A hard-fought win by the odd-on favourite Bold Soul gave Patrick Payne a third consecutive win in the Listed Graham Family Funerals Tasmanian Derby (2200m0 at Hobart.
Ridden by Jake Noonan, Bold Soul was trickily positioned three back on the rails. His task was made easier when Neil Farley moved early on Gold Wolf. Once out of the pocket, Bold Soul tracked into the race on the back of Gold Wolf.
The son of Embellish sprinted quickly but found a willing opponent in the erratic Tivaci gelding Gold Wolf, who went down fighting by a short head.
The Dundeel gelding Stardealt was one and three-quarter lengths back in third, making it a trifecta for the Victorian visitors.
A last-start winner of the Listed Launceston Guineas, Bold Soul advances his record to four wins and two thirds from six starts with earnings of $278,925.
“He had to dig deep, but he got there, which is all that matters,” Patrick Payne’s sister, Michelle Payne, said.
“It’s great for Patrick and all the owners and it was a good ride by Jake Noonan.
“He really does not help himself and can get a little keen. He switched off halfway through and was able to get to the outside, and it was smooth sailing from there.”
Bold Soul was a $20,000 Karaka Book 2 purchase for Mr NH Auret from the Te Keeti Bloodstock draft and is the first winner from two to race for the Singspiel import Twin Soul (IRE).
A winner of three consecutive races in Britain for Andrew Balding, Twin Soul (IRE) placed at Caulfield and Sandown twice in a light career with Michael Kent.
The daughter of Singspiel was a $5,500 purchase for Te Keeti Bloodstock at the 2019 NZB Karaka May Sale.
Twin Soul’s dam Kirk Wynd is a half-sister to Group I winners Right Approach and is from the family of Highclere’s half-sister Christchurch (So Blessed).
Bold Soul is the first stakes-winner for Cambridge Stud’s Embellish (Savabeel).