BARRY Campbell's dominance of two-year-old racing continued at Mowbray yesterday when he achieved the rare feat of training the trifecta in the $50,000 Tasmanian Sires Produce.
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Campbell's star performer Admiral scored a runaway three-length win over stablemates Calavera and Wiz Bang to take his record to six wins from seven starts with almost $200,000 in stakes.
Historical records for the last two-year-old classic of the season are hard to find but it's possible that Campbell's trifecta is unique.
The Spreyton trainer has won more than half the two-year-old races in Tasmania this season and almost every feature event.
He blames himself for Admiral's only defeat in the $25,000 Alexandra Plate at Elwick in December.
``I ran him in that race even though he was only 80 per cent right because I was trying to get him through to the feature races in February,'' Campbell said.
Admiral's owners include his breeder Bruno Calabro and Denise Martin, of Sydney-based Star Thoroughbreds.
Calabro said Admiral's success this season had been the one bright light in a sad year for the horse's relations.
His mother Reunification died of colic, her colt foal by Sebring had to be put down and Admiral's older half-brother Spud's Pride broke his leg while racing in Melbourne.
Martin described Admiral as ``an outstanding racehorse''.
``I don't think people know how good he really is _ he's exceptional,'' she said.
Admiral was given a perfect run just off the pace by Brendon McCoull, who finished the meeting with a treble.
looms
GEEGEES Blackflash edged closer to $1 million in stake earnings with a soft win in the $30,000 Tasmanian St Leger.
He needs just another $34,200 to become the first horse to achieve that milestone on Tasmanian soil.
Trainer John Luttrell is confident the remarkable gelding will reach his target when he returns in the new season.
``He'll go for a spell now but he's such a sound horse there's no reason why he won't win races as an eight-year-old,'' Luttrell said.
``We'll target the early weight-for-age races over 1400 to 1600 metres and might even give him another run in the Newmarket.''
Luttrell said that owner Paul Geard had indicated Geegees Blackflash would be retired when he hit the $1 million mark.
Although beaten in the same race last year, Geegees Blackflash, ridden Jason Lyon, outclassed his rivals yesterday.
``I didn't give him as long off after the Launceston Cup this year _ only two weeks compared to three,'' Luttrell said.
``And he had two lead-up races compared with only one last year, so he was fitter.''