A $200,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Boomer Bloodstock/ Lindsey Smith, four year-old gelding Tuvalu became a new stakes-winner for his sire Kermadec when taking out the Listed VRC Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
A progressive horse with a great record, Tuvalu was a short priced favourite and did not disappoint, charging to the line for Jarrod Fry to win by two lengths.
"The horse has got a high cruising speed anyway, so it didn't worry me to have to do a little bit of work because it got the horse into a really good rhythm and I was pretty confident a long way out,” Jarrod Fry said.
Tuvalu has made giant strides through the grades since winning on debut in January 2021. He has won seven races and has never finished worse than second in 11 starts earning over $419,000 in prizemoney.
Stable representative Shane Jackson would not be drawn on future goals for Tuvalu, who is clearly an exciting spring prospect.
"I'll leave that to the brains of the operation, Lindsey will be sitting at home making a plan, but I do know that he'll go for a rest now,” said Jackson.
"The horse is still developing, Wellsy had a look at him pre-race and he said, 'gee, isn't he going to be a nice horse in another bit of time'. He's growing and strengthening, but we'll take it step by step."
Bred and sold by Merricks Station, Tuvalu is the first foal of Hangin’ Tough, a placed Exceed and Excel mare that is a close relation of multiple Group I winner Helmet from a prolific international Black Type family featuring stars such as last year’s Epsom Derby winner Adayar.
Merricks Station sold a Lonhro filly from Hangin’ Tough at Inglis Premier this year for $250,000 to Kennewell Racing / Trilogy Racing. She has a colt to follow by Impending and was covered last spring by Capitalist.
Tuvalu is the fourth stakes-winner for Kermadec, who stands at a fee of $16,500 at Darley Victoria.
