A rail-hugging ride by Codi Jordan proved the difference in First Accused triumphing in a four-horse war in the Listed Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian Stakes at Hobart on Friday.
Turning around the result of the Conquering Stakes, the Glenn Stevenson-trained son of Turffontein defeated Swoop Dog (Husson) by a short-neck with a short-half-head back to the Conquering Stakes winner Indispensable (Akeed Mofeed), who edged out The Inevitable (Dundeel) for third.
The winner of the Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Launceston on November 29, First Accused advances his record to nine five nine from 28 starts with earnings of $529,554.
A $16,000 purchase for Andrew Scanlon from the Motree Thoroughbreds draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, First Accused is the best of four winners from nine to race for the stakes-placed Royal Academy (USA) mare Keep On Talking (USA), who was a $15,000 purchase for Motree Thoroughbreds at the 2014 Patinack Dispersal.
Keep On Talking (USA) has a yearling sister to First Accused.
The sire of eight stakes winners, Turffontein stands at Mandy Gunn’s Motree Thoroughbreds for $4,000 after beginning his career at Blue Gum Farm.
