Newgate Farm’s young sun sire Tassort went close to a metro double on Saturday with Mawjood going down narrowly at Rosehill behind quality colt Mayfair and then Astapor scored a deserved win at Eagle Farm as favourite.
A two time winner last spring at Rockhampton and Doomben for the Clinton Taylor stable, Astapor was then fourth to Storm Boy in the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes.
Spelled after that, he’s been competitive in tough races at his first two runs back finishing fifth in the Magic Millions National 2YO Classic and then fourth in the Listed BRC Oxlade Stakes before dropping back in grade for Saturday’s assignment over 1200m.
He drew wide and had top weight of 60kg, but was still too good drawing clear to win by a couple of lengths taking his overall record to three wins from six starts with prizemoney topping $210,000.
A $38,000 Magic Millions Book 2 purchase from Telemon Thoroughbreds for Livistona Grazing Company, Astapor is the first winner for Black Mink, a winning Lonhro daughter of stakes-winner Jasminka.
Astapor is one of 10 winners for Tassort, whose fee has increased from $11,000 to $38,500.
His 10 winners are headed by Group I winning filly Manaal and also include stakes-placed Ameena and Ad Astra.
