Cootamundra based Twin Hills Stud under the care of Olly and Amber Tait is steadily producing a growing track record of success and an eight strong draft for Inglis Easter has a nice mix of the proven and promising with one of only two colts on offer by much loved sire Lonhro a likely highlight along with the one and only Kingman in the sale.
Recent graduates from the Twin Hills nursery include Group II ATC Silver Slipper Stakes winner Straight Charge, who was sold by Twin Hills Stud as a weanling and proved a successful pinhook before going on to be among the best juveniles this season, while Listed Tasmanian Oaks winner Wings of Song, was foaled and raised at the farm for her breeders Sandy Tait and Jill Nivison.
Also flying the flag for Twin Hills have been Group III winning mare Vagrant and stakes-winning filly Azula, who were both purchased from Twin Hills drafts as yearlings.
Retired from stud duties a year ago, Lonhro has been one of the most loved racehorses and sires of the modern era and with limited opportunities left to purchase his progeny, given that his final small crop of 19 foals were born last spring, there will be plenty of interest in Lot 78.
One of only two colts in the sale by Lonhro, he is the first foal of young winning Written Tycoon mare Impetus, a full sister to stakes-winner Crosswinds and daughter of stakes-winner Gybe from the family of Group I winners Anabandana and King’s Rose.
“This is a beautiful colt. He really uses himself when he moves and has plenty of size,” said Olly Tait.
“Lonhro has been a wonderful sire of colts and this horse has many of the qualities of his illustrious sire. He has an outstanding pedigree with the first three dams all by champion sires Written Tycoon, Fastnet Rock and Nureyev.”
Juddmonte Farm based champion sire Kingman has had good success in Australia siring two Australian foaled Group I winners in King Colorado and Zardozi, so Lot 387, a colt from well bred import Wednesday (GB) is going to warrant plenty of consideration.
He is the first foal of unraced Wednesday, a half-sister by Night of Thunder to stakes-placed Halfway Line from a branch of a wildly successful Juddmonte family that has had some exposure in Australasia to produce Group I winning filly Two Illicit in New Zealand and Group III winner Easy Eddie in Australia.
“The Kingman colt has been an attractive horse since he was foaled. He has a great shape, a good action and a beautiful temperament,” said Tait.
“He comes from a wonderful Juddmonte family and is bred on a similar cross to Zardozi, who is from a daughter of Dubawi (sire of Night of Thunder).
“He’s bred to excel as a late two year old and then into his Classic year.”
Click here to see the full draft with additional highlights below and comments from Olly Tait:
Lot 95 Filly Too Darn Hot (GB) x Kaiken, by Exceed and Excel
From the second crop of Too Darn Hot, who posted five SW’s in his first NH crop headed by G1 winner Fallen Angel and has already sired six Australian winners including four Group placed performers. Half-sister to G3 placed Nodachi and metro winner Tanto from a winning three-quarter sister-in-blood to G1 winner Flamberge and half-sister to G2 winner Sword of Light and SW Sword of Justice.
I just love this filly’s pedigree. A family that has been nurtured by top owner / breeders for decades. She is a great model, strong, compact and athletic, just like her pedigree suggests she should be.
Lot 127 Colt Ole Kirk x Major Wager, by Exceed and Excel
From the first crop of Champion 3YO Colt Ole Kirk. Second foal of stakes-placed daughter of champion sire Exceed and Excel from the family of G1 winner Amalfi and Group winners Amangiri, Antonio Lombardo and Master of Arts. Bred on similar Written Tycoon x Exceed and Excel nick that has produced G3 winner Raikoke and SW Axe.
This colt was born at Twin Hills and has been a standout from day one. It is a cliché, but he is a physical horse. He has loads of strength with a great hindquarter. He is certainly a candidate to be an early performer for his sire.
Lot 425 Filly Exceed and Excel x Artic Angel, by Hard Spun (USA)
Third foal of fast juvenile SW Arctic Angel, whose first two foals are now both winners and the traces back to Polar Rose, the dam of Caulfield Cup and Queensland Oaks winner Arctic Scent. Broodmare sire Hard Spun has had global success and sired the dams of 44 SW’s worldwide including G1 winners Alcohol Free, Danon Smash and Good Magic.
What a stallion Exceed And Excel continues to be. He is perhaps the greatest sire of 2 year olds Australia has had. This filly is typical of her sire. She has a lovely head, a good shape and she looks quick.
Lot 434 Filly Wootton Bassett (GB) x Baileya (IRE), by Cacique
From the first Australian crop of outstanding G1 sire Wootton Bassett. Third foal of an unraced half-sister to G1 VRC Melbourne and Australian Cup winner Fiorente (IRE) and to the dam of multiple G1 placed SW Tom Melbourne (IRE).
All of the offspring of Baileya have been bred at Twin Hills and this filly is the most forward looking of her foals so far. She is a big, strong filly, who looks like she will come into her own as a late two year old and three year old. Wootton Bassett is a very good stallion.
