1 Jun 2017
An influx of international weekend winners has ensured a new wave of breeders has begun to flock to Tavistock.
Cambridge Stud's star Montjeu stallion enjoyed success in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, highlighted by reigning Hong Kong horse of the year Werther's explosive win in the Gr.1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
It was the John Moore-trained and Hugh Bowman-ridden Werther's second Group One win back from a long injury layoff and a performance that has thrust him right into contention for another horse of the year title.
"That was all class," Moore declared afterwards.
In Singapore, Tannhauser continued his rise through the ranks with a tenacious win at Kranji, his third straight victory for trainer Michael Clements and rider Vlad Duric to set up a tilt a bigger targets later in the year.
Cambridge Stud boss Sir Patrick, watching Singapore closely and a shade testy after Infantry's second placing in the Sing-Gr.2 Stewards Cup, has kept close tabs on Tannhauser's progress.
"He can only win and he's keeping on doing that. They think he's pretty special," said Sir Patrick, who bred Tannhauser with his wife Justine, Lady Hogan.
Infantry was not the only Tavistock galloper denied a significant win in the weeked, with Salsamor running a meritorious second placing at Flemington on Saturday as his sire's only two-year-old runner in action.
However, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Tessastock ensured Tavistock gained a weekend win in Australia when he carried Kevin Hickman's colours to victory at the Sunshine Coast..
Following on from Pacorus' Gr.3 Rotorua Cup win in New Zealand the previous weekend, Tavistock mare Tomelilla continued her rise through the ranks with a strong Ellerslie win, her second in succession and fourth from just 10 starts.
Afterwards, trainer Murray Baker paid tribute to Tomelilla's toughness.
"Tomelilla was headed more than once in the run home but didn't chuck it away. [She] showed a lot of heart," said Baker, who trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman.
The weekend's results have added further impetus for Tavistock after a strong summer in which his stock were prominent on the feature days, none more so than his perennial Group One winner Volkstok'n'barrell, who claimed New Zealand's richest weight-for-age race, the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.
"The crazy thing is these horses that are out there doing a job for Tavistock now are out of mares that breeders sent on an $8000 stud fee," Sir Patrick said.
"After that he served a better class of mare and the results of those matings will be on the racetrack in the coming seasons so it's a pretty exciting time to be involved with Tavistock."
Among the mares Tavistock served last spring were Group One winners Provocative, Elegant Fashion, Seachange, Pondarosa Miss, Guiseppina, Banchee, Soriano, Veloce Bella and Shez Sinsational, as well as others the quality of Abidewithme, November Rain, La Sizeranne, Kind Return, Tarzino's dam Zarzino, Lovetrista, Diamond Like, Tavago's dam Sara Ann and Kawi's dam Magic Time.
"You know what you get with a Tavistock racehorse. They know how to run and they know how to win. They are good lookers and good performers," Sir Patrick said.
"When you look through the weekend results, it's clear the Tavistocks are continuing to roll on. Week in, week out, there's always Tavistock winners and normally there's a new rising talent emerging. They are performing to the highest level of their grade, whatever grade their rating sees them in.
"It's great to see Werther get another big win in Hong Kong. He's doing an amazing job up there and now with Tavidream heading up there, it will be interesting to see what he can do. No doubt, he'll be set for the Derby up there next year and who knows, he could be the next Werther."
Sir Patrick last month announced Tavistock would remain at a service fee of $65,000 plus GST plus a live foal guarantee.
The last remaining services to the sire will take Tavistock's book to 160 mares, the number Sir Patrick has restricted him to.