Five year-old Needs Further gelding Durazzo was a hot favourite for the $125,000 Listed Conquering Stakes (1400m) at Launceston on Wednesday night and duly collected another feature win putting the spotlight on his yearling half-sister heading to 2026 MM Tasmania.
Sporting the Star Thoroughbreds colours, the Barry Campbell prepared Durazzo was ridden by Kelvin Sanderson, who took a narrow gap along the fence to sneak through and claim victory.
Durazzo was strong all the way to the line when he got clear to win by a long neck over Just Cruisin, who was second to him last start in the Listed Newmarket. His overall record now stands at 10 wins and two seconds from 14 starts with earnings just shy of $500,000.
Durazzo was a $97,500 Magic Millions Tasmania purchase from Armidale Stud for Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock Agency. Bred by Armidale Stud, he is the best of three winners from five foals to race from Arenzano, a winning Not a Single Doubt mare from the family of Group I winning sire Super Seth.
Earlier in the evening, Star Thoroughbreds celebrated a big win with another promising three year-old in Mazzini, who is a full brother to Durazzo.
Again trained by Barry Campbell and ridden by Kevin Sanderson, Mazzini won the $75,000 BWS 3YO Trophy (1400m) by two and a half lengths taking his overall record to three wins from four starts with earnings topping $126,000.
Mazzini was a $145,000 Magic Millions Tasmania purchase from Armidale Stud for Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock Agency and was the sale-topper in 2024.
