Cootamundra Stud has Twin Hills has returned from the first yearling sale of the current racing season pleased with the tick of approval given to their stock by buyers from throughout Australasia.
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When asked what made his top lot stand out from the rest of his draft at this year's Magic Millions, Olly Tait of Twin Hills said simply "he had it all".
"Physique, attitude and pedigree" Ollie said of the youngster which was knocked down to Queensland's leading trainer Toby Edmonds and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $450,000.
"He is the second highest priced yearling ever sold by his sire Choisir," Olly said.
From a family littered with stakes winners the colt's dam, the black type winner Sweetest Melody, was the winner of seven races from just 12 starts, three of her wins in succession.
The daughter of Encosta de Lago has already left three winners, including stakes winner Smart Melody by Smart Missile, making the Twin Hills colt just as attractive to buyers on the pedigree page as he was in the flesh.
"He was always nice and was out of a top mare.
"From a long way out he was the pick of the crop," Olly said.
Twin Hills youngsters were picked up by some of the powerhouses of Australasian racing, a fact that pleases Olly greatly.
Aside from their top Lot going to Edmonds Racing, youngsters are going to Ciaron Maher Racing, Pike Racing and Raffles Racing of New Zealand, the Snowden team and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing.
"You always hope that the horses that you sell go to good stables, in order that they get a good chance to show their best," Olly said of the many good judges who raised their hand to purchase a Twin Hills yearling.
The majority of yearlings sold were born and raised on the stud farm formerly owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.
Media star Mike Willesee and chicken tycoons Bob and Jack Ingham also once owned the Cootamundra property.
"The majority of the horses that we sold at the Magic Millions had been foaled and raised at Twin Hills," Ollie said of the draft, eight of which sold for more than $100,000.
"There were a few that joined us for the preparation and the sale. They came from good farms that had raised the horses well," he added.
With the Magic Millions done and dusted the staff at Twin Hills, lead by stud manager Steve Brien, now turn their sights to the continued preparation of the 20 yearlings still to be offered by the stud this year.
The next stop for Twin Hills is the Inglis Classic Sale which commences in Sydney on February 9.
"We still have 20 yearlings to sell this year. Next stop is the Inglis Classic sale in Sydney," Olly said.
Of those still to go though the sale ring Olly said "they're all athletic with pedigrees that give them a good chance of racetrack success".
"Our stud manager, Steve Brien, deserves a lot of the credit for the growth of our business and the quality of the horses that we produce," he said.
Our stud manager, Steve Brien, deserves a lot of the credit for the growth of our business and the quality of the horses that we produce
- Olly Tait, Twin Hills Stud
"He has worked at Twin Hills for over 30 years, back to the days when Mike Willesee owned the farm.
"He is passionate about our horses and works relentlessly in order that our clients interests are looked after.
"Steve assisted in the foaling of many of the horses that we sold at the Magic Millions and was responsible for their development from then on," Olly said.
The Magic Millions sale ring holds good memories for the Taits and Twin Hills.
At last years Magic Millions broodmare sale they sold, Lipari, for $1.6 million.
As for the immediate future of Twin Hills youngsters on the racetrack Olly signalled out an aptly named Zoustar colt picked up from one of the stud's drafts last year.
"We have high hopes for a Zoustar colt called Belieber that is in training with Gai Waterhouse," he said.
Belieber went through last year's Magic Millions sale and has had just the two starts to date for two fourths, one in the Group 3 Breeders Plates for two year-olds.
"We love watching them run," Olly said of what happens after the yearlings are sold and move onto the next phase of their lives.
Olly says he and his wife Amber were attracted to the facilities and history of their Twin Hills property which they purchased for an undisclosed sum.
"Twin Hills is a beautiful farm with amazing facilities and a great history," he said.
"My wife Amber, and I, wanted to start our own thoroughbred operation and Twin Hills came on the market at exactly the right time.
"Any start up is challenging. We have weathered the first three years and are very proud of where we have gotten to in that time.
"We are ambitious and there is still a long road ahead," Olly said.