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Racing

Vino Novello announces himself in the St Leger

At just his tenth career start, four-year-old gelding Vino Novello declared himself a rising star of Tasmanian racing with a victory in the $50,000 Dynamic Finance Brokers Tasmania – Tasmanian St Leger (2400m) in Launceston on Friday night.

Picture: Steve Hart

Vino Novello was given the run of the race by jockey Erica Byrne Burke, settling in the one-out, one-back position before peeling out at the 600m to make the winning move. He then had to fend off a challenge from the 2025 Launceston Cup winner, Distrustful Award, with the two $4.20 equal favourites, putting a big margin on Miles 'N' Miles ($12) in third place.

"We think he's a real stayer of the future down here in Tasmania, and when he went past the post with a lap to go, I thought gee, he's in a good position here," said trainer John Blacker.

A $26,000 purchase at the 2023 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, the son of Vino Rosso and Royal Miswaki didn't debut until August of this racing season, but has now won five of his career starts, ranging from 1350m to 2400m. His St Leger victory followed in the footsteps of his mother, Royal Miswaki, who won the race in 2012.

"This horse is probably a bit sharper than those two that went away (Zulu Angel and Wineglass Bay), so a trip interstate may make him mature a lot more, so we'll go from there," said Blacker, keeping all options on the table for Vino Novello continuing his current campaign outside of Tasmania.

For Byrne Burke, the St Leger win was a fitting highlight following a fantastic summer that included a victory in the Hobart Cup with Blonde Star and multiple big wins with Blacker's star two-year-old, Aristopolos.

"He made my job really easy; he travelled beautifully for me the whole way. He's a really nice horse for the future, and the team has done a really good job," Byrne Burke said.

The St Leger win was the second half of a race-to-race double for Byrne Burke, also winning the Open Handicap (1100m) for Adam Trinder with Cherokee Dancer ($14).


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