HISTORY

If you’re looking for a farm that epitomises what a thoroughbred stud should be, you need look no further than New Zealand’s Trelawney Stud. Founded in 1930 by Mr Seton Otway, it is New Zealand’s oldest commercially operated stud farm.

Taking a look through the history books reveals a record seven Melbourne Cup winners - Hi-Jinx, Galilee, Silver Knight, Hiraji, Foxzami, MacDougal and Polo Prince - who all spent the early part of their lives at Trelawney before going on to win the great race. Arguably the most famous horse to carry the Trelawney brand is Tulloch. Bred, reared and sold by Trelawney, Tulloch was trained by the legendary Tommy Smith.

Owned and operated by the Otway family for a majority if its existence (the farm was founded in 1930), first through Seton Otway and then his son Jim, Trelawney Stud rose to prominence as one of New Zealand’s leading thoroughbred nurseries.

One of the first thoroughbred stud farms set up in the Cambridge area, Trelawney rose to prominence under the guidance of Seton Otway through the successful sale of yearlings through the Trentham Sale ring, to the standing of stallions at the farm.

Once the home and now the resting place of the remarkable sire Foxbridge (GB) (Foxlaw), Trelawney Stud has seen a number of successful stallions come through the farm gate to each make their mark on the New Zealand breeding industry.

Foxbridge was super-sire of his era heading the New Zealand sire’s premiership for 11 seasons. He dominated New Zealand racing in the 1940’s and his impact on the New Zealand breeding industry was highlighted through the success of his daughters at stud when he headed the broodmare sires’ table – also for a period of 11 years.

Another stallion to prove very successful in New Zealand was Alcimedes (GB) (Alycidon). Recognised as mainly a sire of stayers, among his first crop were VRC Derby-winner Prince Grant (NZ) and Melbourne Cup-winner Galilee (NZ). Alcimedes progeny were often raced in Australia and he produced another Melbourne Cup-winner in the form of Silver Knight (NZ).

Trelawney Stud was purchased by the Taylor family in the early 1990’s. Managed by Brent Taylor, the farm has seen a period of development both in management and also investment.

Trelawney now has a broodmare band of more than fifty, all of which carry world class bloodlines to keep Trelawney at the forefront of the Australasian breeding and racing industry.

Over the last five years, Trelawney Stud has bred at least one Group One winner each season. In addition, we have also reared and sold on behalf of clients, numerous Group and Stakes winners. This success helps to reinforce the breeding decisions that have been made and our vision for the future.

In 1993, Trelawney purchased the stallion Dance Floor (USA) (Star De Naskra) from North America and syndicated the horse to stand in New Zealand. Since that time other horses to stand at the farm include Al Akbar (Aus) (Success Express) and Kingdom Bay (NZ) (Otehi Bay).

In more recent times, Trelawney has joined forces with a number of other studs to bring stallions to New Zealand.

Carnegie (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) began his southern hemisphere stud career at Trelawney Stud and to date, has produced his best performers from his time in New Zealand. Some of these horses include VRC Derby-winner Amalfi (NZ) and dual Group One-winner Carnegie Express (NZ), Doomben Cup-winner Perlin (NZ) and Queensland Guineas victor Regent Street (NZ).

Other stallions Trelawney have been involved in include Soviet Star (USA) (Nureyev), sire of international Group One winner Starcraft (NZ), Marju (Ire) (Last Tycoon), Bigstone (Ire) (Last Tycoon) and College Chapel (GB) (Sharpo).

In 2006, Trelawney is home to Van Nistelrooy (USA) (Storm Cat), a US$6.4 million yearling – the most expensive of his year. With his first southern hemisphere crop now two-year-olds, we are looking forward to his career as a sire getting off to a great start.