Tough Speed can start the New Year like he finished off 2010 in the Listed Tasmanian Guineas at Launceston this Thursday night.  The Armidale Stud sire has a strong hand in the three year-old feature headed by Jay Bee’s Gee Gee, Tough At Heart and Royal Miswaki.

Tough Speed (USA) is already on the Tasmanian Guineas honour roll thanks to 2009 winner Lyell.

JAY BEE’S GEE GEE is prepared by Stuart Gandy at Brighton for prominent owner-breeders Paul and Elizabeth Geard.  

The Geards have invested heavily in the Tasmanian industry and they came close to winning the 2010 Tasmanian Guineas with Gee Gees Blackflash.  A gelded son of Clangalang, he was beaten by Excuse My French in last year’s renewal but more than made amends with a follow-up victory in the G3 Tasmanian Derby.

Paul Geard named Jay Bee’s Gee Gee after the late John Best who was a popular publican and a former TRC committeeman.  He bred Sunny Lane (Never Quit) who rates as one of the best mares to ever come out of Tassie.

Jay Bee’s Gee Gee should be just about unbeaten after his effortless win at Hobart on Melbourne Cup day.  He reared at the start next time out at Launceston on November 25 and was in the wars again when parting company with jockey Eddie Brennen at Hobart on December 12.

He bounced back to winning form seven days later with a half-length victory in the Gateway Shopping Centre Plate (1600m) at Hobart.

Jay Bee’s Gee Gee (3g Tough Speed – Private Ensign by Personal Flag) has a younger half-brother entered as Lot 16 for the 2011 Tasmanian Magic Millions.  The West Quest colt is being offered by Sandford based Forest Hill Stud.

Their dam Private Ensign was a five-time winner in Tasmania and her half-sister Cafeteria (Lunchtime) was a Listed winner of the Tasmanian 1000 Guineas and Gold Sovereign Stakes.  

TOUGH AT HEART earned a crack at the $90,000 prizemoney allocated to the Tasmanian Guineas with a maiden victory in the East Enterprise Plate at Hobart on December 19.

Tough At Heart (3g Tough Speed – Littlelionhart by Tertian) is prepared by Harriet Paul and she believes he has what it takes to go through the classes.  So does respected Victorian jockey Darren Gauci who guided the gelding to his last start win.

Paul only has a handful of horses in work at her Judbury stables.  “That win was special,” she explained.  “Tough At Heart is the first winner that I bred, own and train.”

His dam Littlelionhart won three races for Paul and the mare has a 2yo filly and a colt at foot by Grenville Stud’s champion sire West Quest.

ROYAL MISWAKI completes the Tough Speed trio for the Guineas.  The Longford based filly saluted in the Alfa Bowl on debut in November 2009 and, although that’s been her only win date, she is capable of causing an upset.

Royal Miswaki (3f Tough Speed – Royal Ruby by Rory’s Jester) is trained by Ian Hay and he opened Tough Speed’s account this season when Upanova won at Launceston on August 1.

Tough Speed has sired 15 individual winners from his first three crops so far this season.  That puts him in fourth spot on the Tassie table behind Savoire Vivre (17) West Quest (16) and Ladoni (16) and the first three started their stud careers well beforehand.

Tough Speed (USA) is a son of Mr Prospector sire Miswaki and was a top class sprinter-miler for trainer Sir Michael Stoute.  He was a four length juvenile winner and, after being sidelined at three, returned for a G3 victory in the Park Stakes at Doncaster.

Armidale Stud has catalogued 6 of the 9 Tough Speed yearlings at the 2011 Tasmanian Magic Millions including the filly from former top youngster Arapeho (Lot 78).  The dam’s first foal is unraced 2yo filly Red Willow (Savoire Vivre) who won a Longford trial in October.