Socks confirmed his status as Tasmania’s 3YO leader with a barnstorming win in the Listed Tasmanian Guineas (1600m) at Launceston on Thursday night.

Socks (3g Keep The Faith – Count The Kisses by Mukaddamah) was trapped well back and wide before producing a powerful burst to win by a half-length from Second Dozen (Bianconi).  The first two home are both by Swettenham Stud stallions.

Winning trainer George Blacker will weigh up whether to set Socks for the G3 Tasmanian Derby.  “I thought he hit the line really well tonight,” Blacker said.  “He got a lot further back than we thought and there were signs he could stay.”

Socks is raced by leading owners Charlie and Wendy Langmaid and they paid just $15,000 for him out of the Armidale Stud draft at the 2009 Tasmanian Magic Millions yearling sale.  Thursday’s victory took his record to 6 wins from 9 starts with over $192,000 in prizemoney.  

Socks lost the Tasmania’s 2009-10 Champion 2YO award last year by a solitary vote to Strike the Tiger (Bel Esprit).  He was unbeaten in four starts including the Tasmanian Sires’ Produce Stakes.  

Keep The Faith (Sunday Silence) was Victoria’s champion first-season sire last year.  Besides Socks, he was also represented by Caulfield winner Sayahailmary and brilliant Lindsay Park younger In Faith who scored all-the-way wins at Moonee Valley and Morphettville.

Socks has a half-sister from the first crop of Rahy sire Helike catalogued for the Tasmanian Magic Millions yearling sale in February.  The filly will parade as Lot 98 among the Armidale Stud entrants.  Their dam Count The Kisses is a winning half-sister to G3 Blue Diamond Preview winner Ashkaleta.