5 Jan 2018
The adage that a rolling stone gathers no moss certainly applies to Tavistock – and in more ways than one after a bumper few weeks for the Cambridge Stud sire’s filly stocks.
No sooner than Milseain had set tongues wagging with her brilliant debut at Hastings, prompting bookmakers to slash her odds for the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 17 from $81 to $21, than Chris Waller unleashed Tavisfaction for a Warwick Farm barrier trial that made her the talk of Sydney.
Bred by Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan, Tavisfaction was a $155,000 Karaka yearling sales purchase for Star Thoroughbreds in 2016 and the Tavistock filly from the family of such Group One stars as Champagne, Bonneval, St Reims and Charmont looked every inch the part as she cruised to a 9 ¾-length trial win over 1200m on Thursday.
Tavisfaction is down to race at Canterbury on Wednesday and looks one to watch.
Cambridge Stud will sell a brother to Tavisfaction in Book 1 at the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales at Karaka as lot 549.
A sister to former Hong Kong horse of the year Werther and Gr.3 New Zealand Cup winner Gobstopper, Milseain has the pedigree to match her clinical 2 ¾-length debut win at Hastings.
A $300,000 Karaka yearling sales graduate, Milseain will step up to stakes company at her next start in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on January 20, with Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman understandably holding the Tavistock filly in high regard.
Cambridge Stud boss Sir Patrick Hogan has followed both fillies with interest and believes the pair could be the new flagbearers for his star Montjeu stallion Tavistock.
“Rightfully so, Tavistock has gained a reputation as a proven produced of colts, with the likes of Tarzino, Volkstok’n’barrell, Werther, Tavago and Infantry all Classic winners at three and a new group of boys like Hiflyer and Gobstopper emerging,” Sir Patrick said.
“But the quality of Tavistock’s fillies can't be overlooked. In the last few weeks, we’ve seen Tavistock fillies and mares winning every couple of days, with Milseain looking like one of the most exciting fillies of her crop so far.
“Add in the likes of Tomelilla, Rikki Tikki Tavi, Zanyetta, Hannah Marene and Toni May and it’s just the reminder that buyers need ahead of the yearling sales when considering what fillies to shortlist. In time, Tavistock fillies will become valuable commodities as broodmares because they stem from a magical sire line.”
Tavistock has already been represented by several stakes-performing fillies and mares, among them Listed winners Avisto and Tavy, and Gr.1 Queensland Oaks-placed Imperial Lass and Gr.1 Victorian Oaks and Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes-placed Harlow Gold.
In Book 1 at the Karaka yearling sales later this month, Tavistock will be represented by 34 fillies, including one out of the Zabeel mare Kilfenora, from the same family as Milseain, as lot 313 in the Cambridge Stud draft.
Cambridge Stud will sell also Tavistock fillies out of Zantelagh (lot 6), Zenella (lot 10), Diamond Like (lot 159), Diamonds Forever (lot 160), Harmony (lot 243), Lashed (lot 329), Lovetessa (lot 349), Pride Of Tralee (lot 495), Pussy O’Reilly (lot 503), Repenting (lot 517), Special Diamond (lot 612), Spring Venture (lot 617), Star Of Tralee (lot 623), Too Many Diamonds (lot 662), Tuesday’s Child (lot 671) and Vita Bella (lot 692).
The filly out of Gr.1 Queensland Oaks runner-up Zenella hails from the Eight Carat family, as does the filly out of Listed Lightning Handicap winner and Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes runner-up Diamond Like, the filly out of Group Three-placed O’Reilly mare Lovetessa, the filly out of Zabeel mare Special Diamond and the filly out of Encosta de Lago mare Spring Venture.