Eliza Park stallion Clangalang has boosted his winning strike-rate since the spring and his first stakes winner arrived on Saturday when Gee Gees Blackflash won the G3 Tasmanian Derby at Elwick.

Gee Gees Blackflash (3g Clangalang – La Quita by Grand Lodge) is prepared by Brighton trainer John Luttrell for owner-breeders Paul and Elizabeth Geard.  He overhauled odds-on favourite Kinnersley (Al Maher) to score running away.

The winner started at $19 despite finishing short-neck seconds to Excuse My French (French Deputy) in the Listed Tasmanian Guineas and Hobart Guineas leading into the Derby.

Clangalang (Clang) was a G1 winner of the AJC Derby and Epsom Handicap before retiring to Eliza Park in 2004.  His strike-rate was around 40% back in October but it has now swelled to 26 individual winners at 58% thanks to talented types like Lakedro, Reverberates and Hi Belle.

The Derby winner’s dam La Quita is an unraced half-sister to Cheviot (Average Game) who was a G1 winner of the South Australian Derby and G2 VATC Sandown Cup.  She has a 2yo colt and a yearling filly by Atlantis Prince (Tagula).