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
August 7, 2023
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.
Peter Wharton
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
Stallions Australasia sires to the forefront
January 14, 2023
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 