10 Jul 2019Tavistock’s multiple Group-placed galloper Tavisan staged a game 1000m win at Sandown yesterday.
“He’s a genuine group horse who loves his racing. From here we are going to place him to maximise the prizemoney in Victoria,” said Mick Price, who trains him in conjunction with Mick Kent Jr.
“He’s a typical Tavistock – sound, tough and a great horse for owners because they train on.”
Tavisan is raced by Grant Morgan’s Ontrack Thoroughbreds, Phoenix Thoroughbreds, Adrian Abrecht, Jim Lagos, Lewis Prince, Eric Newsome, David Worthley, Vin Harink, Mark Snowden, Mark Ostermeyer, Neil Evison, Mark Horn, Lisa Saxton and Bebe Mawer.
Bred by Sunlight Trust’s Murray and Marg Hardy and Paddy Preston, Tavisan was purchased by Ontrack Thoroughbreds from Hallmark’s Stud’s 2017 NZB Premier Yearling Sale draft for $135,000.
To date, he has returned two wins and three placings from 11 starts, with black-type acclaim achieved via placings in the Listed McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley, the Gr.3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude and the Gr.2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington.
“He came over from New Zealand with a big reputation and he lived up to it when he won his maiden at his first Aussie start,” explained Grant Morgan.
“He went on to place second to subsequent Group One winner Brutal in the Listed McKenzie Stakes and was also placed in Black Type races at Flemington and Caulfield before failing to stay in the Caulfield Guineas.
“That spring form was as a colt, but he lost his way and we decided to geld him after he failed in February and Sandown was the chance for him to get back to form and he duly delivered.”