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.

Advertisement

“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.

Advertisment

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Buyer: Withdrawn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
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 23
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
The Journey Continues
On a quest for the Cox Plate and to take her place as the best in Australia, the Adam Tinder-trained Mystic Journey took her first steps to the spring with a convincing win in Saturday's Group II PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Armidale Stud's Proud Cox Plate History
Saturday afternoon, across Tasmania racing fans will be crowding into their local TABs or sitting at home, glued to their television sets or computer screens, excitedly anticipating cheering on the much loved Betty - Mystic Journey - in the Group I WS Cox Plate.
Tarzino Stayer Wins G3 Geelong Cup
Trainer Paul Preusker will get another tilt at a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after Torranzino ran out a strong winner of the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Thursday.
$400,000 Invincible Filly a Grand Investment
A three-quarter sister-in-blood to dual Group I winning mare Charm Stone, stakes-placed I Am Invincible filly Naifah always looked well bought at the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $400,000.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
One to Watch – Mornington
In Cox Plate week it only seems fitting that the 2013 winner Shamus Award would give us a ‘One to Watch’ at Mornington on Thursday.
Winning Run Continues for Needs Further
One weekend, three states, three winners.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.