick Payne, Home By Midnight, known as Five To Midnight (NZ) when trained by Lisa Latta in his home country, has built a strong reputation for performing well in staying races on rain-affected surfaces.
He already had the G2 Waikato Gold Cup, G3 Hawkes Bay Gold Cup and Listed Feilding Gold Cup in the cabinet and added the Launceston Cup, with jockey Billy Egan unleashing him around the field at the top of the straight and proving far too strong for Taikomochi (Snitzel), who led the field for most of the way, with Dogmatic (Domesday) filling third.
Home By Midnight was having his 12th start in Australia and this was his first win, while it was his ninth win overall.
Pedigree notes:
Home By Midnight (NZ) is one of three winners from Fastnet Lady (Fastnet Rock) but is the only one to win at stakes level.
Fastnet Rock is one of six winners from In Essence (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), the three-quarter sister to stakes winner Bonnachi (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), who is the dam of Listed winner Extra Choice (NZ) (Redoute's Choice).
Fastnet Lady has an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Roc De Cambes (NZ) and an unnamed weanling colt by Darci Brahma (NZ).
Launceston, G3 Armidale Stud Vamos S., $150,000, 1400m
Race summary:
Star Tasmanian filly Deroche (Needs Further) made it two valuable wins in four days with a first stakes victory in the G3 Vamos S. at Launceston.
The Star Thoroughbreds owned filly, who is trained by Leeanne Gaffney, showed her class by delivering an on-pace victory, defeating Miss Mandito (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) by a length with Jentico (Written Tycoon) grabbing third another 0.5l back,
Deroche narrowly claimed the Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Classic at the same track on Sunday, but this victory was much more emphatic, with Craig Newitt pushing her clear of her rivals at the furlong mark.
Now headed for the spelling paddock, Deroche has an impressive record of nine wins from 13 starts and just short of $390,000 in prizemoney.
Pedigree notes:
Bred by Armidale Stud, Deroche becomes the fifth stakes winner for resident sire Needs Further.
Purchased for $61,000, the filly is out of the stakes-placed Buzzing Along (Tough Speed {USA}), who was second in this race eight years ago. She has produced three winners, all by Needs Further, from her four to race.
The second dam, Almighty Buzz (Supremo {USA}) is a half-sister to Listed winner Martelomeo (Marscay), the dam of Group 3 winner Danaides (Rory's Jester). Stakes-winners The Huntress (Husson {Arg}) and Regal Crown (Not A Single Doubt) also feature on the page.
Buzzing Along's yearling colt by Wordsmith sold for $20,000 at this week's Magic Millions Tasmanian Sale, while she also has a Shooting To Win weanling colt and visited Needs Further last year.
Launceston, Listed Steve’s Liquor Mowbray S., $100,000, 1600m
Race summary:
Mandela Effect (Turffontein) secured his third consecutive stakes race with a hard-fought victory over stablemate Hellova Street (Helike {USA}) to win the Listed Mowbray S. at Launceston.
Well-supported off his wins in the Listed Tasmanian S. and Listed Thomas Lyons S., the Scott Brunton trained 5-year-old looked in trouble at the top of the straight when he missed a run and had to cut back to follow Hellova Street through in the run.
He eventually got into the clear and denied Hellova Street a fourth straight win in the race by 0.2l, with Zatacla (Al Maher) in third, another 0.5l back.
The winner takes his prizemoney to over $600,000 with a 13th win from 24 starts and will now go for a spell.
Pedigree notes:
Bred by Mandy Gunn, Mandela Effect is one of three winners from three foals to race for Morell (West Quest {Can}), who returned to Turffontein to produce a filly in 2018 and a colt in 2019.
Morell is a half-sister to Royal Work (Matsqui), who won eight races and placed in the Listed Tasmanian Guineas, while the second dam is a half-sister to the stakes-winner and sire Persian Saint (Rajah Sahib {NZ}), while another of her siblings is the dam of G1 AJC Sires’ Produce S. winner Mighty Manitou (Manihi).
Hastings, G2 Little Avondale Lowland S., NZ$100,000, 2100m
Race summary:
Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) claimed back-to-back Group 2 victories and franked her credentials for the upcoming G1 New Zealand Oaks with an effortless win in the G2 Little Avondale Lowland S. at Hastings.
The Shaune Ritchie trained filly sat just of the pace and swooped on the leaders at the top of the straight, powering away to win by 4l, from the Tony Pike-trained Loire (NZ) (Redoute's Choice), with Showbeel (NZ) (Savabeel) completing a popular trifecta, another 1.5l back in third.
Jennifer Eccles has now won three of her ten starts, with all those victories at Group 2 level.
Pedigree notes:
Jennifer Eccles was bred by the Westend Partnership and is out of Platinum Elle (Elnadim {USA}), who is the dam of two winners from four runners. Since producing Jennifer Eccles in 2016, she has produced a colt by Sweynesse. In the 2019 season, she was served by stallion What’s The Story (NZ).
Second dam Lady Tee (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) won two races and placed in the G3 Eulogy S., and she is a half-sister to the dam of Group 2 winner Puttanesca (NZ) (Bertolini {USA}), while the third dam, Waikiki (NZ) (Crested Wave {USA}), won nine races including two editions of the G2 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S., which is now a Group 1 race.
