Consistent gelding Tussock notched another deserved win at Woolamai last Saturday on the back of some good form this season including several picnic cup placings.
The Rebecca Kelly-trained five-year-old son of Flying Artie (Mick Price’s last Golden Slipper placegetter, in 2016, prior to his win in the race 10 years on with Guest House) made it four wins from 23 starts coming off placings in the Buchan and Hinnomunjie cups, and in the Moulamein Cup on the professional circuit in December.
Prior to that placing Tussock won a $12,000 non-TAB race at Cooma against two rivals on a track rated a firm 1.
Bought by Kelly in utero with his mother Moon de French (USA) for $12,000 at the 2020 Inglis Australian broodmare sale, Tussock didn’t race until four, winning a maiden at Balnarring and a trophy (3) race at Swifts Creek last season.
He’s had a fruitful second season of racing, also placing at the Sapphire Coast and in a $20,000 TAB race at Gunbower.
His Woolamai win was the 12th of the season for jockey Ben Moffat.
Mag’s a mare in form
The engravers are ready to go to work on the trophy for Victorian picnic horse of the year after Magnardo’s Woolamai win, her sixth on the circuit this season.
The Reece Goodwin-trained mare has had nine starts for seven wins and two seconds two since being purchased online in August last year for $3000.
After winning four picnic races on the bounce the daughter of Toronado stepped up to 0-56 company at Werribee on February 17 and bolted in by 4¼ lengths at $1.70. She won a Pakenham jumpout on March 3 then got the job done at $1.40 with 71kg on her back at Woolamai.
Four horses have won four races this season: Desert Boots, Diamanda, Nic Says No and Qubella. Qubella is trained by Reece Goodwin’s father, Barry.
Dual joy for Jack
Jack Virgona brought up his 10th winner for the season when he rode a 76-1 double at Woolamai.
He won the 2008-metre maiden on Luv Me Luv You for Cameron Templeton, the three-year-old Tosen Stardom filly improving on her debut last at Cranbourne over 1400m to score at $7.
He won the last race on a recent acquisition for Kyneton trainer Neil Dyer. Dyer bought six-year-old Warhorse gelding Theo Five, who won a Wodonga maiden for David O’Prey in October 2024, online for $1500 last December. 
He improved on unplaced runs at Yea and Towong to win at $11 last Saturday.