Group 2 Lowland S., Hastings
Race Summary:
Regally-bred filly Queen Of Diamonds (NZ) (Savabeel) claimed her second stakes success, winning the Group 2 Little Avondale Lowland S. at Hastings.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained filly relished the step up to the 2100m for the first time, defeating Shezathinka (So You Think {NZ}) by 1,5l with Imelda Mary (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}) filling third.
A winner of the G3 Eulogy S. in December, Queen of Diamonds was also placed in a pair of group 2 races, the Eight Carat Classic and the Sir Tristram Fillies Classic this campaign.
She was a $640,000 buy at the 2017 Karaka Sale for the China Horse Club, whose colours she carried to victory.
Pedigree Notes:
Queen Of Diamonds is from one of New Zealand's most famous thoroughbred families. Her dam Love Diamonds (Danehill {USA}) is a sister to four stakes winners, including G1 Spring Champion S. winner Viking Ruler and is out of triple Group 1 winner Tristalove (NZ) (Sir Tristram {NZ}), the sister to Don Eduardo (NZ) and a myriad of other champion horses that hark back to the immortal Eight Carat {GB}).
She is Love Diamonds' only stakes winner to date with Lovetessa (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) stakes-placed and four of her other progeny having won.
Group 3 Launceston Cup, Launceston
Race Summary:
Eastender (Tickets) created a bit of Tasmanian racing history, proving the superior stayer in the G3 TAB Launceston Cup.
The 5-year-old, provided trainer Barry Campbell with his first win in the race, and became the first horse in 42 years to win all three feature Tasmanian Cups.
The Star Thoroughbreds owned gelding was well ridden by Craig Newitt, who got him along through the rail and then pounced on leader Fabrizio (High Chaparral {Ire}) to win by 0.5l. Lamborghini (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) finished third.
The $22,000 yearling purchase has now won ten races and over $500,000 in prizemoney and will now head towards the G2 Adelaide Cup.
Pedigree Notes:
Eastender is the only stakes winner for his sire Tickets.
His dam, Cougar Alley (Mossman) was unraced but is a three quarter sister to Pure Energy (Mossman) and Segments (Mossman), who were both stakes-winning 2-year-olds. Their grand dam was the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Our Cure (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
Group 3 Vamos S., Launceston
Race Summary:
Twitchy Frank (Choisir) secured some valuable black-type with the 4-year-old prevailing in a hard-fought renewal of the G3 Armidale Stud Vamos S. at Launceston.
Having her second start for local trainer Adam Trinder after her transfer from the Darren Weir stable, Twitchy Frank settled close to the pace and had too much strength late to beat the Scott Brunton pair I Remember You (Written tycoon) and Life On The Wire (Pluck {USA}).
Twitchy Frank, with her sixth win in 15 starts, has now won just short of $280,000 prizemoney having been bought for just $10,000 as a weanling.
Pedigree Notes:
Twitchy Frank is the first stakes winner in the past three generations for her family. Her dam Red Pixie (Lonhro) was a three-time winner, but none of her other foals have been winners. She is currently in foal to Toronado (Ire).
The third dam of this filly is the Group 1 Coolmore Classic winner Camino Rose (Sea Road).
Listed Mowbray S., Launceston
Race Summary:
Hellova Street (Helike {USA}) broke through the $1m in prizemoney with his ninth stakes victory in the Listed Steve's Liquor Mowbray S. at Launceston.
The 8-year-old registered his 18th win from 45 starts leading all the way under jockey Jason Maskiell, prevailing by a length from Zatacla (Al Maher), with another veteran Kenjorwood (Snippetson) in third.
The win took Hellova Street's prizemoney total to $1.05m.
Pedigree Notes:
Hellova Street is one of only four stakes winners for the imported stallion Helike (USA) and by far his best performer.
His dam Butter Street (Secret Savings {USA}) has also produced the stakes winner Streetwise Savoire (Savoire Vivre {GB}) as well as five-time winner Sav's Finale (Savoire Vivre {GB}) and the three-time winner Street Tough (Tough Speed).
Butter Street, who is the half sister to recent Melbourne winners Peko (Bel Esprit) and Kazio (Foreplay) as well as the talented Miss Softhands (Bel Esprit), has a weanling colt by Alpine Eagle and is in foal to that stallion again.
