Triple Asset will resume this weekend in the Crockett Stakes

The third placed run of Prince Obama last weekend served as a timely reminder about the quality of racehorses being produced by Tasmania in recent seasons.

More and more trainers are shooting across the bass strait to try their luck against the countries best and they are finding an increasing level of success.

Last season the star of the show may well have been Triple Asset.

The John Keys trained two year old was one of the best performers in Hobart and Launceston and earned a trip to Flemington for the Thoroughbred Breeders Classic.

An unfancied runner in the betting markets, Triple Asset franked her Tasmanian form and just edged out Metonymy for an impressive win.

Next start she headed to Adelaide and contested The Jansz, that time she put nearly three lengths on her next closest competitor Win For Wilson.

Her final run was in the Sires Produce Stakes also at Morphettville but her winning run ended there where she could only manage fourth spot.

Keys says she had excuses on that day though and it was probably his fault she didn’t show her best form.

“She was over the top, she’d probably done too much and too much travel,” he said.

There will be no such concerns this weekend though when Triple Asset runs first up in the Crockett Stakes at Moonee Valley.

Keys says the filly has already surpassed what they had expected from her and there’s no reason her three year old season won’t continue to deliver further success.

“She’s better than what we have considered and she just kept stepping up every time,” he said.

He says preparations started slowly but she’s now beginning to hit her straps and has clearly benefitted from the spell.

“They had a small hiccup initially and she trialled up on Monday and ran pretty well in thought…she was up there with the best of them,” he said.

Triple Assert is the top weight for the Crockett Stakes and will jump from gate two in the 1200m event.

“The barrier is a huge plus, she’s performed on dead tracks before,” he said.

“I think the tracks going to work in our favour.”

While like most horses her first couple of runs will determine the long term spring campaign, at this stage the Thousand Guineas shapes as the ideal outcome.

“That’s our grand final,” Keys said.

While he admits he has a habit over underselling his chargers before race day, there’s no hiding the fact he’s expecting a big run.

“I wouldn’t say she could win but they’ll certainly no she’s there,” he said.

“We don’t really know till we go it, every indication we’ve seen..she’s bigger and better than she was before.”

Triple Asset will be ridden by Lisa Cropp tomorrow in a strong contest which will include the likes of Hallowell Belle and Manhatten Maid.