A lovely filly from the 2009 Armidale Yearling Draft, RADHA RANI (Delago Brom - Genuine Blonde), took out the LIsted Elwick Stakes for Two year olds last week, defeating odds on favourite BEAU VALLON (by Lonhro). Sold for $25,000 to Rob Lynch of Lynrowan Stud, RADHA RANI has a half brother by CLANGALANG in the 2010 Armidale Draft for the Tas Magic Millions Sale. Listed in the catalogue as Lot 153 buyers are going to have to wait until right at the end of the sale to secure this fine colt.

Smart mare WITH DECORUM (Savoire Vivre - Royal Egypt) delighted owners Ken and Jenny Breese, Jim Osborne and the Whishaw family with an effortless win in the Devonport Cup at Spreyton on Wednesday. Trainer John Blacker and his staff did a terrific job to give the mare a perfect preparation to culminate in Wednesday’s win. Armidale based sires made the race their own, with the first three runners all by resident sires. SPEEDY SKY (by TOUGH SPEED) hit the front early in the straight and put in a gutsy performance, but was overhauled by the fast finishing With Decorum. Third placegetter was the Longford Cup winner BEVAN HEIGHTS (by Grand Royale). Popular local jockey Craig Newitt rode a perfectly judged race on the mare sticking to trainers instructions, and he said that he felt he was always going to win when the race was run at a good pace. WITH DECORUM is likely to press on towards the Hobart Cup, but her trainer John Blacker is also considering some of the Black Type Fillies and Mares races in Melbourne and Adelaide over the Autumn.

FIne Dimple, bred by Owen and Sandy Atkins of Deloraine, and sold at the TAsmanian Yearling Sale, has won her second start over 1600m impressively. By Armidale Sire SAVOIRE VIVRE (Sadler’s Wells - Oh So Sharp) this three year old filly looks like she will progress through her grades and develop into a handy middle distance/staying mare.

FINE DIMPLE (Savoire Vivree- Dash of Scotch) bred by Owen and Sandy Atkins of Deloraine, looks like she may be a classic filly in the making after winning the Class 1 1600m race at Elwick yesterday. Trained by Gary White and ridden by L Smith, the filly looks like she will appreciate more ground so watch out for her in the Fillies races over the Carnivals.

ITHACA CANYON (Telesto-Blue Recall) notched up his 5th win on Sunday in the Class 4 over 1200m for trainer Charlie Goggin and jockey David Pires.

ANOTHER BURLINSON (Tough Speed - Another Toy) looks like a good horse in the making, once he learns to race more generously. He raced rather greenly but still managed to win his Maiden at Devonport on 11.12.09. Trainer and owner Di Ray-Luttrell is a great fan of the Tough Speed progeny and thinks Another Burlinson will develop into a handy racehorse.

Armidale reared horses once again provided the trifecta in the Kevin Sharkie Stakes (Listed) over 1600m at Elwick yesterday. Consistent mare WITH DECORUM (Savoire Vivre - Royal Egypt) was given the run of the race by interstate jockey Danny Nicolic, and looked to have the race won until the last 50 metres when DREAM PEDLAR (West Quest - Unamah) managed to overhaul her and win by a head. WEALTHY LAD (Ladoni -Finance The Fun) ran a good third 3 lengths behind, having won over 1100m last week. These 3 horses were all born and reared at Armidale.

Two well bred Armidale horses who broke their maiden status on Sunday are heading for the Guineas next month. EBBING  (Footstepsinthesand - Bona Omina)  was bred in conjunction with Camoquhill Stud at Kingston, and sold at the Inglis Premier Sale in Melbourne to Tasmanian owners David and Louise Adams. Trained by leading mentor Gary White, EBBING looked very impressive winning by a comfortable margin of almost 5 lengths.

MR MCCARTNEY (Mull Of Kintyre-Prima Cornice), was purchased by John Keys from the Armidale Draft at the Tasmanian Yearling Sale, and has run several minor placings, until his win on Sunday. John thinks he will develop into a good stayer. Both Mr McCartney and Ebbing collected SUPER VOBIS bonuses for their owners and breeders.

Armidale’s young stallion TOUGH SPEED sired 3 winners in 3 days starting with the Ken Keys trained ROAR SPEED (from SUPER RORY) winning in Victoria on Friday. At Mowbray on Sunday, SPEEDY SKY put in a gutsy performance to win impressively, and LYELL ran a huge race to peg back CONQUERING to a dead heat in the Open Class 1400m WFA. LYELL was almost 8 lengths behind on the turn but he gave everything and managed to collar CONQUERING (last seasons horse of the Year and a Group 2 winner) right on the line. LYELL is bred and raced by Debbie Thompson and Alan Howard, and won the Three Year Old of the Year award last season. Trainer Barry Baker is looking towards the $120,000 Devonport Cup early in January for the four year old gelding, and then the WFA mile at Mowbray on Launceston Cup Day.

ROYAL MISWAKI (TOUGH SPEED - ROYAL RUBY) gave her owners and trainer Ian Hay a huge thrill, with a very professional display in the Shaw Contracting Alfa Bowl for two year olds. Having her first race start, the big strong filly, raced like a veteran and put in a fast finishing burst to just nose out the Stratum filly Rose of Scotland (raced by popular syndicator Joe O’Neill from Prime Thoroughbreds). Royal Miswaki was purchased by a young syndicate of owners from the Armidale Draft at the 2009 yearling sales for only $10,000. Her win also netted the owners a healthy SUPER VOBIS Bonus, so the filly has easily paid for herself! She is now at Armidale having a short spell before returning to work with the Magic Millions Race on Launceston Cup Day firmly in her sights! Armidale will have a full brother in their 2010 yearling draft.

Tasmania’s Premier Sprint race The Listed Newmarket Stakes, almost became the Armidale Stakes with no fewer than 7 of the 14 runners having been foaled and reared at Armidale! Then to top it all off the first four horses home were all Armidale born and reared, highlighting the fact that the first 18 months of a horses life is vitally important.  We have always maintained that top quality green pasture and yearling paddocks with plenty of scope, along with a carefully balanced supplementary diet are vital to achieve the very best from our racehorses. We think the results on Newmarket day prove our point!

 A cracking early pace allowed LIFE TO THE FULL to work into the race nicely and he was doing his best work at the finish, coming down the middle of the track to overhaul the leaders. By Armidale’s resident sire son of SADLER’S WELLS SAVOIRE VIVRE, LIFE TO THE FULL looked outstanding in the yard, and continued David and son Scott Bruntons recent run of success. (They are part owners of outstanding mare LADY LYNETTE - another Armidale reared horse!). MIEWA QUEST, owned and raced by Val Burt and born and reared at Armidale, just held out the fast finishing Armidale owned mare WITH DECORUM (also by SAVOIRE VIVRE). BLACK GLENNOEL, bred by Armidale and sold as a yearling to George Blacker, finished a creditable 4th.

Tasmanaia’s top racemare LADY LYNETTE is now home in the paddock spelling, with owners planning an Autumn campaign back interestate eyeing off several Group races for mares. The Ladoni(GB) mare ended up with a Group 1 second in the Myer Stakes over 1600m, behind champion mare TYPHOON TRACEY. She finished her campaign with Group 2 third (beaten a 1/2 head and a nose!) over 2000m. Her stakes now total over $440,000 and her potential value as a broodmare has skyrocketed. Armidale have a half brother by TELESTO on offer in their 2010 yearling draft, and Lady Lynette’s dam QUEEN’S OWN has foaled a full brother to the mare at Yallambee Stud in Victoria. Queen’s Own is visiting MAGNUS this season.