Australian investors were beating a path to the European sales last year in search of something seldom found at an Australian yearling sale, but Twin Hills Stud have an intriguing draft for Inglis Premier that features a trio of classy colts that could just as easily take their place at Tattersalls, Goffs or Arqana.
Olly and Amber Tait will offer 14 yearlings and two that will command instant attention are cracking colts by Dubawi’s champion sire son Night of Thunder, who commands a fee of €100,000 at Darley in Ireland and runs at 10.5% SW to runner.
Night of Thunder shuttled to Darley Australia for one season in 2016 and that single crop made a lasting impression. Now five year-olds, there were 52 live foals of which 45 have raced and 39 went on to win giving him 86% winner to runner.
Among them were five stakes-winners headed by Group I winner Kukeracha and Group II winner Cherry Tortoni with the SW to runner strike rate for that one Aussie bred crop at 11%.
There are only 10 yearlings in Australia by Night of Thunder and two of them will be offered by Twin Hills.
Lot 171 is the third foal of unraced Street Cry mare Stellatina (USA), a half-sister to multiple Group I winning Champion US Turf Horse English Channel and to the dams of Group winners Bobby’s Wicked One and Lucida.
“This colt is typical of many of the Night Of Thunders,” said Olly Tait.
“He has plenty of length and scope and he moves well. Night Of Thunder is phenomenal and this colt has a pedigree that could take him all the way.”
Lot 520 is the first foal of Lady Blakeney (GB), an unraced half-sister to Group III winner Gold Town from stakes-winner Pimpernel.
“A really attractive colt, with loads of strength and quality. He moves very well,” Tait confirmed.
“Night of Thunder is just outstanding. He has a very strong pedigree. In my opinion, he is a horse of the highest quality.”
Outstanding European ‘classic’ sire Camelot is a stallion that has enjoyed great results in Australia leaving 10 stakes-winners here with his most successful offspring being Group I winners Russian Camelot (IRE) and Sir Dragonet (IRE).
Lot 407 is one of only three colts in this sale by the Epsom Derby winner and he comes from an outstanding family being descended from the great mare Dahlia, who was owned by Nelson Bunker Hunt.
He is the third foal of Epic Emirates (GB), a winning sibling by Dubawi to Group II winner Nocturnal Fox and stakes-winner Best of Times.
“This has always been an attractive colt. For a horse that is bred to stay, he has always had a sharp look about him. He has a nice head and is athletic,” Tait said.
“I love his sire and his broodmare sire. Hopefully he will be lining up in the 2024 VRC Derby!”
Another colt with undeniable classic aspirations is Lot 176 by champion racehorse and now leading sire So You Think from Stormy Road (IRE).
He is the second foal of a juvenile winning half-sister to imported Australian stakes-winner Kings Will Dream (IRE) from a prolific international Black Type family packed with G1 horses.
“This colt has been a very stylish horse since he was foaled, he’s always had a nice shape and a lovely head. He has more quality than a lot of his sire’s progeny,” said Tait.
“Naturally, he looks like he will come to hand as a three-year-old, but he has lots of strength and is a lovely mover.”
Lot 398 Filly Lean Mean Machine x Eloquent Ruby, by Turffontein
Half-sister to brilliant stakes-winning sprinter Cardinal Gem from the second crop of fast Zoustar son Lean Mean Machine, already the sire of metro winner Freeman. Her dam is a sibling to Group I winner The Mitigator and Group II winner Fontein Ruby from the family of dual Cox Plate winner Fields of Omagh.
This is a classy filly. She has plenty of scope and strength and moves beautifully. She comes from a family that is very much alive and will in time be a beautiful broodmare. Her half-brother (Cardinal Gem), in training with Grahame Begg, could add to his resume and her pedigree.
Lot 493 Colt Yes Yes Yes x Isola, by Hussonet (USA)
From the first crop of Everest winner Yes Yes Yes and is a half-brother to two winners from metro winner Isola, a grand-daughter of Group I winning blue hen Whisked. Hussonet has proven to be an outstanding broodmare sire and this mare comes from the family of champion Tie the Knot and more recent stars such as Cherry Tortoni, Menari and current season stakes horses Empire of Japan and Jenny Jerome.
This colt is very like the a number of the good horses in this pedigree, in colour, physique and outlook. He is a lovely looking horse, with a quality head. He has a magnificent hindquarter, with great length from hip to tail.
