A mare bought from a classified newspaper ad will be represented by four of runners on the Tasmania Turf Club's Launceston Cup day card Feb. 26, including two in the main event.
La Quita, an unraced daughter of Grand Lodge and in foal to Clangalang, was offered for sale in a package deal several years ago that included three other horses. Current owner Paul Geard went to $20,000 to acquire them, www.racenet.com.au reports.
The mare's resultant foal was Geegees Blackflash, who seeks consecutive wins in the Launceston Cup (Aus-III), a 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2-mile) contest, in which he will face his half sister Gee Gee's La Quita, by Atlantis Prince. Geard owns both runners as well as two other siblings entered in stakes on the card.
Geegees Blackflash also will try to surpass $1 million career earnings, which would be a first by a horse raced exclusively in Tasmania. Gee Gee's La Quita, a 5-year-old mare, will look for a breakthrough stakes after most recently finishing third in the Hobart Cup (Aus-III) Feb. 14, a race in which her half brother finished second.
Geegees Blackflash, 7-year-old gelding has a 17-15-5 record from 52 career starts for trainer John Luttrell. He won last year's Launceston Cup by two lengths, was second in the 2012 edition and third in 2011. His record includes four other stakes wins, including the 2012 Hobart Cup and 2010 Tasmania Derby.
Geard also owns Gee Gee's La Quita, who is trained by Stuart Gandy.
Gandy sends out 2-year-old Geegees Goldengirl, a Wordsmith filly, in the Carlton Draught Sovereign Stakes at Launceston while her 3-year-old full sister Geegees Velvet will start in the listed Tasmanian Oaks for Luttrell. Both fillies are stakes-placed.