It was a Needs Further domination at the Tasmanian Horse Of The Year Awards, Armidale Stud's outstanding young stallion stamping his name on all seven equine award categories.
His
daughter Mystic Journey (last year's TTC Tasmanian 2Y0 Of The Year) won every
category she was eligible for, honoured with the titles of DRC Tasmanian 3YO Of
The Year, Armidale Stud Leading Tasmanian Filly Or Racemare (a nomination to
the exciting Alpine Eagle part of the prize) and Ladbrokes Tasmanian Horse Of
The Year.
Defeated only once in the eight races she contested over the course of the season, the Adam Trinder trained star wrote her name into history as the inaugural winner of the rich All-Star Mile; a dominant victory off a wide run from a tricky gate on the back of a easy Gr.1 Australian Guineas win.
Her successes, which also included wins in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Classic, the Listed Thomas Lyon Stakes and the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes, enabled her dam White Gold to be crowned Grenville Stud Tasmanian Broodmare Of The Year - making her owner Ralph Zito, co-breeder of Mystic Journey, exceptionally proud.
"Well earned with the best still to come!" he enthused, adding that he has enjoyed watching the success not only of Mystic Journey but of her sire, a horse he has long been a fan of.
"When we first inspected him before he had even served mares we thought he looked amazing," he recalled, "and now, well he is a colossus, the spitting image of Encosta de Lago."
Which is why Zito is excited that White Gold is paying a return visit to Needs Further this spring... whilst her daughter Gold Phoenix was amongst the first to be served by him this year.
Not only will that foal be a highly prized full sibling to Mystic Journey, it will also be a 3/4 to Mystical Pursuit who was last night crowned TTC Tasmanian 2YO Of The Year.
By Needs Further out of White Gold's daughter Oh So Gold (by former Armidale Stud star Savoire Vivre), Mystical Pursuit won all four of her juvenile starts including the Listed Elwick Stakes and Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes.
With the success of Mystic Journey and Mystical Pursuit - along with Needs Further's other 28 2018/19 winners (including the black type performers Deroche and Our Long Sali) of 54 races, it is no surprise that he earned two titles - Tasbreeders Leading Overall Tasmanian Sire Of The Year and Magic Millions Leading Tasmanian-based Juvenile Sire.
All in all a great night celebrating a great season for Armidale Stud and we are hoping that the fun continues today with Mystic Journey returning to the scene of her two greatest successes as she lines up favourite in the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.
