Fourth Stakes Winner for Needs Further

Mark Smith - Saturday January 18

Sensationally backed Tasmanian Yearling Sale graduate Bold Star did best in a driving finish to earn a maiden stakes win in Saturday’s Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.

Ridden by Dwayne Dunn for Morphettville-based trainer Gordon Richards, the son of Needs Further defeated the outsider Causeway Girl (Shamus Award) by a nose with a half-head back to All Too Royal (All Too Hard) in third.Bold Star (no 2) finishes best to earn his first stakes win - image Grant Courtney

Sydneysider Time To Reign, making his first start since last year’s Golden Slipper, clocked in fourth after leading, less than a length from the winner.

Bold Star has now won five of his last seven starts and was coming off a second in the Group III Standish Handicap at Flemington. Dunn praised the trainer for his placing of the horse.

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“Gordon Richards has done a magnificent job with this horse. He sent him back to Adelaide and put him on the water-walker and said he was much happier,” Dunn said.

“Gordon has been a great supporter over a long period of time. He had some wild ones back in the early days when he was training at Port Lincoln, but he can find a nice horse at good value. Owners could do a lot worse than to see Gordon because he is a horseman that can find a lovely type that can be competitive at a high grade.”

Purchase by his trainer for just $18,000 out of the Brooklyn Park draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, Bold Star advances his record to 7 wins and 4 seconds from 17 starts with earnings of $331,400.

He is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the unraced Danewin mare Alzahra Star who is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Mudhish (Redoute's Choice).

Alzahra Star has a 2yo filly by Clangalang and was covered by Needs Further again last spring.

Bold Star becomes the fourth stakes-winner for Armidale Stud’s Encosta de Lago stallion Needs Further who has 13 lots catalogued for the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale and one at the Inglis Premier.

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Race Result - Kensington Stakes LR 1000m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 0:58.99
1
Bold Star
- 4g Needs Further (AUS) x Alzahra Star (AUS) (Danewin (AUS))
Tnr: G V Richards Rdr: D Dunn 55.5
MM Tasmanian Yearling Sale $0
Seller: Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas (As Agent)
Buyer: Withdrawn
2
0.1
Causeway Girl
- 4m Shamus Award (AUS) x Lady Katina (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: C W McDonald Rdr: Regan Bayliss 54
3
0.2
All Too Royal
- 5g All Too Hard (AUS) x Bel Mer (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M Zahra 58.5
All Too Hard
4
0.9
Time To Reign
- 3c Time For War (AUS) x Courgette (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: D Oliver 54.5
5
2.9
My Pendant
- 4m Pins (AUS) x My Locket (AUS) (Any Suggestion (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Craig Williams 54
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