Today's Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) saw first crop horses by Tavistock run first and second with the filly Tavy defeating the fast-finishing gelding Midnitemagicman.
It was the second black type quinella at Ellerslie this calendar year for the progeny of Tavistock, with Avisto and Mitnitemagicman filling the first two placings in the Great Northern Foal Stakes-LR (1400m) in May.
Tavy (ex The Cat's Whiskers, by Tale of the Cat) is prepared by Roger James who revealed post race that the smart filly would be back at Ellerslie on Boxing Day for the Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic-Gr.2 (1600m) on Boxing Day.
Meanwhile Midnitemagicman (ex Keep Alight, by Keeper) is looking every bit a Derby prospect judging by the way he closed strongly from a rearward position. Co-trainer Donna Logan has two Derby hopefuls by Tavistock, the other being the Volkstok'n'barrell, an impressive winner of the Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes when last presented.
Staying on the Derby theme, Margin Trader (Tavistock ex Power and Might, by Zabeel) ran a slashing race for second in the Dunstan Feeds Championship Mile at Ellerslie on Saturday. A winner in Australia earlier this season, the 3YO has transferred to Mike Moroney's New Zealand stable and was having his first run since arriving back in his place of birth. His target has been announced as the NZ Derby and he looks another ready-made Classic prospect for his sire.
Tavy becomes the seventh stakes-performer for Tavistock who is currently covering a capacity book at Cambridge Stud.
