Tasmanian owner trainer Walter McShane achieved a long-held ambition when he won a race at Flemington with Norsqui in the Lavazza Long Black on Tuesday.

The 74-year-old has been training since 1970 and stands Norsqui’s sire Matsqui for $3,000 on his property at Broadmarsh, west of Hobart.  “It’s been one of my ambitions for a long, long time,” McShane said.  “I’ve won a few at Caulfield, Moonee Valley and Sandown but I’ve never won one here.”

Norsqui (5g Matsqui – Esprit Du Nord by Celtic Spirit) had run third to Niwot in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m) at Flemington in May.  “We were only three lengths behind Niwot that day,” McShane added.  “Then he came out and won the Lexus Stakes on Saturday.”

Matsqui (Lunchtime) is also the sire of McShane’s battle-scared stayer Geejayhaitch who has won 8 races including mainland victories at Sandown (2) and Mornington.

Norsqui’s dam descends from Lanesborough who sired 1970 Caulfield Cup winner Beer Street and 1972 Melbourne Cup winner Piping Lane.

Norsqui is one of the best horses McShane has trained since he crossed Bass Strait with Bastille Beggar in the 1970s.  He was by Lanesborough and won a string of races at Moonee Valley as well as the George Adams Hcp in Launceston.