The late Tavistock has been one of the success stories of the New Zealand breeding industry in recent times and a new stakes-winner in Australia last Saturday in She’s Alight has us thinking about what nicks work best for the son of Montjeu outside of the much documented affinity he shares with Zabeel.
Given that Tavistock stood at Cambridge Stud before his premature death at the end of 2019, it’s hardly a surprise that he would have covered plenty of mares by their legendary stallion Zabeel.
Some genetic magic has resulted from the cross with 50 winners from 71 runners bred this way, so 70% winners to runners and the seven stakes-winners equates to nearly 10% stakes-winners to runners.
Among those stakes-winners are Group I winners Werther, Toffee Tongue, Tarzino and the 2020 Victoria Derby winner Johnny Get Angry, bought from Karaka for just $50,000.
The following lots at Karaka 2021 are bred on the Tavistock x Zabeel nick:
Lot 154 Colt Tavistock x Sunset Magic – Cambridge Stud
Third foal of winning sister to stakes-winner En Lauder from the family of Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy
Lot 222 Filly Tavistock x Zarzina – Lansdowne Park
Full sister to G1 Victoria Derby winner Tarzino.
Lot 224 Colt Tavistock x Zeranti – Cambridge Stud
Full brother to promising 3YO winner this season The Irishman and is from the family of multiple Group I winner Sea Siren.
Lot 225 Colt Tavistock x Ziffel – Cambridge Stud
Second foal of a half-sister to Group II Silver Slipper winner Amelia’s Dream and is closely related to Tavistock’s promising 3YO Young Werther, third in the Group I Victoria Derby.
Lot 465 Filly Tavistock x Kachina – Westbury Stud
Fourth foal of a half-sister to Hong Kong Derby winner Super Satin from the family of Champion HK Stayer Blazing Speed and Group I winners Spartacus and Laganore.
Lot 487 Colt Tavistock x La Belle Beel – Woburn Farm
Second foal of a placed half-sister to stakes-winner Intercept from the family of Group I Victoria Derby winner Second Coming.
The next most successful nick for Tavistock involves another of the former Cambridge Stud sires in Stravinsky (USA).
This nick has produced 21 winners from 32 runners, so 65% winners to runners and the three stakes-winners bred this way include Group I winners Tavago and Singapore Horse of the Year Infantry.
As with the previous nick, this one is running at close to 10% stakes-winners to runners, which is double the overall stakes-winner to runner strike rate for Tavistock which sits at 5%.
The following lots at Karaka 2021 are bred on the Tavistock x Stravinsky nick:
Lot 234 Colt Tavistock x Adriatico – Hallmark Stud
Dam has had had three foals to race and all are winners headed by Group II place Bobby Dee.
Lot 290 Filly Tavistock x Botanic – Cambridge Stud
Second foal of a winning half-sister to stakes-winner Diamond King from the family of Group III winners Somepin Anypin and Love Affair.
Lot 459 Colt Tavistock x Jewels Gift – Cambridge Stud
From a placed half-sister to stakes-placed Isle Be Ready from the family of Golden Slipper winners Canny Lad and Sepoy, Group I mares Canny Lass, Camarena, Camarilla and Guelph as well as current Group I sprint star Bivouac.
The new stakes-winner for Tavistock last Saturday was progressive mare She’s Alight, who is the first stakes-winner for her sire bred from a daughter of Keeper, another former Cambridge Stud based sire by Danehill.
With 22 winners from 28 runners, this nick runs at 78% winners to runners, which is well above the overall winner to runner rate for Tavistock of 65% and while Black Type success has taken a while to come, it only makes sense that there will be more stakes-winners bred this way.
The following lot at Karaka 2021 are bred on the Tavistock x Keeper nick:
Lot 86 Filly Tavistock x Ruthless Lady – Curraghmore
Fourth foal of stakes-placed Ruthless Lady from the family of multiple Group I winner Sea Siren.
Online bidding services will be available for all registered buyers who are unable to physically attend Karaka 2021, with all yearlings available for on-farm inspections and New Zealand-based agents available to inspect on behalf.
View the Book 1 and Book 2 catalogues here.
Karaka 2021 Sale Dates:
Karaka Million Twilight Meeting at Ellerslie Saturday 23 January
Book 1 Sale: Sunday 24 January – Tuesday 26 January at Karaka commencing at 1PM (NZT) each day
Book 2 Sale: Wednesday 27 January and Thursday 28 January commencing at 1PM (NZT) on both days
