BEL'S APPLE ISLANDER WINS SILVER

Silver Bullion is the not the first Tasmanian to successfully ‘raid’ the mainland but he was certainly one of the most impressive with his strong win at Moonee Valley on Saturday (20 June).

The Bel Esprit 3YO powered home over the 1000m circuit and recorded his third win (and third placing) from eight starts.

Originally racing out of the Vicki Rhind stable in Tassie, Silver Bullion was bred by long term Eliza Park clients, Dr Vu Van Tu and Amanda Lockett, who decided to race the horse after he was passed in at the 2007 Gold Coast Magic Millions.

Bringing a yearling home from the sales can be fairly soul destroying, but it’s much easier to take your foot off the Prozac pedal when the $40,000 pass in wins close to $100,000 in prizemoney … with the real likelihood that there’s plenty more where that came from.

Tasmanian based Vu and Amanda are no strangers to success, having bred and raced the terrific sprinter Sedation who won 10 including the 1998 Sandown Guineas-G2 and four other black type events.

First racing in October last year, Silver Bullion produced a win at Hobart on debut followed by another second and a win at Devonport before it was decided the horse would transfer to Leon Corstens stable at Romsey (near Melbourne).

“He starts quick and finishes quick, so we thought he deserved a chance in Melbourne,” Amanda points out.

Finishing third at Flemington on Anzac Day, Silver Bullion then ran second at Sandown in mid May prior to Saturday’s victory at the Valley.

From the Desert King mare, Silver Barbie (also a winner at the Valley), Silver Bullion is closely related to Caulfield Guineas-G1 winner Vitalic.