Darley freshman Henny Hughes sired his initial Australian winner in Launceston on Wednesday night.

Bertie’s Bells (2g Henny Hughes – Jamelden by Kenny’s Best Pal) scored a second-up victory in the Country Club Tasmania 2YO Hcp (1100m).  He defeated stablemate Modo Vinco (Elusive Quality) by a half-head after a thrilling duel for the length of the straight.

Brighton trainer Gary White races the first two home in partnership with his good mate Ron Gudden.

“We bought both of them as weanlings, raised them, got them broken in and here they are powering home together,” White said.  “There was hardly a breath between them on the line – it’s absolutely amazing.”

Bertie’s Bells was a $10,000 buy as a foal from the Burnewang North draft at the 2010 Inglis Great Southern Sale at Oaklands.  He is from a Brisbane winning half-sister to G1 South Australian Derby winner Testafiable (Testa Rossa).

“He’s bug and bulky – more like a colt,” White added.  “And there’s plenty of scope for him to keep improving.”

Henny Hughes is the sire of 9 stakes horses from his first two crops of runners in the northern hemisphere which includes the three-year-olds such as the G3 winner Henny Hound and stakes winner Fort Hughes and Midnight Visit.

His two-year-old crop include G3 winner She Digs Me and stakes horses My Due Process, Swift Artist and Play Eighteen.

Currently standing the southern hemisphere breeding season at Darley Kelvinside at a fee of $16,500 (inc gst), Henny Hughes has eight yearlings entered for the 2012 Gold Coast Magic Millions including a half-brother to Group 1 winner Streama.