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Armidale Stud sire Needs Further has put his stamp on all seven equine categories of the Tasmanian Horse Of The Year Awards for the 2018/19 season.
His outstanding daughter Mystic Journey, last season's Tasmanian 2YO Of The Year - won every category she was eligible for, being honoured with the titles of Tasmanian 3YO Of The Year, Leading Tasmanian Filly Or Racemare and Tasmanian Horse Of The Year.
Defeated only once in the eight races she contested last season, the Adam Trinder-trained 4YO was the inaugural winner of the rich All-Star Mile at Flemington on the back of her easy G1 Australian Guineas win in the early autumn.
Her successes also included the G2 Moonee Valley Classic, Listed Thomas Lyon Stakes and Listed Jim Moloney Stakes, results that saw her dam White Gold crowned Tasmanian Broodmare Of The Year, a satisfying result for her owner Ralph Zito, co-breeder of Mystic Journey.
Zito has also been long-time fan of Needs Further.
"When we first inspected him before he had even served mares we thought he looked amazing," he recalled, "Now he is a colossus, the spitting image of Encosta de Lago."
Zito is excited that White Gold is paying a return visit to Needs Further this spring whilst her daughter Gold Phoenix was among the first to be served by him this year.
That foal be a highly prized full sibling to Mystic Journey and also 3/4 relation of Mystical Pursuit who was crowned Tasmanian 2YO Of The Year at the awards presented on September 13.
By Needs Further out of White Gold's daughter Oh So Gold – a daughter of former Armidale Stud sire Savoire Vivre - Mystical Pursuit won all four of her juvenile starts including the Listed Elwick Stakes and Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes.
Needs Further's other 28 2018/19 winners of 54 races included the black type performers Deroche and Our Long Sali, results that saw him claim two titles a Leading Overall Tasmanian Sire Of The Year and Leading Tasmanian-based Juvenile Sire.
Armidale Stud's David Whishaw is standing Need Further on a fee of $12,500 this spring.
Needs Further's oldest have just turned five and he's had stakes winners in every crop of racing age.
