Mendelssohn 3YO Wings Of Song Triumphs in Tasmanian Guineas

Mark Smith - Friday January 5

Victorian visitor Wings Of Song overcame a sluggish start to capture Friday’s Ladbrokes Tasmanian Guineas (1600m) at Hobart and honour Coolmore Stud’s one-season shuttler Mendelssohn (USA) with his first Australian stakes-winner.

Wings Of Song (image Jay Town/Racing Photos)

The only ride for the day for Jye McNeil, the Patrick Payne trained filly came clear in the straight to defeat the Frosted (USA) filly Island Warrior by a length and a half with the Bolt D'Oro (USA) gelding D'oro Star a half length back in third.

Carrying the famous red with white cap silks of the Tait family, Wings Of Song advances his record to three wins, a second and a third from eight starts, with earnings of $120,830.

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“I began a bit slow, which put me behind the eight ball. From the 1200m mark where I was able to get three wide with cover, I was confident she would run well,” McNeil said.  

“She stuck out the mile well so 2000m won’t be an issue.”

Wing

s Of Song is a half-sister to Group II MVRC Moonee Valley Vase winner, and near $1million earner, Cherry Tortoni (Night Of Thunder), and stakes-placed Jenny Jerome (Churchill).

They are among the five winners from as many to race for the Strategic mare Tortoni, is a half-sister to the 13-time Group 1 winner Tie The Knot (Nassipour), who banked $6.2 million when trained by the late Guy Walter.

Also, a half-sister to the Listed winners Hood (Shamardal) and Dream Ballad (Singspiel), Tortoni is the final foal of the Group 1 VATC One Thousand Guineas heroine Whisked (Whiskey Road).

Tortoni has an unraced 2-year-old colt by Too Darn Hot (GB). After foaling a St Mark's Basilica (FR) filly in September, Tortoni was covered by Churchill (IRE).

Wings Of Song is the seventh stakes-winner worldwide for Mendelssohn (USA). The Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winning son of Scat Daddy, left just 38 live foals in his lone Australian season.

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Race Result - Ladbrokes Tasmanian Guineas LR 1600m

Hobart Track: Good(4) Time: 1:37.86
1
Wings Of Song
- 3f Mendelssohn (USA) x Tortoni (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: Jye McNeil 55
2
1.5
Island Warrior
- 3f Frosted (USA) x Hissy Miss (AUS) (Golden Snake (USA))
Tnr: J K Blacker Rdr: Chelsea Baker 55
3
2
D'oro Star
- 3g Bolt D'oro (USA) x Lita (AUS) (Casino Prince (AUS))
Tnr: Liandra Gray Rdr: C Newitt 57
4
3.3
Thespian Waters
- 3g Headwater (AUS) x Theatre Fan (USA) (Theatrical (IRE))
Tnr: Sigrid Carr Rdr: Sigrid Carr 57
5
4
Just Cruisin'
- 3g Street Boss (USA) x Reve De Victoire (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: G J Stevenson Rdr: D M Ganderton 57
6
4.8
Bobble
- 3f Bolt D'oro (USA) x Pompon (AUS) (Helmet (AUS))
Tnr: G S White Rdr: B Muhcu 55
7
5
Kaboom Kaboom
- 3f Smart Missile (AUS) x Pizzazz (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Brendan McShane Rdr: Carleen Hefel 55
8
8.5
Johnnie Pinch
- 3g National Defense (GB) x Papiria (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: J L Keys Rdr: D Pires 57
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