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Exciting Tasmanian colt Count Out might be the real deal after the Aiden Nunn-trained galloper broke a second track record in as many weeks.
Count Out, born out of Count the Kisses, was purchased for just $21,000 and could be one of the steals of the 2014 Tasmanian Yearling sale if his first two performances are anything to go by.
Count Out is a half-brother to 2011 Tasmanian Guineas winner and 2011 Tasmanian three-year-old of the year Socks, and early in his career he has already exceeded the expectations of his young trainer.
“I did a yearling prep at Armidale and I saw his other half-brother, an Encosta De Lago horse that went to Sydney, and he was a nice type,” Nunn said.
“His mother won or ran second in the Kindergarten Stakes so she must produce some good horses.”
On July 26, Count Out debuted over the 900-metre mark at Devonport in a maiden where he stopped the clock at 52.79 to better former star mare Rebel Bride’s track record of 52.86 that she set in November 2011.
Racing two wide for most of the trip Count Out responded well under the whip from Ismael Toker to race away from the favourite Rocklea Road to win by just under three lengths.
Nunn initially was going to send his colt to the two-year-old race in Launceston on Sunday, but the plans changed and on Tuesday Count Out raced in an Open Class 1 Handicap over the 1000-metre mark at Devonport, showing legitimate claims as to why he could be a future star of the track.
With Toker again on-board, the son of Tough Speed settled in third place about two lengths off the leaders to the home turn, but Toker eased him off the rail quickly hauling in Le Bel Opera and Jonolly Lass to win easily.
The official margin was just a touch over five lengths, but it felt like a lot more. Count Out stopped the clock at 58.15 seconds to account for Tennessee Drive’s track record of 58.37 that he set in August last year.
While it appears like Nunn has a super talented horse at his disposal the young trainer wasn’t getting too carried away and looks set to send Count Out for a spell before coming back as a three-year-old.
“Last week we were pretty confident when he had his first up run and then against the older horses it was a bit of the worry, but at the top of the straight when he put a gap on them he was home pretty good,” Nunn said.
“He looked like he still had another gear left in him and I still haven’t tested him at home but we will nurse him along and see how he goes.
“He will definitely go to the paddock now, the original plan was to give him two starts and see how he went and he will now definitely have a spell.”
Nunn is heading up to Queensland with some polo horses and it’s very likely that Count Out will spend his spell in Queensland. With some growing to go this colt is really one to watch when he comes back.
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