TASSIE TYCOON LIBERATES GEELONG

Apart from being a champion bloke and a (former) medical practitioner of repute, Graham McLeod has dabbled a bit in the breeding caper over the years with a number of notable neddies originating from his Camoquhill Stud in Hobart.
One which readily springs to mind is the rather aptly named dual stakes winner, Quit Smokin’, while another is Gai Waterhouse’s Group winner and multiple Group One placed Bank Robber.
Out of Graham’s sadly deceased mare, Saliah, Banker Robber has won over $540,000 after being sold to Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds for $70,000.
Denise is a good mate of Graham’s (having grown up in Tassie) and it’s fairly safe to assume she’s an even better mate now!
Anyway, Bank Robber is a half brother to another of Graham’s home breds in Tycoon Sali whom he raced in Hobart with trainer Charlie Goggin before retiring her to stud in 2005.
Sending the mare across Bass Strait, Tycoon Sali was covered by Statue of Liberty with the resultant progeny being Liberty Tycoon who saluted in the first at Geelong yesterday (April 23): the Crime Stoppers SV 3YO Maiden Plate over 1121m.
After purchasing the now 3YO at the 2008 Tasmanian Yearling Sale for just $12,000, Terry Kelly withdrew the colt from the Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale … a move which may well prove to be very profitable based on Liberty Tycoon’s performance at Geelong.
Liberty Tycoon (below, rails), whose dam is also a half sister to the stakes placed Kwassa Kwassa and closely related to stakes winners Ponton Flyer and Minnesota Shark, was having only his fourth run yesterday and appears to have his share of ability.