Excel And Excel began his defence of the Australian sires’ premiership on a winning note at Gosford on Thursday.

Tulla Touch was his first starter for the new season and she scored a barrier-to-box victory in the National Jockeys Trust 3YO Hcp (1000m).  A precocious filly, she was always holding runner-up Mr Jackman but did veer our sharply near the winning post.

Tulla Touch (3f Exceed And Excel - Heather by Grand Lodge) had won on debut by three lengths at Scone last month for in-form trainer David Vandyke.  “I had been happy with her work and her early speed was always going to be a big advantage,” he said.  “It was only a small field but it was a handy line-up and, going into the race, we knew she had to be on her game to win again.”

Tulla Touch is raced by Yarradale owner Ron Sayers in partnership with Segenhoe Stud’s Kevin Maloney.  She realised $80,000 at the 2012 Yarradale Stud yearling sale.

Her dam Heather was a G2 winner of the 2001 Emancipation Stakes at Randwick in the all cerise colours of Woodlands Stud.  The mare has a new-season 2yo filly by Yarradale sire Discorsi on the books with trainer Steve Wolfe.

Sayers and Maloney also race Dubawi filly Flamingo Lake who was beaten a neck by Swing Vote in a Randwick hit-out on July 19.  The trial winner had been placed behind champion filly Miracles of Life in the LR Blue Diamond Preview in January.

Flamingo Lake made $90,000 at the 2012 Yarradale Stud yearling sale.  Her dam Hispanolia (Danzig) is a USA bred mare from the immediate family of G1 Haskell Invitational winner Wavering Monarch.

Stud Manager Bernadette Hamill and the Yarradale team are gearing up for a busy stud season with Frost Giant (Giant’s Causeway) joining War Chant (Danzig) on shuttle service from North America.

Singapore champion Gingerbread Man (Shamardal) is another newcomer on the roster which numbers 8 stallions this year.

And foal-watch staff at studs around the State will be kept busy with mares expecting to Scandal Keeper.  The Danzig sire covered a book of 159 last year which was second only to WA champion Blackfriars.

The first Yarradale mare in foal to Scandal Keeper was Metallic Storm, a Listed winner of the R S Crawford Quality (2) and Placid Ark Stakes.

Yarradale offers a wide-range of discounts to broodmare owners this year.  For further information call the stud office on (08) 9574 6490.

$17,600  WAR CHANT (USA)
$9,900     FROST GIANT (USA)
$8,800     SCANDAL KEEPER (USA)
$8,800     MUSKET

$5,500     GINGERBREAD MAN
$5,500     DISCORSI
$4,400     HERITAGE
POA        ZENTSOV STREET (USA)

All fees (inc gst)

TULLA TOUCH
Debut winner at Scone before doubling up at Gosford
Photo / Bradley Photographers