Tasmanian tigress Tempest Tost dispelled one of the oldest theories in the breeding industry when she scored a tough win in the $1 million Magic Millions Trophy (1400m) at the Gold Coast.Tempest Tost is the 15th named foal produced by grand old brood mare Lady Violet and her victory defies the long held belief that yearlings out of old dams can't gallop.Prepared by leading Hobart trainer Gary White, Tempest Tost toughed out a hard-fought win in Saturday's race and earned the full admiration of c
Tasmanian tigress Tempest Tost dispelled one of the oldest theories in the breeding industry when she scored a tough win in the $1 million Magic Millions Trophy (1400m) at the Gold Coast.
Tempest Tost is the 15th named foal produced by grand old brood mare Lady Violet and her victory defies the long held belief that yearlings out of old dams can't gallop.
Prepared by leading Hobart trainer Gary White, Tempest Tost toughed out a hard-fought win in Saturday's race and earned the full admiration of champion jockey Darren Gauci.
"She's a real bulldog, she didn't know where she was going and she kept wanting to get off the track," Gauci said.
"I thought she had run her race by the time we got behind the barrier.
"She got herself in a bit of mood, she stirred in the enclosure and on the way to the start but she did great job.
"I'm not saying she's the best filly I've ridden but I have no doubt she is easily the toughest filly I've ridden."
A $72,500 yearling at the Adelaide Magic Millions sale, Tempest Tost ($14) showed plenty of courage under fire when she chased the early leader down and defied the challengers in the straight to score by half a length.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Rock Kingdom ($4.40) powered home in limited racing room to finish a half length second while local colt Jazz Heart ($31) was never closer than three deep but he never stopped trying to finish a head back in third.
Tempest Tost had won three of her past five runs including a victory for Gauci at Caulfield but her pre-race shenanigans destroyed any confidence White had.
"I was very happy until she walked into the enclosure," White said.
"She's normally a very relaxed filly but the occasion got to her and she was rearing and sweating and I thought that might have been the end of our chances."
Race favourite Express Air ($3.50) jumped awkwardly and settled worse than midfield before finishing eighth but her jockey Jason Holder was reluctant to make excuses.
"They went a bit slowly for me. They were coming back in my lap and I had to make my own luck after she was slow out," Holder said.
"She's just not tough enough yet to push them out of the way but she whacked away fairly the last bit."