WESTBURY STUD

from Bluebloods 2023 - Issue 4

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With eleven stakes winners coming off Westbury Stud this season, the future looks bright for their six-strong stallion roster.

“The farm and the stallions have had a wonderful season, led by Sharp ‘n’ Smart,” said Russell Warwick. “Reliable Man, Redwood, and Tarzino are all having runs, and El Roca had a new Gr1 winner and has a strong following in Hong Kong. Overall, we have a line up of stallions that we are happy with and who offer good opportunities to breeders and purchasers down the track. Across the board, each of the stallions have achieved black type victories this season, while Telperion (who has moved on) has also produced the Listed two year-old winner Dolphin Skin in Melbourne recently. Ferrando joins us this year, relocating here on the strength of some nice yearlings. He was a very speedy horse and beaten only a nose in a Gr1 and has covered 142 mares over the past three seasons.” Tarzino (Tavistock) headlines with two Australian Gr1 winners. Gypsy Goddess was crowned Champion 3YO Filly in Australia thanks to her wins in the Gr1 Queensland Oaks, Gr3 Grand Prix Stakes as well as placing in the Gr1 Vinery Stud Stakes, Gr1 Australian Oaks, and the Golden Eagle. Jungle Magnate won the Gr1 South Australian Derby and is now a winner in Hong Kong too. For Tarzino to leave classic winners is no surprise, given that he won

by Renée Geelen

both the Gr1 Rosehill Guineas and Gr1 Victoria Derby. Tarzino is from a strong New Zealand family that includes Gr1 winning two year-old Kindacross, and triple Gr1 winner Sky Chase. With a combination of two of New Zealand’s best stallions in recent times, Tavistock and Zabeel, Tarzino is an emerging sire of classic horses.

With eight stakes winners and two Gr1 winners, El Roca (Fastnet Rock) is quickly establishing himself as a proven sire of Gr1 winning milers. This season’s three year-old Romancing The Moon won the Gr1 Levin Classic, coincidentally the same race won by his first Gr1 winner Travelling Light. Gr2 winner Mali Ston placed in the Gr1 Thorndon Mile, while Lucky Patch is a dual Gr2 winning sprinter in Hong Kong against some of the toughest sprinters in the world. El Roca, a Listed winner and Gr1 placed, is adding to the strong record of sons of Fastnet Rock at stud.

Reliable Man (Dalakhani) is well-named, reliably leaving stakes horses every season, and now has 21 stakes winners led by Gr1 Victoria Oaks winner Miami Bound and Gr1 WA Railway Stakes winner Inspirational Girl, while Miss Sentimental won the Gr1 New Zealand Oaks. This season’s three year-old filly Renaissance Woman recently won the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet to add to her earlier Gr3 win in Melbourne and she also ran fourth in this season’s Gr1 Queensland Oaks, while Essone is another recent Australian stakes winner. Reliable Man won Gr1 races at three and five in France and Australia and his half-brother I’m Imposing won a Gr3 in Australia, which is slightly at odds with his very European pedigree.

Redwood (High Chaparral) has had a fabulous season with his three year-old Sharp ‘n’ Smart winning the Gr1 Spring Champion Stakes, the Gr1 New Zealand Derby, and the Gr1 Herbie Dyke Stakes. Redwood’s fourteen stakes winners have come steadily each season, and also include Gr1 winner Rock On Wood. High Chaparral’s sons So You Think, Dundeel, and Toronado are doing extremely well in Australia and Redwood is great value by comparison.

Swiss Ace (Secret Savings) continues to leave stakes winners with this season’s three yearold January winning the Listed Singapore 3YO Sprint, while all up, he has sixteen stakes winners, led by Gr1 winner Julius.

Gr3 winner Ferrando (Fast ‘n’ Famous) will have his first crop of two year-olds race next season, and the tough racehorse who won eight of his twenty-two starts and was Gr1 placed only had two yearlings sell at the sales this year, selling for $45,000 and $40,000 which a good return on his service fee. With only 30 live foals in his first crop, Ferrando could just prove to be a smokey as he is by a young son of Redoute’s Choice, Fast ‘n’ Famous, who has left Gr1 winners at sprint and classic distances.