Tasmanian trainers David and Scott Brunton started spring on a winning note with I’m A Hussy at Caulfield last weekend and they’re back for more at Flemington this Saturday.
They have accepted with Life To The Full (LR Bobby Lewis Stakes) and Lady Lynette (G2 Let’s Elope Stakes) at headquarters. Both horses are by Armidale Stud stallions and both were honoured at the 2009-10 Tasmanian awards last month.
Life To The Full (Savoire Vivre) was named Horse of the Year for the Bruntons and part-owner and breeder Ian Anderson. He won the Listed George Adams and Newmarket Handicaps on home turf as well as the Pink Ribbon Cup at Caulfield.
Life To The Full has done well since arriving in Melbourne last week. He is up against horses the calibre of Swick, Love Conquers All and Doubtful Jack but has a 60% winning strike-rate first-up. The prospect of rain will also suit him down to the ground with a record of 8 wins from 17 starts on wet tracks.
Lady Lynette (Ladoni) was the Champion Tasmanian bred Racemare / Filly for 2009-10. She was a G3 winner of the Tesio Stakes at Moonee Valley and the Listed Ladies Day Vase at Caulfield.
Lady Lynette also faces a strong Let’s Elope line-up that includes G1 winners Dariana and Irish Lights. She flew home fresh when third in the G3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield last month and will be suited by the extra furlong at Flemington. The Ladoni mare was runner-up to Typhoon Tracy in the G1 Myer Classic (1600m) on Victoria Derby day last year.
Lady Lynette is one of the best mares to come out of Tasmania in the last decade. She is part-owned by the Brunton family and they transferred her to Aquanita trainer Robert Smerdon for her Melbourne campaigns. Her dam Queen’s Own (Coronation Day) is based at Armidale and was named Tasmanian Broodmare of the Year.
Grenville Stud sire West Quest (Gone West) was the Champion Tasmanian sire for the fifth season in a row in 2009-10. His progeny earned $1.10 million which was $62,000 more than Armidale resident Savoire Vivre.
Mainland prizemoney will be a major factor in the premiership again this season and both sires jumped the blocks at Caulfield last weekend.
The John Blacker trained mare With Decorum (Savoire Vivre) scored a determined victory in the Book Now Spring Package Hcp (1400m) and then I’m A Hussy (West Quest) came out and won the Sportingbet Sprint (1100m).
With Decorum has now earned over $288,000 for her owners Ken and Jenny Breese, Jim Osborne and Armidale Stud’s Robyn Whishaw. She will back up in the G2 W H Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 11.
Tasmania’s Champion 2YO award went down to the wire with Strike the Tiger (Bel Esprit) winning by a solitary vote from Socks (Keep The Faith).
Strike the Tiger won the Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes for owner-breeder Vu Tu and his wife Amanda Lockett-Tu. He has been transferred to John Sadler at Kyneton and is within a week or two of resuming for a spring campaign.
Socks was bred by Armidale Stud and was unbeaten in four starts including the Tasmanian Sires’ Produce Stakes. His dam Count The Kisses (Mukaddamah) was pensioned after foaling a filly by Armidale sire Helike last November.
Socks is owned by Charles Langmaid and his family have raced numerous stakes winners over the years. Class mare Lorardere (Theus) won 13 races for the Langmaids topped by the 1989 Tasmanian Stakes.
Former St Kilda champion Darrel Baldock trained her son Chardere (Aliocha) and he went one better winning 14 races including the 2003 Tasmanian Stakes.