Armidale Stud Sires Quinella Elwick Stakes

Media Release - Monday January 20

Armidale Stud celebrated a banner day with a quinella in the Listed Elwick Stakes for two-year-olds. The race was headlined by two fillies bred by the Whishaw family and sired by their resident stallions, Needs Further and Alpine Eagle.

Zany Girl was bred and sold by Armidale Stud fetching $65,000 at MM Tasmania last year.

The standout performer was Zany Girl, a daughter of Needs Further, who justified her status as the hot favourite. Unbeaten in her two previous career starts, the Stuart Gandy-trained filly displayed her trademark class and determination, storming home to claim victory over fellow Armidale Stud-bred Crack The Shutters.

A highlight of Armidale Stud’s 2024 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale draft, Zany Girl was purchased for $65,000 by Joe O'Neill’s Prime Thoroughbreds. Adding to the thrill of her success, Armidale Stud retains an ownership share in the exciting filly.

Advertisement

Chasing hard in second place was the Alpine Eagle filly Crack The Shutters. Making her debut after an impressive trial win, she delivered a barnstorming performance as she pressed her stablemate to the line.

Racing in Armidale Stud’s iconic green and white silks, Crack The Shutters was retained by the stud and is co-owned with a group of owners who didn’t have to wait long to savour the excitement of black-type success.

"Today’s result means the world to us," said Armidale Stud’s David Whishaw.

"We pour everything into what we do here at Armidale and believe wholeheartedly in the horses we breed. It’s incredibly rewarding to see these fillies up and running so professionally and rise to the occasion on such a big day."

Looking ahead, Armidale Stud will present a Gold Standard half-sister to Zany Girl as Lot 21 at the upcoming Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale. With the Elwick Stakes result bolstering her pedigree, the offering is certain to attract significant interest.

Needs Further

Notably, Needs Further has cemented his influence on the Elwick Stakes, having now sired five of the past nine winners, including Champion 3YO Filly Mystic Journey and Mystical Pursuit.

Zany Girl and Crack The Shutters join a long list of successful Armidale-bred horses in gaining black-type success. Click here to uncover the next Armidale star.

News from Armidale Stud

Advertisment

Race Result - Kevin Sharkie Elwick Stakes LR 1100m

Hobart Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:05.91
1
Zany Girl
- 2f Needs Further (AUS) x Isn't Life Strange (AUS) (Ladoni (GB))
Tnr: S Gandy Rdr: A Darmanin 55
MM Tasmanian Yearling Sale $65,000
Seller: Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas
Buyer: Prime Thoroughbreds
2
0.4
Crack The Shutters
- 2f Alpine Eagle (AUS) x Aimless (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: S Gandy Rdr: B Muhcu 55
MM Tasmanian Yearling Sale $0
Seller: Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas
Buyer: Withdrawn
3
1.6
Geegees Missile
- 2f Wordsmith (AUS) x Miss Mana (AUS) (Jetball (AUS))
Tnr: S Gandy Rdr: T Baker 55
4
3.1
Bella Chinkara
- 2f Levendi (AUS) x White Gazelle (AUS) (Needs Further (AUS))
Tnr: J K Blacker Rdr: D Pires 55
5
3.5
Taroona
- 2f Rebel Dane (AUS) x Cambalara (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: Barry Campbell Rdr: Chloe Wells 55
6
4
Wolf Junior
- 2g Alpine Eagle (AUS) x Copper Dancer (AUS) (West Quest (CAN))
Tnr: Barry Campbell Rdr: C Newitt 57
7
4.3
Prince Of Khatun
- 2g Stratosphere (AUS) x Khatun (AUS) (Wanted (AUS))
Tnr: Adam Trinder Rdr: J Maskiell 57
8
6.5
Nataldi
- 2f Zululand (AUS) x Bad Mamma (AUS) (Teofilo (IRE))
Tnr: G J McCulloch Rdr: E Byrne Burke 55
9
13
Zambezi Blonde
- 2g Stratosphere (AUS) x Chi Gong (AUS) (Henny Hughes (USA))
Tnr: J L Keys Rdr: Ismail Toker 57
10
13.8
Kwazulu Benny
- 2g Zululand (AUS) x Benoit (AUS) (Domesday (AUS))
Tnr: Liandra Gray Rdr: K Sanderson 57
11
14.3
Zuvela
- 2g Zululand (AUS) x Vela Blue (AUS) (Brazen Beau (AUS))
Tnr: G J McCulloch Rdr: M Ulucinar 57
More Reading...
Zany Girl Makes it a Happy New Year for Prime
Prime Thoroughbreds made it a winning start to 2025 when two year-old filly Zany Girl made it two wins as many starts when scoring at Hobart on Friday.
First Stakes Winner for Cool Aza Beel
Newhaven Park’s Cool Aza Beel produced his first stakes winner when two-year-old colt Cool Archie won the Listed Dalrello Stakes (1000m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
$1.1million Fastnet Filly a New SW for Sheamus Mills Bloodstock
Tara Talks Racing podcast listeners would have taken notice of the Listed SAJC Adelaide Guineas (1600m) at Morphettville on Saturday featuring $1.1million Fastnet Rock filly On Display.
Deep Field's Depth Of Character Takes The Queensland Guineas
Deep Field three-year-old Depth Of Character has opened the path to a potential Group I Stradbroke Handicap tilt after winning the Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Kentucky Derby Triumph for Godolphin
Sheikh Mohammed’s revered Godolphin racing and breeding operation have won Derbies all over the world, but until today the Kentucky Derby had proven elusive, but a three year-old colt called Sovereignty changed all that at Churchill Downs before a crowd in excess of 150,000.
So You Think He’s Tough- Punch Lane Wins G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup
Backing up for a third Saturday in a row, super fit So You Think gelding Punch Lane booked his place in the $3million Big Dance later this year when leading all the way to win the $250,000 Group III Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 3
Here is the full list of 113 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2.3million Justify Colt Wins G1 Newmarket 2000 Guineas for Godolphin
The weekend started well for Godolphin when their unbeaten filly Good Cheer won the Group I Kentucky Oaks on Friday and it got even better on Saturday when record priced  €2.3million Justify colt Ruling Court landed the Group I Newmarket 2000 Guineas in the UK.
Femminile gives Dundeel first female G1 winner with Derby victory
Supersire Dundeel has his second G1 South Australian Derby winner and his first female G1 winner after his courageous daughter Femminile was too good for the boys at Morphettville this afternoon in the time honoured 2500m Classic.
2YO Zany Girl Gets Black Type - Half-sister at MM Tas 2025
It’s been a big weekend with the babies for Prime Thoroughbreds with their unbeaten Needs Further filly Zany Girl gaining a black type victory in the Kevin Sharkie Elwick Stakes in Tasmania.