Cootamundra based Twin Hills Stud, under the care of Olly and Amber Tait, is proving to be a fruitful source of winners and stakes horses, a fact well highlighted in the past week and their Inglis Premier draft features the only filly by Fastnet Rock and the only yearling by Justify (USA) from a daughter of Fastnet Rock – the magic cross!
Group II ATC Silver Slipper Stakes winner Straight Charge was sold by Twin Hills Stud as a weanling and proved a successful pinhook that is now a Golden Slipper contender, while Listed Tasmanian Oaks winner Wings of Song, was foaled and raised at the farm for her breeders Sandy Tait and Jill Nivison.
Their success follows on from Group III winning mare Vagrant and stakes-winning filly Azula, who were both purchased from Twin Hills drafts as yearlings and have won nearly $500,000 in combined earnings.
Twin Hills head to Melbourne for Inglis Premier with a diverse draft of 25 with highlights below and comments from Olly Tait:
Lot 93 Colt Pierata x Alderney, by High Chaparral (IRE)
From the second crop of Pierata, sire of Group III winner Coleman and three more Group placed horses – Fearless, Wave Breaker and Tobeornottobe. Half-brother to Group III placed Riduna from a placed sister to stakes-winner Ballet Suite and half-sister to stakes-winner Casquets from the family of Group II winner Flak Jacket.
Pierata is an exciting stallion. He has had a number of smart 2 year olds (two runners in Blue Diamond) and does not have the profile of a horse where this would have been the expectation. This is a lovely colt. He is strong, well balanced and moves well.
Lot 97 Filly Fastnet Rock x Alleyoop (NZ), by Thorn Park
The only filly in this sale by legendary sire Fastnet Rock, whose broodmare daughters are proving an exceptional force producing 17 Australian SW’s this season. She is from stakes-placed Alleyoop, who has had two foals to race and both are winners with Divine Fire (3f Divine Prophet) a winner at Morphettville after the catalogue went to print.
A lovely filly by one of Australia’s all time great sires. She is a typical Fastnet Rock filly, with a great shape, lots of bone and a fluent stride. Like most of her sire’s progeny, she looks like she will be at her best as a late two year old onwards.
Lot 160 Filly Justify (USA) x Cavaco, by Fastnet Rock
Second foal of an unraced sister to Group I winner Rock Classic and grand-daughter of Group I Blue Diamond Stakes winner Midnight Fever. Her first foal Cavavscot(2f Royal Meeting (IRE) in work with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr. Bred on highly successful Justify x Fastnet Rock cross that has produced 12 winners from 14 runners and four stakes-winners headed by his two best Australian runners Storm Boy and Learning to Fly. 86% winner to runner and 28.5% SW to runner!!
We have considered this to be an outstanding filly since she was born. She is big and very powerful, with a great walk and a lovely demeanour. Justify looks like he is an extraordinary stallion and the cross with Fastnet Rock is deadly.
Lot 243 Filly Maurice (Jpn) x Frankly Savvy (NZ), by Savabeel
First foal of a winning half-sister to stakes-winner Ocean Beyond from the family of Champion NZ 3YO Madison County, Group III winner Take the Rap and stakes-winners Keano and Pinzu. From iconic Waikato Stud female family tracing back to fourth dam Golden Slipper winner Courtza, dam of champion sire O’Reilly.
This filly is a most complete package. She is bred to get over distance and physically, this rings true. She is strong, has a lot of quality and has a nice action. She has a beautiful pedigree and is one to dream of the Guineas and Oaks with.
Lot 278 Filly Hellbent x Head Over Heels, by Fastnet Rock
Full sister to Group II placed Vivy Air and half-sister to South African Group II winner New Predator and is from terrific producer that has had seven to race six winners. Trained by Archie Alexander, Vivy Air was last seen running third in the Group II MRC Sandown Guineas last spring and won a barrier trial at Terang on Tuesday morning.
This is a quality filly that I think is typical of the Hellbent foals that the mare has had. She is of average size, has a nice shape and moves well. Vivy Air has the profile to provide a big update to this pedigree.
Lot 546 Filly Too Darn Hot (GB) x Stomp, by Congrats (USA)
From the second crop of Too Darn Hot, who has sired four Australian winners so far including Too Darn Lizzie and Arabian Summer. Second foal of a winning half-sister to Group III winner Flying Evelyn and grand-daughter of Group I winner Bollinger with fourth dam Golden Slipper winner Bint Marscay.
This is a neat but strong filly that moves well. She has been very straightforward since she was born. She comes from an exceptional female family that throws top horses in every generation and obviously her sire Too Darn Hot is very exciting.
