They don’t come more honest than the 5yo Turffontein gelding Mandela Effect who came of a belated stakes win in the Listed Tasmanian Stakes at Launceston last month to capture Sunday’s Listed Mills New Norfolk Thomas Lyons Stakes (1400m) at Hobart.
Sent off an odds-on favourite under Craig Newitt, the Scott Brunton-trained gelding came with a strong finish from midfield to defeat his stablemate Hellova Street (Helike) by a length with I'm Wesley (I Am Invincible) a half-length back in third.
"He travelled really sweet, he came out at the top of the straight and he's put them away and won really well," Newitt told Tasracing.
"I think when he gets to a mile he's only going to be better. He's a serious racehorse."
Brunton urged the fans on course to put their support behind Mandela Effect for the All-Star Mile.
"Anyone on course here today who hasn't voted, please get on board, I'd be very grateful," Brunton said.
Brunton was also full of praise for his 9yo veteran Hellova Street who was badly hampered when the meat in the sandwich between his stablemate and the weakening The Master Speed at the 200m.
“It got a bit tight in the straight. It's great to see this young horse on the way-up win, but it's also a little bit disappointing watching the other bloke get beat,” Brunton added.
An $18,000 purchase by his trainer out of the Motree Thoroughbreds draft at the 2016 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, Mandela Effect advances his record to 11 wins and 6 seconds from 22 starts with earnings of $487,939.
Motree Thoroughbreds will offer a full-sister to Mandela Effect at the Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
