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Trelawney Graduates Quinella Northland Breeders' Stakes 16 Jul 2007
The Listed Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) proved a happy hunting ground for Trelawney Stud graduates with fillies carrying the famous brand finishing first and second in the day’s feature event.

The home-bred filly Martini Red (Aus) (Red Ransom) maintained her unbeaten record notching up her third victory in as many starts. Bred by Trelawney Stud, she represents the fourth generation of her family to be raced by the Taylor family. Before her came her dam Pernod (NZ) (Centaine), her grand-dam Martine Michelle (NZ) (Grosvenor) and great grand-dam Josette Nicole (NZ) (Three Legs).

“There is no doubt we have had a lot of success and enjoyment from this family,” said Brent Taylor of Trelawney Stud. “My mother and father raced Josette Nicole who was a Group Two winner, Martine Michelle was a stakes performer and produced three stakes winners including Pernod who won a Group One and now we have this filly,” he said.

Martini Red is raced on lease to a partnership which includes her trainer Ross Elliott, Brent’s mother Faith Taylor and, two Australian-based clients in Warren Huckley and Chris Coghlan who were also involved in the syndicate that raced Pernod.

Standing on the steps beside the main stand at Ruakaka, Warren Huckley, who’d made the trip from Melbourne to see the filly race, was taking some pretty deep breaths before the gates opened. “Being involved with Pernod was just an amazing thrill but to see her first foal come out and do what this filly has already done is just unbelievable,” said Warren. “Two stakes races from three starts is just a remarkable result,” he said.

Trainer Ross Elliott has always had a high opinion of Martini Red but he was feeling the pressure a little on Saturday. “This filly is something special,” he said. “She can just do things that other horses can’t and when you know a horse is that good, the pressure comes on a bit,” he said. “At her last start I didn’t even watch the race, I was behind the stand!” said Ross. It was no different on Saturday. While confident Martini Red was spot on for the race, Ross wasn’t so sure about the track conditions. “She doesn’t really like bad ground so I can’t wait to get her on a good track,” he said.

Martini Red’s victory wasn’t the only cause for celebration with stablemate and fellow Trelawney graduate Vanny Fair (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy) bursting out of the pack to finish on strongly for second.

Van Nistelrooy’s first winner in the Southern Hemisphere, Vanny Fair is also her sire’s first stakes performer down here franking some solid lead-up form. “I knew she would handle the track and I thought she’d go well,” said Ross. “I’m pretty relieved actually and just pleased that they both went so well,” he said. “Now it’s just a matter of getting them home safely and they’ll both go out for a bit of a break,” he said.

Bred by Trelawney client Louie Chuidian who is based in the Philippines, Vanny Fair was purchased for $35,000 by Australian Jim Simpson from the Trelawney draft at the 2006 Karaka Premier Sale. She won her first race in early January and her last three starts have produced three seconds.

As for the next generation, Pernod has a Zabeel weanling colt on the ground and is due to foal to Zabeel again this season while French Flute, the dam of Vanny Fair has a weanling filly by Elusive City (USA) (Elusive Quality) and is due to foal to Van Nistelrooy.