The Scott Brunton-trained Mandela Effect had a long and fruitful campaign in Victoria last year, which began with a win at Bendigo in March and culminated with a defeat of Ranier at Flemington on Mackinnon Stakes day on November 19.
Back on home soil the 5yo son of Turffontein was still searching for his first stakes-win when he prepped for Saturday’s Listed Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian Stakes at Launceston with a second place finish to Blaze Forth in the Listed Conquering Stakes on December 18.
With Craig Newitt in the saddle, Mandela Effect proved three-quarters of a length too good for his remarkable 9yo stablemate Hellova Street (Helike) who was making his 33rd start in a stakes race.
Craig Newitt was keen for Mandela Effect to try and stretch out to the 2100m Brighton Cup on January 18 but Brunton is not so sure.
"My initial feeling is that I'd like to see him run in the Thomas Lyons (1400m) and leave the staying till next year," Brunton told The Examiner.
An $18,000 purchase by his trainer out of the Motree Thoroughbreds draft at the 2016 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, Mandela Effect advances his record to 10 wins and 6 seconds from 21 starts with earnings of $427,939.
His maiden stakes win could hardly have been timelier for Motree Thoroughbreds who will offer a full-sister to Mandela Effect at the Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
The Brunton family have purchased the first three foals of the winning West Quest mare Morell and all three are winners.
Mortell has a filly foal by Turffontein and was covered by Manhattan Rain last spring.
While it had been a prolific winning family, Mandela Effect broke a four-generation stakes drought.
He becomes the sixth stakes-winner for Blue Gun Farm’s Turffontein who had two winners from three runners on Saturday with the 7yo mare Atomic Lokade registering her fourth consecutive win at Gawler, which is good news for Miranda Park who will consign her full-sister to the Inglis Premier.
Turffontein will have a skinny representation at the early sales with just one at the Magic Millions, none at the Inglis Classic and three at the Inglis Premier.
