Top sprinter Admiral delivered another stellar weight-for-age performance to win the $50,000 Luxbet Stakes (1200m) in Launceston on Wednesday.

Admiral raced outside the leader Gee Gee Red Prince and then lengthened when called on by stand-in rider Luke Currie to score by a neck from Lord Da Vinci.  It completed a hat-trick for the Barry Campbell-trained gelding following the LR Conquering Stakes at LR Tasmanian Stakes.

He is now on target for a clean sweep of Tasmania’s weight-for-age races with the Thomas Lyons (1400m) and Mowbray Stakes (1600m) on Launceston Cup day to come.

“I reckon he’s going better than this time last year,” Campbell said.  “He’s getting better with age and is a damn good horse.”

Admiral (5g Mossman – Reunification by West Quest) has raced 26 times for 16 wins and prizemoney of $765,150 for owners Denise Martin, Bruno Calabro and Ron & Trudy Schwanke.  “Most of his losses have been either first-up or in Melbourne.  And I got him beat once,” Campbell confessed.  “It was a good effort to come back from a mile tonight.”

Currie will now hand back the reins to Brendon McCoull who has recovered from injury.  “He just does what he has to do to win,” Currie explained.  “I elected to race on the speed but he’s better off a bit further back.”

Admiral is a son of Vinery sire Mossman who has two colts catalogued for the NZB Select yearling sale at Karaka on Wednesday.  Lot 500 is from More Than Ready mare Wonderworld and is a three-quarter brother to dual Macau Horse of the Year Wonder Mossman.

Lot 521 is from Testa Rossa mare Alta Floresta who won up to to 2000m and is a half-sister to G1 Singapore Derby placegetter Raudkivi.

ADMIRAL WINS LUXBET STAKES