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Trelawney Graduates on a Roll 28 Apr 2008
Smart three-year-old filly Martini Red (Aus) (Red Ransom) added to her already impressive stakes record on Saturday when proving too strong for her three-year-old counterparts in the Group Three Windsor Park Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa.

Doing a lot of work early in the race to overcome a wide barrier, Martini Red was pushed forward early by jockey James McDonald to sit just outside the leader Bow Lane (NZ) (Russian Hero) but she still had plenty in the tank when it counted and was too strong for race leader Bow Lane who had kicked two lengths clear on the turn.

LEFT: Brent & Cherry Taylor with daughter Ella, & Martini Red

A dual Listed winner at two, Martini Red claimed her first Group Victory in the Group Three Darley Plate (1200m) against the older horses at the beginning of March. A daughter of Group One-winner Pernod (NZ) (Centaine), Martini Red was raised at Trelawney and she has well and truly cemented a place in the Trelawney Stud broodmare band upon her retirement from racing.

“She is certainly a valuable filly,” said Brent Taylor of Trelawney Stud “but we are hoping to get a lot more enjoyment out of racing her before she is retired to the broodmare paddock,” he said. “It is also great to race the filly with some of the people who were also involved in Pernod and of course my Mum has a share along with trainer Ross Elliot,” said Brent. “We get a lot of enjoyment of racing horses with people and to get results like this is just the icing on the cake,” he said.

Martini Red started what was almost a fairy tale weekend for Trelawney Stud with another graduate lining up in Australia’s blue riband event, the AJC Derby. Red Ruler (NZ) (Viking Ruler) was bred by Trelawney Stud in partnership with John Cornish of Torryburn Stud in Australia and was sold by Trelawney at Karaka 2006 for $60,000 to the bid of John Sargent.

An impressive winner of the Group Two Championship Stakes (2100m) prior to the Mercedes Derby, a wet track prevailed at Ellerslie on Derby Day which didn’t play into Red Ruler’s hands however at Randwick on Saturday, the three-year-old almost got the ultimate result in the AJC Derby before being run down close to home by another New Zealand bred and trained runner, Nom Du Jeu (NZ) (Montjeu).

“It was a huge effort and for a while there it looked as though he had it in the bag,” said Brent. “I guess the only consolation is that he was beaten by another New Zealand bred and trained horse!”

Red Ruler looks set to back-up this coming Saturday in the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) taking on the likes of Tuesday Joy (Aus) (Carnegie), Desert War (Aus) (Desert King) and Casino Prince (Aus) (Flying Spur) and Derby-winner Nom Du Jeu at Weight For Age.

Further success for Trelawney came through the deeds of Taameer (NZ) (General Nediym) in South Australia, the two-year-old filly taking out the Listed Walter Brown Stakes (1250m). Bred by client Robert Anderson, Taameer was born and raised at Trelawney and was sold through Trelawney’s Karaka 2007 Premier Draft where she was purchased by Angus Gold for $100,000 on behalf of Shadwell Australia. Trained by David Hayes, Taameer has made a solid start to her race career with three wins and a second to her credit already.

Trelawney Stud has enjoyed a great start to 2008 with four individual Group winners and a Listed winner so far this season, these being Martini Red, Red Ruler, Taameer, Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky) who won the Group Two Reisling Stakes (1200m) and, Boundless (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy), the winner of the Group One New Zealand Oaks. Boundless could continue the success of Trelawney Stud graduated on Wednesday when she lines up in the Group One AJC Oaks whilst Miss Fantabulous (Aus) (Encosta de Lago) will carry the Trelawney colours in the Group Two Sapphire Stakes (1200m) on the same day.

“This is what racing and breeding is all about – having horses you’ve either bred and sold or, race yourselves, competing at the highest level,” says Brent. “We definitely enjoy every moment and wish those involved with any horse with a Trelawney connection, every success,” he said.