Favourites Complete Tassie Magic Millions Double

Media Release - Sunday February 24
Leading jockey Jason Maskiell swept both Magic Millions features at Mowbray today, setting the scene for the Tasmanian thoroughbred breeding industry's biggest day on Monday.

DerocheHot favourites Deroche and Mandela Effect starred in the features for their respective connections and provided tomorrow's Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale with a great boost - both being sold at the Launceston auction in recent years.

Deroche justified her $1.55 quote with a runaway two and a quarter length victory in the Magic Millions Tasmanian 2YO Classic (1200m).

The Needs Further filly sat second for much of the journey before dashing clear on straightening for the easiest of wins.

The win was welcomed by connections after going within an inch of winning the listed Gold Sovereign Stakes at her previousstart when she was out bobbed in a thrilling finish by the unbeaten local star Mystical Pursuit.

Deroche, a $61,000 purchase from Armidale Stud at last year's Tasmanian Yearling Sale, carries the Star Thoroughbred colours after being purchased in Launceston by renowned syndicator Denise Martin.

Now the winner of over $114,000 from just four starts, Deroche provided a perfectly timed pedigree update for her half sister by Trust in a Gust who goes under the hammer tomorrow as Lot 8 for Team Armidale.

The connections of last start stakes placegetter Chase on the Case swept a $10,000 bonus as the first 100% female owned runner home, winning the Magic Millions-TasracingRacing Women's Bonus.

Melbourne beckons for quality gelding Mandela Effect after he proved much too good in the Magic Millions Tasmanian 3&4YO Classic (1400m).

A four-year-old son of Turffontein, Mandela Effect started the hot favourite at $1.30 and swept around its rivals approaching the turn and raced clear for a soft win in the straight.

Now the winner of seven of his 13 lifetime starts, Mandela Effect is highly regarded by trainer Scott Brunton and the stable is looking at heading to the mainland over coming weeks.

Mandela Effect, now the winner of over $189,000, was purchased by trainer Scott Brunton for $18,000 at the 2016 Tasmanian Yearling Sale.

The only runner for the winning West Quest mare Morell, Mandela Effect was bred by Mandy Gunn and sold through her Motree Thoroughbreds draft at the Launceston based auction.

Meanwhile, Magic Millions graduates led home their rivals with a 1-2 finish in the day's other feature, the listed Brooklyn Park Tasmanian Oaks.

Shady Hustle, a winner of the One Thousand Guineas in late January, proved too strong winning the fillies feature winning in great style for trainer Stephen Lockhart.

The Hussonet filly hit the line strongly and proved too good for a classy line up of fillies headed by runner-up, the Tasmanian Yearling Sale graduate Our Long Sali.

Shady Hustle, a full sister to Wednesday's Strathalbyn winner Ashady Hussy, was a $30,000 purchase from Roslyn Day's Rosden Park at the 2017 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.

She is one of four winners for the 100 per cent winner producer and multiple Adelaide winner Shady Grove.

Today's feature Magic Millions races provided the perfect precursor to tomorrow's 2019 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale which will see a catalogue of 142 quality youngsters go up for sale at Launceston's Inveresk Showgrounds. To view the catalogue click here.


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