Blueblood filly heads Evicus Final field

Bridwood Maisey (Tell All) will step out as the hot favourite in Saturday night’s $50,000 Evicus Final for two-year-old fillies at Hobart — and her pedigree suggests she’s bred to be something special.

The daughter of Little Brown Jug winner Tell All is out of My Tupelo Honey, a McArdle mare who won her first two starts in the ownership of prominent American breeders Gordon Banks and Marc Hanover. Although My Tupelo Honey was retired after just 12 starts, she’s made her mark at stud. Her first three live foals have all been multiple winners, including Tupelo Beach (by Somebeachsomewhere), who notched up 13 wins and over $118,000 in stakes.

The family’s depth doesn’t stop there. My Tupelo Honey is out of the brilliant Tupelo Rose, a multiple Group 1 winner who captured both the Victorian and Queensland Oaks. Crowned New Zealand’s 2YO Filly of the Year and Australia’s 3YO Filly Pacer of the Year, Tupelo Rose (1:51.4, $879,000) later raced in North America before returning to stud duties in New Zealand.

Bridwood Maisey is raced by former greyhound trainer Richard Hall and prepared by in-form trainer Bianca Heenan, who is chasing her second Evicus title after scoring with Iylac Pakaria in 2022.

Originally nominated for the APG Melbourne Sale, Bridwood Maisey was withdrawn before Hall secured her privately from Kerrie Hymers of Tourello Standardbreds. “I bought her mainly because of her grand-dam,” Hall explained. The filly was broken in on the mainland before joining Heenan’s Brighton stable.

Hall, who has recently become more active in the breeding game, also bred Solo Safari, a runner in the Dandy Patch Final for two-year-old colts and geldings. “I bought the mare Weona Badgirl in foal to Lather Up through an online sale,” he said. “We sold the colt at the Nutrien Tasmanian Sale.”

“I bred four last season and I’m planning to breed nine this season,” Hall added. “I’ve picked up a few mares through the online sales.”

After missing Bridwood Maisey’s Prelude win, Hall is eager to be trackside in Hobart to watch his promising filly chase Group 3 glory

For complete race entries, click here.

by Gary Newton