Hat trick for Tactical Landing
November 28, 2024
Ruby’s Dream, a three-year-old filly by TACTICAL LANDING and one of the first crop of the Muscle Hill horse, came from second last to win the Scotch Notch Trotting Mile at Bendigo on Wednesday night (November 27).
Gaining cover three-wide in the back straight, Ruby’s Dream lodged her claim approaching the home turn and burst to the lead soon after.
She clocked a new lifetime mark of 1:58.8 for the flying mile. It was her third success on end.
Bred by the late Richard Matthews and raced by his widow Pauline, Ruby’s Dream is out of the unraced Dream Interest (by Dream Vacation), the dam of four winners from five foals.
Of six foals from his initial Australian crop, TACTICAL LANDING has left three winners and a placegetter.
Peter Wharton
Garden State double for Tactical Landing
November 19, 2024
TACTICAL LANDING sired the winners of two New Jersey Garden State trotting divisions at The Meadowlands, New Jersey on Saturday (November 16).
Spicy Nice took out the $70,000 fillies’ event in 1:54, while Tactical Dynasty led from end-to-end in the $50,000 colts and geldings’ race in 1:54.8.
Spicy Nice has earned $188,800 from three wins and four placings in 11 starts. Tactical Dynasty has banked $161,188 as the result of four wins and five placings from 14 tries.
TACTICAL LANDING’s two-year-olds have banked $2.2million to date and he is in fourth position on the sires’ list.
Peter Wharton
Champagne Problems wins Kindergarten
November 9, 2024
Talented TACTICAL LANDING filly Champagne Problems became the richest of her age, sex and gait this season when she annexed the $243,400 Kindergarten Series final at The Meadowlands, New Jersey on Saturday night (November 9).
Starting from the No. 7 gate, Champagne Problems was snookered on the fence most of the way. Angled into the open by Dexter Dunn soon after reaching the three-quarter pole, the filly unleashed a withering finishing burst down the outside to gobble up her rivals and win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.4.
It was her seventh win from 11 starts and pushed her earnings to $495,536. She had earlier won the $305,000 Jim Doherty Memorial at Hoosier Park, Indiana. Champagne Problems holds a mark of 1:52.6.
TACTICAL LANDING is fourth on this season’s two-year-old trotting sires’ list with almost $2.2 million.
Peter Wharton
Kentucky Sire Stakes double
November 5 , 2024
TACTICAL LANDING left the winners of two $100,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes championships at Cumberland Run on Tuesday (November 5).
Yo Tillie, a two-year-old filly, won her division by open lengths in a new lifetime mark of 1:53.8. She has now won eight races with two placings from 12 starts for $305,300 in stakes.
Naked Cowboy, a three-year-old gelding, led throughout in 1:54.6. The gelding has won nine of his 19 outings for $129,500.
TACTICAL LANDING has produced the winners of $6.3 million this season, of which his two-year-olds have won $2 million and his three-year-olds $2.9 million.
He is sitting in fourth position on both the two and three-year-old sires’ lists and sixth on the all aged table.
Peter Wharton
Tactical Landing’s Breeders Crown double
October 28, 2024
TACTICAL LANDING produced a notable double in siring the winners of the Breeders Crown Finals for two-year-old and three-year-old fillies at The Meadowlands, New Jersey.
The three-year-old Allegiant, who won her elimination a week earlier, took full advantage of a pocket trip to overpower her rivals in the home straight by 2-1/4 lengths.
Her time for the flying mile of 1:51.2 was a new lifetime mark and equalled the stakes record. Out of a Yankee Glide mare, Allegiant has now won 10 of her 25 starts for $933,197 in stakes.
The two-year-old Lady Landia exploded from third position to capture her $700,000 Final in a career-best 1:53.6 and she became the richest of her age, sex and gait for the season.
The championship triumph lifted her stake earnings to $426,300, the result of four wins and a second from eight starts. Lady Landia is out of a mare by Chapter Seven.
TACTICAL LANDING’s progeny earnings for the season are $6 million, of which his three-year-olds have earned $2.8million and his two-year-olds $1.9million.
Peter Wharton
Allegiant in 1:51.6
October 20, 2024
The brilliant TACTICAL LANDING three-year-old filly Allegiant hoisted a fresh lifetime mark of 1:51.6 when she won a $25,000 elimination of the Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands, New Jersey on Saturday night (October 19).
After settling down midfield, Allegiant produced a flying 27.2 seconds final quarter to score by a neck. It was her ninth success and boosted her stake earnings to $633,197.
TACTICAL LANDING has sired the winners of almost $5.3 million to date this season.
Peter Wharton
Tactical Landing 2YO filly wins Breeders Crown elimination
October 20, 2024
The smart TACTICAL LANDING two-year-old filly Lady Landia took full advantage of a pocket trip to capture a $25,000 elimination of the USA Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands, New Jersey on Friday (October 18).
She won in 1:55.4. It was Lady Landia’s third success from seven starts.
Another TACTICAL LANDING two-year-old filly in Spicy Nice ran third in her elimination in 1:53.6. In New Zealand, the TACTICAL LANDING three-year-old Tactical Approach notched his first win at his third start at Alexandra Park on Friday night. He clocked a sharp 57.9 seconds for his last 800 metres and 29 for the final 400.
Peter Wharton
International Stallion Stakes double
October 6, 2024
TACTICAL LANDING left a pair of winners in Champagne Problems and Spicy Nice in $68,400 divisions of the International Stallion Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies at The Red Mile, Kentucky on Saturday (October 5). Both clocked 1:53 and won by decisive margins.
Starting from the pole, Champagne Problems was sent to the top at the end of the first quarter and was never threatened thereafter. She won by 3-1/4 lengths. Champagne Problems has won five of her eight outings and $361,704 in stakes and is the second highest money earner for her age, sex and gait this season.
Spicy Nice settled midfield before taking the lead at the three-quarter pole and bounding away to win by
3-3/4 lengths. She has won two of her eight starts and $119,300.
Meanwhile, Safe Talk led in a TACTICAL LANDING trifecta in the $70,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes SDF Final for two-year-old trotting colts in 1:57 at Freehold Raceway on Friday (October 4).
TACTICAL LANDING has vaulted into fourth position on the USA two-year-old sires’ premiership with
$1.44 million. Overall, his progeny has earned $5.1 million for the season.
Peter Wharton
Tactical Landing filly wins Doherty Memorial
October 2, 2024
TACTICAL LANDING’s two-year-old filly Champagne Problems captured the $305,000 Jim Doherty Memorial at Hoosier Park, Indiana on Friday (September 13) and booked her spot in next month’s $700,000 Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands.
Starting from the No. 7 gate, the filly settled down in third position before pressing on to take the lead before the end of the 57.2 seconds first half-mile.
Champagne Problems was never afterwards headed, coasting to the line with 1-1/2 lengths to spare in 1:54. She has now won four of her seven starts and $327,504 in stakes.
TACTICAL LANDING has vaulted to sixth on this season’s all aged trotting sires’ list with $4.6 million, of which $1.1 million has been earned by his two-year-olds and $2.3 million by his three-year-olds.
Peter Wharton
Tactical Landing leads sire averages at Lexington sale
October 1, 2024
TACTICAL LANDING was the premier sire on average price at the opening session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale held on Monday (September 30) with his three head sold averaging out at a whopping $281,667.
The highest price paid for a TACTICAL LANDING yearling was $550,000 for Muffin Queen, who is the first foal of the Andover Hall mare Love Muffin 1:52.8 ($183,614). It was the third highest price for a filly of either gait at the auction.
The other two lots by TACTICAL LANDING sold on opening day were Mega Shark, a colt from the Cantab Hall mare Megadolce 1:54.6 ($142,178), who realised $185,000, and another colt, Reveled, out of the Yankee Glide mare Meucci Madness (1:58) which was haltered for a bid of $110,000.
Peter Wharton
Tactical Landing colt wins Bluegrass
September 27, 2024
The TACTICAL LANDING two-year-old colt Tactical Dynasty sent his stake earnings over the $100,000 plateau when he captured a $77,300 division of the Bluegrass series at The Red Mile, Kentucky on Thursday (September 26).
Starting from the No. 8 gate, the colt was sent to the top at the end of the 29.6 seconds opening quarter. After posting fractions of 28 and 29.2, Tactical Dynasty roared home in 27.8 to score by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54.6.
Tactical Dynasty, who owns a record of 1:53.4, has won three of his eight starts and $103,805.
TACTICAL LANDING’s two-year-olds have banked $1.27 million to date this season from 106 foals with
64 starters, 30 winners and 26 in 2:00. Overall, TACTICAL LANDING has sired the winners of almost
$4.9 million in 2024.
Peter Wharton
Stakes winners by Tactical Landing
September 11, 2024
TACTICAL LANDING left important Stakes winners in two different States in America last weekend.
Sensational three-year-old colt Karl led throughout in 1:50.8 in the $80,000 fourth leg of the Kentucky Championship series at The Red Mile, Lexington on Sunday (September 8).
Karl extended his winning streak to five and remains undefeated in the Kentucky Sire Stakes program.
He has won 18 of his 20 lifetime starts and more than $2 million.
Two days earlier TACTICAL LANDING’s three-year-old daughter Tactical Lori led from end-to-end in the $100,000 New Jersey Classic Consolation in 1:54.6 at The Meadowlands.
TACTICAL LANDING’s three-year-olds have banked more than $2 million this year and his two-year-olds almost $900,000.
All told, TACTICAL LANDING has progeny earnings this season totalling $4.1 million from only three racing crops.
Peter Wharton
Big Tactical Landing winners in two countries
September 2, 2024
TACTICAL LANDING sired important winners in two countries on the first weekend of September.
In Sweden, Fame And Glory captured the Group 1 Swedish Trotting Derby over 3140 metres in a 1:56.2 mile rate at the Jagersro track in Malmo on Sunday (September 1).
The four-year-old has now won nine races with three placings from 12 starts for SEK9,885,000.
Meanwhile, the TACTICAL LANDING two-year-old colt Uno won a division of the Goldenrod Series in a new lifetime mark of 1:56.4 at The Red Mile, Kentucky.
Peter Wharton
Karl roars in 1:50.4
August 26, 2024
Champion TACTICAL LANDING three-year-old colt Karl hoisted a fresh lifetime mark of 1:50.4 when he effortlessly won an $80,000 leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series at The Red Mile on Sunday (August 25).
Sent to the top at the end of the 27.2 seconds opening stanza, Karl proceeded to blitz his rivals peeling off fractions of 28.4, 28 and 26.8 to score under a hold.
Karl’s time was the second fastest clocked by one his age this season and boosted his lifetime record to 19 starts for 17 wins and two placings for more than $US1.8 million in stakes.
The charismatic colt has banked a season’s high $US837,839 from eight wins in nine starts and he is regarded as the overwhelming favourite for Horse of the Year honours.
TACTICAL LANDING has progeny earnings of $US3.7 million in 2024 of which his three-year-olds have contributed $US1.92 million and his two-year-olds $US800,000.
Peter Wharton
Second ‘Hambo’ winner by Tactical Landing
August 3, 2024
Karl, a three-year-old colt by TACTICAL LANDING, became his sire’s second Hambletonian champion when he outgunned a top field in the $1,050,000 classic at The Meadowlands on Saturday.
Starting from the pole, the 2023 2YO Trotting Colt of the Year settled down sixth on the rails before angling into the running line down the back straight.
Peeled to the outside at the seven-eighths marker, Karl unwound a devastating finishing flourish in the driving rain to claim the trophy in 1:51.6. He has won 15 of his 17 starts and $1.27 million in stakes. TACTICAL LANDING also sired the winner of last year’s ‘Hambo’ in Tactical Approach.
On the same card TACTICAL LANDING provided the quinella pair Champagne Problems and Spicy Nice in the $240,000 final of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies.
Champagne Problems led for the final three quarters to win as she liked in a new lifetime mark of 1:52.6 on the sloppy track. She has now banked $148,750.
Tactical Dynasty, a two-year-old colt by TACTICAL LANDING, finished a close third in the $240,000 final for the boys, while Allegiant (by TACTICAL LANDING) ran third in the $525,000 Hambletonian Oaks.
TACTICAL LANDING has vaulted into third position on the North American two-year-old and three-year-old sires lists and sixth on the all aged table with only three racing crops.
Meanwhile, the TACTICAL LANDING three-year-old Tactical Bid, who was bred by Stallions Australasia, scored by 8-1/2 lengths at only his second start at Addington, Christchurch on Friday night (August 2). The gelding trotted his last half in 58.6 and final quarter in 28.7.
Peter Wharton
Yo Tillie is undefeated two-year-old
July 31, 2024
The brilliant TACTICAL LANDING two-year-old filly Yo Tillie improved her unbeaten winning skein to five when she captured an $80,000 leg of the Kentucky Sires Stake at The Red Mile, Lexington on Monday (July 29).
She stepped straight to the front from the outside gate and carved out fractions of 28.2, 28, 29 and 28.6 on the way to a career-best 1:53.8. Yo Tillie has amassed $134,000 in prize money.
On the same card the TACTICAL LANDING two-year-old fillies Best Friends Girl (1:57) and Oklahomasmokeshow (1:59.2) won legs of the $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series and Golden Rod Series respectively.
Peter Wharton
Karl, Allegiant win Hambo elims
July 28, 2024
The TACTICAL LANDING three-year-olds Karl and Allegiant won their $100,000 Hambletonian and $50,000 Hambletonian Oaks eliminations respectively at The Meadowlands on Saturday night (July 27).
After settling third, Karl surged to the front in the third quarter and won under a hold by 1-1/4 lengths in a career-best 1:50.6.
Karl has now won 14 races $1.27 million in stakes. He is the pre-post favourite for the $1 million Hambletonian to be run at The Meadowlands on Saturday (August 3).
Meanwhile, Allegiant led from the No. 6 gate and was never in danger of defeat. She scored by four lengths in a nippy 1:51.8. Allegiant has won eight of her 17 starts and $427,997 in stakes.
TACTICAL LANDING has sired the winners of $2.3 million this season to date.
Peter Wharton
Fame And Glory for Tactical Landing 4YO
Brilliant TACTICAL LANDING four-year-old Fame And Glory tied the world record for 2600 metres on a five-eighths mile track of 1:55.2 when he won the $60,000 Fyraaringstestet at Eskilstuna, Sweden on Wednesday night (July 17). He proved too strong for his rivals, despite sitting parked for the last lap.
In North America, the TACTICAL LANDING four-year-old Brodeur won the fastest $35,000 leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes in 1:51.6 at The Red Mile on Monday (July 22).
He was one of three winners sired by TACTICAL LANDING on the day, the others being the three-year-old Calatrava (1:54.8) and the two-year-old Best Friends Girl (1:59.6).
Peter Wharton
Tactical Mounds in sizzling 1:49.4 mile
July 14, 2024
The four-year-old TACTICAL LANDING mare Tactical Mounds hoisted a new lifetime mark of 1:49.4 winning a $40,000 preliminary leg of the Miss Versatility at The Meadowlands on Saturday (July 13).
Tactical Mounds led the field through the first quarter in 26.4 before handing up briefly soon after. She regained the top approaching the half-mile and thereafter led her rivals a merry dance, scoring by two lengths with something in reserve.
She has now won 14 races and $U463,686 in career earnings. Tactical Mounds has won two legs of the Miss Versatility. She is the second 1:50 performer sired by TACTICAL LANDING and is the fastest trotting female in North America this year.
Peter Wharton
Allegiant in the Moni!
July 6, 2024
Brilliant TACTICAL LANDING three-year-old filly Allegiant added the time-honoured $100,000 Moni Maker, a leg of the Grand Circuit run at Scioto Downs, Ohio on Saturday (July 6), to her list of major race successes.
After settling down third, the filly moved upsides with the leader in the back straight before assuming control and scoring by open lengths. She clocked a career-best 1:52.2 for the mile.
The win boosted Allegiant’s earnings to $US393,397 from 15 lifetime starts.
TACTICAL LANDING has moved into fifth position on this season’s three-year-old sires’ premiership with $US865,994 and to 10th on the all aged list with $US1.7million from only two full racing crops.
Peter Wharton
Karl in 1:51
June 30, 2024
The star TACTICAL LANDING colt Karl, the pre-post favourite for next month’s $1 million Hambletonian, tuned up for the Triple Crown event with an effortless win in a $34,250 division of the W. N. Reynolds Memorial at The Meadowlands on Saturday (June 29).
After brushing to the top approaching the half-mile, Karl was never in danger of defeat scoring by 1-1/2 lengths in a equal lifetime best of 1:51.
It was his eighth success on end and his 13th from 14 starts. He has banked $1.2million. Tactical Landing’s stock has earned $1.6million in America this season.
Kyvalley Maven, one of the first small down under crop of TACTICAL LANDING, has named as the 2023 Victorian 2YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year. He won the $50,000 Vicbred Home Grown Classic and the $30,000 Tatlow Stakes and finished second (beaten a half neck) in the $100,000 Vicbred Super Series Final.
Peter Wharton
Stakes success for Tactical Landing pair
June 14, 2024
Leading trotting sire TACTICAL LANDING produced a pair of winners of important Stakes races in North America recently.
Karl, the 2023 USA 2YO Trotting Colt of the Year, made it three from three this year and earned a new speed badge of 1:51 when he scored an effortless win in the $US240,000 Final of the New Jersey Sire Stakes at The Meadowlands.
A short-priced favourite, Karl worked to the front just before the end of the 56.2 seconds opening half and was never afterwards headed, scoring by seven open lengths. He has won 12 of his 13 starts to date and $1,191,977 in stakes. Karl is the top seed for the $US1million (estimated) The Hambletonian to be held at The Meadowlands on August 3.
TACTICAL LANDING himself won a heat of the ‘Hambo’ and ran third in the Final in 2018, while one of his progeny, Tactical Approach, took out the coveted classic in 2023.
Allegiant, a three-year-old daughter of TACTICAL LANDING, hoisted a fresh stakes record of 1:52.6 when she led in a quinella for her sire in the $US52,355 Currier & Ives at The Meadows, Pennsylvania.
Allegiant led from the outset and was never in danger of defeat, winning by three lengths. The winner of $US343,397, Allegiant’s next main assignment is the $US500,000 (est.) Hambletonian Oaks at The Meadowlands on August 3.
Peter Wharton
Trixton second on sires’ list
February 28, 2024
The Muscle Hill horse TRIXTON has vaulted into second position on the Australian trotting sires’ premiership for 2024.
He has left seven individual trotting winners and they have banked $331,523.
Leading the charge are the French import Callmethebreeze ($199,350), the winner of the $300,000 Great Southern Star, and Arcee Phoenix ($69,000), winner of the Maori Mile and runner-up in the Australian Trotting Grand Prix.
Other TRIXTON winners include the Menangle winners Constantinople and Victree Hill and the Albion Park winners Van Sank and Everysecondcounts.
Peter Wharton
Callmethebreeze in record Great Southern Star sweep
February 7, 2024
Callmethebreeze, a French-bred son of TRIXTON, captured the $300,000 Great Southern Star Final at Melton on Saturday night (February 3) in a track record-equalling 1:53.1 rate over 1720 metres.
Having only his third start on Australian soil, the six-year-old entire turned in a terrific performance to edge out the dual Inter Dominion champion Just Believe after being required to start from the back row and race three deep without cover for the last 600 metres.
Earlier in the night Callmethebreeze won his heat from the front end in 1:53.4, 1.5 seconds faster than the other heat.
Callmethebreeze, who is out of an Italian-bred mare, had won at Group 1 level as a two, three and four-year-old in Italy. He was bought privately from his French breeder by Ballarat (Vic.) studmaster-breeder Pat Driscoll last year. All told, Callmethebreeze has won 14 races and has been 14 times placed from 41 starts for $1.7million in stakes.
He is being aimed at the $75,000 Australian Trotting Grand Prix at Melton on February 24 and the $100,000 The Hammerhead at Menangle on March 9.
Hesallmuscle NZ (by MUSCLE HILL) and Arcee Phoenix (by TRIXTON) finished fourth and fifth respectively in the Group 1 Final.
Peter Wharton
Karl sets new race record in $432,000 Valley Victory
November 26, 2023
Brilliant TACTICAL LANDING two-year-old colt Karl boosted his stake earnings to over the million dollar mark and carved out a new race record when he scored a dominant win in the $432,000 Valley Victory at The Meadowlands, New Jersey on Saturday night (November 26).
Driven by Hall of Fame horseman Yannick Gingras, Karl took control of the Grand Circuit race at the end of the 27.8 seconds opening sectional.
The colt then carved out fractions of 28.2 and 28.6 before zipping home in 27.6 to score under a hold by three lengths.
He stopped the teletimer in 1:52.2, 0.2 inside the previous mark set by Volume Eight last year. Karl has won nine of his 10 starts and $1,041,977. He holds a mark of 1:51.4.
“He’s got the kind of gears that not many horses have,” Gingras stated about the enormous ability Karl possesses.
Meanwhile, the season’s leading money-winning three-year-old trotter Tactical Approach (by TACTICAL LANDING) finished a game second in 1:51 at his final start in the $350,000 FanDuel Championship on the same card.
The SOUTHWIND FRANK three-year-old filly Bond led and finished second in the $175,000 FanDuel Championship for open mares. She has banked $847,071 this year and is easily the richest for her age, gait and sex.
Peter Wharton
NZ two-year-old winner by Tactical Landing
November 24, 2023
TACTICAL LANDING was represented by a second two-year-old winner from his first New Zealand crop when the black filly Paramount Lady soundly trounced her rivals at Invercargill on Thursday (November 23).
Having only her fourth start, Paramount Lady rolled to the front at the end of the first quarter and trotted flawlessly throughout to win unextended by 5-3/4 lengths.
TACTICAL LANDING has sired two winners in NZ from four starters from a foal crop of eight.
In Australia, the TACTICAL LANDING gelding Kyvalley Maven is the pre-post favourite for the $100,000 Breeders Crown Final for two-year-old colts and geldings at Melton on Saturday night (November 25).
Peter Wharton
Karl captures Kindergarten Series
November 5, 2023
Brilliant TACTICAL LANDING two-year-old Karl, who captured the Breeders Crown a fortnight earlier, added the $267,500 Kindergarten Series Final to his list of major successes at The Meadowlands, New Jersey on Saturday night (November 4).
Starting from the outside No. 10 gate, the colt settled down in fourth position before being sent forward to reach the lead at the end of the 28.2 seconds first quarter.
From thereon the race was a procession with Karl in complete command, scoring by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:53.4. He has now won eight of his nine starts and $836,823 in stakes. He holds a mark of 1:51.4.
The Valley Victory which carries an estimated $400,000 Final on November 25 is next on the agenda for Karl.
The TACTICAL LANDING pair Glamourous Hanover and Marg In Charge finished second and third respectively in the $241,300 Kindergarten for two-year-old fillies.
TACTICAL LANDING’s juveniles have banked $1.84 million to date this season.
Peter Wharton
Tactical Approach adds $205,000 Carl Erskine to resume
November 4, 2023
Champion TACTICAL LANDING three-year-old Tactical Approach, who is to do stud duties next year, scored a dominant win in the $205,000 Carl Erskine Memorial at Hoosier Park, Indiana on Friday (November 3).
Starting from the No. 8 gate, Tactical Approach was sooled straight to the top and never really gave his nine rivals a look in, scoring by two lengths in 1:52.2. The colt put up quarters in 27,28.6, 28.6 and 28.
Tactical Approach has won 10 of his 18 starts this season for $1.42million in stakes. His major successes have been the Hambletonian, Kentucky Futurity and Breeders Crown. He holds a lifetime mark of 1:50.2.
His next assignment will be the $350,000 FanDuel Championship at The Meadowlands on November 25.
Peter Wharton
Breeders Crown 2YO champion by Tactical Landing
October 30, 2023
TACTICAL LANDING, a Breeders Crown champion himself, sired the record-breaking winner of the $700,000 Breeders Crown Final for two-year-old trotting males at Hoosier Park, Indiana on Friday (October 27) in the brilliant Karl.
The colt clocked a track and stakes record of 1:51.8.
After settling down in fourth position, driver Yannick Gingras sent Karl to the front at the end of the 56.2 opening half.
Given full rein going down the home stretch, Karl quickly put a gap between himself and his rivals, scoring by three lengths.
He has won seven of his eight starts – he was beaten a nose at his only other appearance.
Karl has banked $709,760, the second highest amount for a two-year-old trotter in 2023 and his record of 1:51.4 is the standard for his age, gait and sex.
“He’s so fast. He has so many gears,” Gingras said. “I think he’s the best horse I’ve ever sat behind. He has so much ability. I was high on him in the beginning of the year; he’s the best two-year-old I have ever driven.”
On the same card, the TACTICAL LANDING three-year-old filly Tactical Mounds, who is part-owned by Stallions Australasia agent Gayle Garrard, led most of the way to capture the $60,000 The Pegasus in 1:52.
TACTICAL LANDING is currently third on the three-year-old sires’ premiership with $3.4million and sixth on the two-year-old list with $1.5million.
Peter Wharton
Tactical Approach, Bond snare Breeders Crown titles
October 30, 2023
Tactical Approach (by TACTICAL LANDING) and BOND (by SOUTHWIND FRANK) provided Stallions Australasia with a clean sweep of the three-year-old trotting divisions of the Breeders Crown at Hoosier Park, Indiana on Saturday night (October 28).
Tactical Approach, who started from the second line in the $672,000 classic, settled midfield on the outside before launching his winning volley rounding the home turn. He won by 1-1/4 lengths in a sharp 1:51.4.
Tactical Approach, who earlier this year won the Hambletonian and Kentucky Futurity, has won 11 of his 22 lifetime starts for $1.35million and holds a mark of 1:50.2. He looks assured of 3YO Trotter of the Year honours.
Bond, the richest three-year-old filly of the season, led in her $600,000 Final, handed up and then outsprinted her rivals in a new track record for sophomore filly trotters of 1:51.4. She has won 15 of her 21 starts and $1.39million.
TACTICAL LANDING’s three-year-olds have earned $3.8million in 2023, while SOUTHWIND FRANK’s progeny has banked $1.4million.
On the home front, the TRIXTON mare Aldebaran Vera hoisted a fresh lifetime mark of 1:56.5 winning the Matchmaker Mile at Maryborough on Redwood Day (October 29). The win boosted her earnings to $92,225.
Peter Wharton
Tactical Landing youngster in record Tatlow win
October 21, 2023
Talented TACTICAL LANDING two-year-old Kyvalley Maven created a new race record and earned a fresh lifetime mark of 1:59 in his barnstorming win in the $30,000 Tatlow Stakes (2240 metres) at Melton on Friday night (October 20).
The gelding clocked his last three quarters in 29.8, 29.9 and 28.9 on his way to a 10 metre success. The winning time shaved 0.9 off the race record set by his stablemate Kyvalley Hotspur three years ago. It was his second win from six starts for $61,150 in stakes.
Meanwhile, in Sweden, the TACTICAL LANDING three-year-old colt Fame And Glory extended his unbeaten winning sequence to six when he effortlessly won the Swedish Criterium at Solvalla Raceway on Saturday (October 14). Fame And Glory earned 344,800 euros for his triumph.
Peter Wharton
Tactical Mounds, Karl star at Hoosier Park
October 20, 2023
Tactical Mounds and Karl, a pair of brilliant, young trotters sired by TACTICAL LANDING, won important races at Hoosier Park, Indiana on October 19.
Tactical Mounds, a three-year-old filly, came from midfield to win a $30,000 division of the Circle City in 1:53.6. She has won six of her 17 starts to date.
Thirty minutes later, Karl turned in a powerhouse performance to capture a $25,000 elimination of the Breeders Crown for two-year-old colts in 1:54 on a sloppy track. The colt has won six of his seven outings and $359,760. He boasts a lifetime mark of 1:51.4.
Peter Wharton
Grand Circuit double for Tactical Landing
October 9, 2023
TACTICAL LANDING stole the show at The Red Mile on Sunday (October 8), siring the winners of both headline trotting features – the $450,000 Kentucky Futurity and then $320,000 Kentucky Filly Futurity.
Tactical Approach, the Hambletonian winner, settled down in sixth position on the rail and his winning hopes looked forlorn rounding the home turn.
Gaining a needle eye opening deep in the stretch, the charismatic colt rallied strongly to score by a neck in 1:52. He boasts a lifetime mark of 1:50.2.
Tactical Approach’s success lifted his lifetime tally to $1,013,989 from 10 wins in 20 starts. He won the final two legs of the Triple Crown – the Hambletonian and the Kentucky Futurity – and is clearly the richest of his age, sex and gait this year with $977,489.
Mommamia Volo, the Kentucky Sires Stakes champion, added the Kentucky Filly Futurity to her impressive resume. Fifth rounding the last bend, the TACTICAL LANDING miss let down with a paralysing finishing flourish to win by two lengths in 1:51.6. It was her sixth win from 17 lifetime starts for $536,882. She holds a mile mark of 1:50.
TACTICAL LANDING is enjoying a banner year with his first crop of three-year-olds earning almost $3.3million. He is in third position on the three-year-old list and eighth on the all aged table with $4.48million.
Peter Wharton
Historic Bluegrass treble for Tactical Landing
October 1, 2023
TACTICAL LANDING had a red-letter day at The Red Mile on Saturday (September 30) siring three $78,000 divisional winners of the prestigious Bluegrass Stakes for three-year-olds.
Tactical Approach, America’s richest three-year-old trotter this season, made a one-act affair of the second division cutting the mile in a new lifetime mark of 1:50.2.
Mommamia Volo unleashed a stunning 25.8 final quarter to win her division by 3-1/4 lengths, while Mambacita led for the last half and held on gamely to prevail by a neck. Mommamia Volo, the fastest of her age, sex and gait in 2023 with a record of 1:50, has won three races and $314,182 this year.
The colt carved out fractions of 28, 28.2, 27.4 and 26.6 on his way to a 1-1/4 lengths win. He has won seven of his 14 starts this year for $752,489 in stakes. The TACTICAL LANDING three-year-old fillies Mommamia Volo (1:51) and Mambacita (1:51.6) won their respective Bluegrass divisions.
Mambacita, who holds a mark of 1:50.8, has won 10 races and earned $762,918 lifetime.
TACTICAL LANDING is ranked third on the American three-year-old table with $2.8million.
Closer to home, the TRIXTON gelding Constantinople notched his second feature race win at Menangle in consecutive weeks when he led throughout in the $30,000 McGrath Trotters Cup. One week earlier the gelding took out the NSW Carousel. He is undefeated in five starts at the Sydney headquarters track.
Peter Wharton
Tactical Landing colt trots 1:51.4
September 29, 2023
Brilliant TACTICAL LANDING two-year-old colt Karl stretched his unbeaten winning sequence to five and came within 0.2 of the world record when he won a division of the $405,100 Bluegrass Stakes in a new lifetime mark of 1:51.4 at The Red Mile on Thursday (September 28).
After settling down in fourth position, the colt brushed to the lead at the end of a 56.4 seconds opening half. He was never again headed, cruising to a two length win under a hold. Karl has now earned $330,310.
TACTICAL LANDING’s two-year-olds have banked almost $1.1 million to date this year.
Peter Wharton
Bond wins $381,000 Elegantimage
September 25, 2023
Brilliant SOUTHWIND FRANK three-year-old filly Bond became trotting’s newest millionaire when she scored a stakes record win in the $381,000 Elegantimage at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night (September 23).
After reaching the front on the home turn, Bond withstood a late challenge to win by a head in a new lifetime mark of 1:51.6.
Tactical Mounds (by TACTICAL LANDING) ran third.
An $80,000 yearling purchase, Bond has banked $1,062,085 from 13 wins and four placings in 18 starts.
SOUTHWIND FRANK’s three-year-olds have earned $1,026,257 to date this year.
Peter Wharton
Kentucky Championship double
September 18, 2023
TACTICAL LANDING sired rather a notable double at the $3.4million Kentucky Championship Finals Day at The Red Mile on Sunday (September 17).
Karl, a two-year-old colt, led throughout from the pole in 1:53.2 in his $400,000 Championship division to extend his unbeaten winning streak to four. The brilliant colt has banked $290,000, the second highest amount for his age, gait and sex in 2023.
The TACTICAL LANDING three-year-old filly Mommamia Volo clocked 1:50 – 0.2 outside the world record – when she claimed her $400,000 Kentucky Championship. The filly has now won four races and $337,882 in stakes.
Meanwhile, the TACTICAL LANDING two-year-old filly Bonn was a close second in the $100,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series final on the same day. TACTICAL LANDING’s two and three-year-olds have earned $3.5 million to date this year.
Peter Wharton
Vicbred Super Series Final winner by Trixton
September 17, 2023
Talented TRIXTON four-year-old Arcee Phoenix turned in a terrific performance to capture the Group 1 $100,000 Vicbred Super Series Final at Melton on Saturday night (September 16).
Starting from the back row, the gelding had only one horse behind him and was spotting the leaders a conservative 30 metres at the 600 metre mark. Given full rein, Arcee Phoenix mounted a paralysing finishing burst three-wide to gobble up his opposition in the home straight. The mile rate was a lifetime best 1:56.8 for 2240 metres.
Arcee Phoenix has won six of his eight starts this season and eight races lifetime. He has banked $161,900. Bred by Ash Haynes and partners, the four-year-old is out of the Sundon mare Justa Phoenix, the dam of four winners from five foals of racing age.
Peter Wharton
Tactical Approach is richest 3YO trotter
September 11, 2023
Star TACTICAL LANDING colt Tactical Approach cemented his position as the richest three-year-old trotter in North America this year when he won an $80,000 leg of the Kentucky Championship Series at The Red Mile on Sunday (September 10).
The win lifted Tactical Approach’s seasonal tally to $681,489, the result of six wins and five placings from 12 starts.
Starting from the outside gate, Tactical Approach settled down second last before mounting his winning bid on the home turn. Reeling off a final quarter in 26.2, Tactical Approach scored by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.4.
TACTICAL LANDING has vaulted into third position on the three-year-old sire list with progeny earnings of $2.3million.
Peter Wharton
Tactical Landing quinellas New Jersey Classic
September 10, 2023
The $275,000 final of the New Jersey Classic Series for three-year-old fillies at The Meadowlands on Friday (September 8) proved a bonanza for TACTICAL LANDING as the sire of the winner Tactical Mounds and runner-up Quick Stop.
Tactical Mounds led from the outside No. 10 gate and repelled the late bid of Quick Stop to score by a head in 1:52.2, equalling her lifetime mark.
Tactical Mounds, who is part-owned by Stallions Australasia agent Gayle Garrard, sent her stake earnings over the $200,000 plateau. She has won seven of her 20 starts.
Peter Wharton
Allegiant wins in 1:52.4
September 6, 2023
Smart TACTICAL LANDY two-year-old filly Allegiant collected her second consecutive win in an $80,000 Kentucky Championship Series at The Red Mile on Tuesday (September 5).
The filly led throughout and established a new lifetime mark of 1:52.4 – the fastest for her age, gait and sex in North America this year. A $50,000 yearling purchase, Allegiant has now banked $183,400 from five wins and a second in eight starts.
Karl (by TACTICAL LANDING) is the swiftest two-year-old trotting colt at 1:52.2.
Peter Wharton
Karl wins $80,000 Kentucky Sires Championship
September 5, 2023
Brilliant TACTICAL LANDING two-year-old colt Karl kept his unbeaten record in tact when he annexed an $80,000 Kentucky Sires Stakes Championship Series leg at The Red Mile on Sunday (September 3).
The colt clocked 1:54.4 for the mile. Karl is undefeated in three attempts and is the fastest for his age, sex and gait in North America this year with a mark of 1:52.2.
On the same card the TACTICAL LANDING two-year-old Lochheed Martin won a $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series leg in 1:55.2.
SOUTHWIND FRANK’s three-year-old son Sinatra De Vie captured a $50,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Consolation in 1:54.6 at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday.
Peter Wharton
Tactical Landing 2YO filly lands the loot
August 29, 2023
Brilliant TACTICAL LANDING two-year-old filly Allegiant returned to the winner’s circle in an $80,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes division at The Red Mile on Monday (August 28). The filly led from go to whoa in 1:53.8.
A $50,000 yearling purchase, Allegiant has banked $143,400 from four wins and a second in seven starts.
TACTICAL LANDING holds the unique distinction of having sired the fastest two-year-old colt in Karl (1:52.2) and the swiftest two-year-old filly in Allegiant (1:53.4) in North America this season.
Peter Wharton
Mambacita wins in 1:51
August 23, 2023
Smart TACTICAL LANDING three-year-old filly Mambacita maintained her devastating form when she captured the $80,000 Kentucky Championship Series at
The Red Mile on Tuesday (August 22).
The filly led from the outset and trotted a final split in 26.4 seconds to win by half a length. The time for the mile was a brilliant 1:51. The second richest and second fastest of her age, gait and sex in 2023, Mambacita boasts lifetime earnings of $697,518 and a record of 1:50.8.
TACTICAL LANDING is currently third on the three-year-old sire premiership with $1.92million.
Peter Wharton
Southwind Frank filly wins $250,000 Delmonica Hanover
August 21, 2023
Brilliant SOUTHWIND FRANK three-year-old filly Bond added the $250,000 Delmonica Hanover to her list of classic successes when she outfinished her rivals on Sun Stakes Day at Pocono Downs, Pennsylvania.
After leading in the early part, Bond handed up and, after gaining a pocket trip, she rallied up the open stretch to score in 1:52.2. Quick Stop (by TACTICAL LANDING) finished third. The winner of 11 of her 16 starts, Bond boasts a lifetime stake tally of $908,165. She has banked $320,901 to be the second richest of her age, sex and gait this year.
Peter Wharton
Stakes success for Tactical Landing colt
August 21, 2023
The TACTICAL LANDING two-year-old colt Karl demonstrated that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the remaining age classic when he scored a resounding win in an $80,000 division of the Kentucky Sire Stakes at The Red Mile on Sunday (August 20).
Starting from the No. 7 gate, Karl quickly took up the running and was completed untroubled to win in 1:52.2. He is unbeaten in two attempts so far. Karl, who is out of a RC Royalty mare, was a $135,000 purchase at last year’s Kentucky Selected Yearling Sale.
Peter Wharton
Tactical Landing – three winners on the one card!
August 16, 2023
TACTICAL LANDING, who is ranked third on the USA three-year-old sire list, took the siring honours at the Group meeting at The Red Mile on Tuesday (August 15) with three important winners.
Heading the vanguard was the Hambletonian winner Tactical Approach, who scored a 1:51.6 triumph in the $80,000 second round of the Kentucky Championship Series. After settling in fifth position, the colt produced a sizzling 26.2 final quarter to win by three-quarters of a length. Tactical Approach has won seven of his 15 starts and $657,989 in stakes.
Another TACTICAL LANDING three-year-old in Djimon won a $30,000 leg of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series in 1:54.2 on the same card. Rounding out a great day for TACTICAL LANDING, the two-year-old filly Glamorous Hanover scored in 1:56.
Peter Wharton
Classic double for Stallions Australasia
August 15, 2023
Stallions Australasia sires made a clean sweep of the three-year-old finals of the Nutrien Equine Classic at Bendigo on Friday night (August 11).
Tradie Lady (by TRIXTON)
overcame a difficult barrier draw and a wide passage to easily win the $125,000 fillies’ division, while Prince Of Rock (by WISHING STONE) led from the outside gate and maintained a solid tempo before capturing the $125,000 colts and geldings’ final.
In posting his fourth win on end, Prince Of Rock rated a career-best 1:57.2 for the 2150 metres with the last 800 in a slick 57.7.
Tradie Lady, the winner of three of her seven attempts, also established a new speed badge of 1:59.5.
Brilliant TRIXTON four-year-old entire Just For Trix became the 29th 1:50 trotter ever when he led from go to whoa in 1:50 flat at Lexington’s Red Mile on Sunday (August 6).
TACTICAL LANDING, the sire of this year’s Hambletonian winner Tactical Approach, was also represented by a second winner on ‘Hambo’ day in the three-year-old filly Tactical Mount, who is part-owned by Stallions Australasia agent Gayle Garrard.
Another recent winner by TACTICAL LANDING was the three-year-old Brace For Landing, who scored in 1:54.8 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Peter Wharton
Tactical Landing colt wins $1 million Hambletonian
Tactical Approach, a colt from the first crop of former champion trotter TACTICAL LANDING, overcame the outside No. 10 gate to score a barnstorming win in the $1 million Hambletonian at The Meadowlands on Saturday (August 5).
The colt looked a forlorn hope of winning the three-year-old classic rounding the final turn, buried four deep on the fence. However, he unwound a devastating finishing burst along the rubber pylons in the latter stages to win by one length. The time for the flying mile was 1:50.6, the equal fastest for one his age this season and a new lifetime mark.
Tactical Approach’s $500,000 winner’s cheque vaulted him to the top of the three-year-old money-winning list with $581,489. TACTICAL LANDING is now third on this year’s three-year-old sire premiership with earnings of almost $1.6million. His progeny has now banked $1.86million in 2023.
July 15, 2023
Get A Wish for Yonkers International
Get A Wish, a Danish-bred five-year-old son of WISHING STONE, has received the first invitation for the
$1 million Yonkers International Trot to be held in New York on September 9. The winner of last year’s $300,000 Danish Trotting Derby, Get A Wish will lock horns with the leading trotters from USA, Canada, Europe and Australia in the 1-1/4 miles contest.
Get A Wish, who was successful at two, three and four years, was the leading stakemoney winner in Denmark last year. He has won two $25,000 Open trots in Denmark this year and is one of the leading fancies for the upcoming $160,000 Jarlsberg Grand International in Norway.
Tactical Approach, a three-year-old colt by TACTICAL LANDING, put up the third fastest mile for one his age in North America this season at 1:51.2 at The Meadowlands recently. The colt is being aimed at the $1 million Hambletonian in August.
Meanwhile, the TACTICAL LANDING three-year-old filly Quick Stop won a division of the W. N. Reynolds Memorial in 1:52.8 at The Meadowlands. She has now banked $305,930.
Brilliant SOUTHWIND FRANK filly Bond stretched her winning streak to 10 leading throughout in another division of the Reynolds. She clocked 1:53.2 and pushed her earnings over $650,000.
Peter Wharton
January 14, 2023
Stallions Australasia sires to the forefront
The 2022 season was a breakout year for sires on the Stallions Australasia roster. Leading the way was the great MUSCLE HILL, the premier sire for five consecutive seasons and who finished runner-up on the North American all aged list with $10.8 million last year.
MUSCLE HILL finished second on the NZ sires’ list and third in Australia in 2022. Three of MUSCLE HILL’S sons on the Stallions Australasia roster in TACTICAL LANDING, SOUTHWIND FRANK and TRIXTON all ranked highly on the various sires’ lists.
TACTICAL LANDING was the second leading first crop sire and ranked sixth on the overall two-year-old table. He left the winners of $1.8million with 25 in 2:00, six in 1:55 and five $100,000 earners including the Stakes winners Mambacita 1:53.4 ($496,161), Quick Stop 1:55 ($285,718), Southwind Admiral (1:55.2) and Mommamia Volo (1:55.8). Meanwhile, TACTICAL LANDING’s yearlings were in demand at last year’s sales in America with a filly bringing $475,000 at the Harrisburg Black Book sale and a filly selling for $375,000 and a colt at $325,000 at the Kentucky Selected sale.
SOUTHWIND FRANK, whose oldest stock are four year-olds, left the winners of $2.1million in 2022. His progeny have earned more than $5 million to date. The biggest contributors to SOUTHWIND FRANK’s tally last year were the top flight two-year-old filly Bond 1:52.6 ($587,264) and Eternal Lee ($241,075).
TRIXTON was a Top Ten sire in America again with progeny earnings of $4.3 million in 2022, of which his three-year-olds banked $1.3million. In Australia, TRIXTON was represented by the Group 3 Breeders Crown Graduate winner Victree Hill and Arcee Phoenix, runner-up in the $100,000 Vicbred 3YO Final.
Stallions Australasia 