Spreyton trainer Mark Ganderton was setting his lightly raced sprinter Laser Strike for a race in Melbourne but those plans were blown out of the water when the gelding won two on the trot at Devonport and Hobart earlier this month.

Laser Strike (4g West Quest – Silver Laser by Top Avenger) had been off the scene for almost a year before the winning double.  “We had picked out a 0-72 ratings race at Caulfield but now he’s not eligible,” Ganderton said.  “There aren’t too many options for him here in Tasmania.  There are the weight-for-age races but I’m not keen to go there just yet.”

Laser Strike has endured a horror run of mishaps in the past year.  He was very unlucky not to win last year’s 3YO Cup after bad luck in running and he also jarred up despite a Dead 5 rating at Launceston that day.

Owner Bruno Calabro opted to give the gelding a six-week break but he got very sick and took another four months to recover.  If those dramas weren’t enough to frustrate connections, more was to follow.  

“When we brought him back to try and get qualified for a start in the Newmarket, he whacked his leg and got a splint on the cannon bone,” Ganderton recalled.  “He then had to go out for another spell.”

Laser Strike is by West Quest who has been represented by recent mainland winners I’m A Hussy and Dream Pedlar (LR Bendigo Cup).

Dream Pedlar is also out of a Top Avenger mare and he returned home to defend his Listed Tasmanian Stakes in Hobart on Sunday.  He beat With Decorum last year and was too good for Conquering this time around.

West Quest (Gone West) has won the last five Tasmanian sires’ premierships and stands at Grenville Stud for a $4,400 fee.  He got Laser Strike from Silver Lass who won 7 races and was placed in the 2005 LR Tasmanian Oaks.  She is a sister to LR Gold Sovereign Stakes winner Star Silver.

West Quest stands with Partners Choice at Graeme McCulloch’s Whitemore property which is situated between Launceston and Deloraine.  They are both sons of Gone West (Mr. Prospector) who died aged 25 last year at Mill Ridge Farm in Kentucky.

Grenville Stud is also home to G2 VRC Sires’ Produce winner Incumbent (Choisir) who will have his first yearlings for sale at the 2011 Tasmanian Magic Millions.