Barbary Tales shines in Bandbox heat

After two testing runs in Melbourne, quality filly Barbary Tales returned to Tasmania in style, cruising to harness racing victory in the second heat of the Bandbox. The daughter of For A Reason was untroubled in posting an 11.5-metre margin, stopping the clock in a slick mile rate of 1:59.4.

Already the winner of the Evicus Final in 2024, Barbary Tales now sets her sights on back-to-back TasBred Titles. Bred by Andrew Rawlings and raced by his close friend John Huston, the filly has compiled an impressive record—seven wins from 14 starts—and is fast approaching the $100,000 earnings milestone.

Her sire For A Reason, standing at Cobbitty Equine Farm, enjoyed a clean sweep of the Bandbox heats, with another daughter, Smooth Reason, scoring by 10.2 metres.

The Bandbox series carries a rich legacy, named in honour of the champion Tasmanian mare Bandbox, who captured the 1947 Inter Dominion Championship in Perth. Today, she is remembered as the grand dam of the legendary Pure Steel.

The Globe Derby Prelude for three-year-old colts and geldings went the way of the Emma Stewart-trained Hungry Hippo. By the exciting young stallion Stay Hungry out of Ashuras Beau, the colt was bred locally by Brooke Hammond.

Hungry Hippo was offered at the 2023 Nutrien Tasmanian Yearling Sale, where he fetched $41,000 to the bid of Summit Bloodstock and Aaron Bain Racing.

Attention now turns to the 2026 Nutrien Tasmanian Yearling Sale, scheduled for Saturday, 14 February. With the online catalogue set to be released this week, anticipation is high for a sale that continues to produce winners both on the Island and interstate.

by Gary Newton for Harnesslink