*By Keely McKitterick. As published in TDN AusNZ
The Brent and Cherry Taylor-owned Trelawney Stud look forward to returning to the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale action. Brent Taylor caught up with TDN AusNZ to discuss their draft in the lead-up to the iconic sale.
Seton Otway established the Cambridge-based Trelawney Stud in the 1930s. Throughout the Otway era, Trelawney was responsible for breeding an unprecedented seven Melbourne Cup winners, a feat yet to be bettered. The Cambridge operation was also responsible for producing the incredible and one of the inaugural Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductees Tulloch (NZ).
Now under the guidance of the Taylor family. Brent and Cherry Taylor have added 41 Group 1 winners to the honour roll of Trelawney Stud.
Among the honour roll bred by Trelawney Stud are horses the calibre of Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), a winner of the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas carrying the Trelawney silks, Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) a regular raider of Australian riches and a triple Group 1 winner, the Champion G1 Cox Plate winner and now successful stallion Ocean Park (NZ), the Flemington specialist and exciting sire in dual-Group 1-winner Grunt (NZ) and the late warhorse and supremely talented I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) along with the outstanding Hong Kong-based sprinter Sky Field (Deep Field).
These are just a snippet of the talent Trelawney Stud has produced recently.
Returning to Australia
COVID, as well documented, changed plans and lifestyles for many personally and professionally. Brent Taylor admits it made things difficult for Trelawney to operate in Australia, particularly at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Cherry and Brent Taylor | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
It was a hiatus in 2022, represented by only one yearling at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and having to withdraw all their draft from the 2020 edition of the iconic sale.
Nevertheless, Taylor is excited to be back and selling three yearlings at Riverside stables this year.
“We have consistently sold at Easter sales for over 20 years. COVID made it hard, but now that we can travel freely, we were eager to re-establish our position in the market.”
The trio
Trelawney Stud will offer three yearlings, two colts and one filly.
“We wanted to split up our draft between Karaka and Easter, and we felt these three looked suitable for the Australian market,” Taylor told TDN AusNZ.
The first lot through the ring will be Lot 176, a colt by Arrowfield’s Champion Sire Snitzel from the Per Incanto (USA) mare Indecision (NZ). She was a six-time winner, including twice at Listed level and Group 3 placed.
The handsome bay colt is Indecison’s first foal. While she brings her black-type performances to the table, Indecision is also a half-sister to Viadana (NZ) (Towkay), a star mare who won the G1 Easter H. and the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. among her eleven victories.
Furthermore, this big black-type family includes Singing Star (NZ) (Danasinga), a G2 Waikato Gold Cup winner. She, in-turn, is the dam of Miss Selby (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who won the G3 Lowland S. and placed in the G1 New Zealand Oaks.
Taylor adds: “He (Lot 176) should be incredibly popular. He is a very good-looking horse and the first foal out of a good race mare. He covers the ground very well; I believe he will stand out from our draft.”
Lot 176 will be followed by two progeny of the eight-time New Zealand Champion Sire Savabeel.
The first of those will be Lot 366, a bay colt by previously mentioned sire, out of the Pins mare Smashing (NZ).
The powerfully built colt is the second live foal from Smashing, a six-time winner from 1000 metres to 1400 metres; she was placed at Listed level.
Lot 366 - Savabeel x Smashing (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Smashing is a daughter of Ruud Van Slaats (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}), a winner of three races in succession from five starts; she was a winner of the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. and placed twice at Group 1 level.
Furthermore, this is the family of Ruud Awakening (Bernardini {USA}), a star 2-year-old who won the G1 Diamond S. and the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO. She, in turn is the dam of Rise Of The Masses (Russian Revolution), who was a winner of the G3 Pago Pago S. and placed in the G2 Skyline S.
The final offering by Trelawney Stud will be Lot 443, the pretty bay daughter of Savabeel out of the Flying Spur mare Vinevale.
The filly is the second foal from Vinevale, a six-time winner. She is a half-sister to Purple Sector (NZ) (Pins), a winner of the G3 Rough Habit Plate, and he has also been placed in stakes company several times.
Lot 443 - Savabeel x Vinevale (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
The family of the grand staying mare Hill Of Grace (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), a winner of the G1 Ansett Australia S. and the G2 Moonee Valley Oaks. Hill Of Grace was crowned the Champion Older Female Stayer in New Zealand in 2002/03, no doubt helped by her placings in the G1 New Zealand Derby, G1 LKS Mackinnon S., G1 Ranvet S., and G1 New Zealand Oaks. She was also talented enough to fourth in the G1 Caulfield Cup.
Furthermore, this is the family of Renewable (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), a winner of the G2 Autumn Classic and the VRC Roy Higgins Quality H.
Lot 443 has potential Oaks filly written all over her.
“The two Savabeels are both very lovely horses.
“There is nowhere to hide when you come to the Easter yearling sale in Australia. You must have style, pedigree and be an outstanding individual to compete with the lineup of horses here at the sale.”