TWINS Hills, a 1012 hectare property located just west of Cootamundra is to begin a new chapter in its rich thoroughbred history.
In April, Oliver Tait and wife Amber, purchased Twin Hills from world thoroughbred owner/breeder Sheikh Mohammed of Darley/Godolphin fame, the organisation that Olly successfully played a central role in building its Australian properties.
The property was established as a horse farm in the 1970s when American immigrant Ferd Calvin relocated his Dawson Stud (formerly Navua Stud) from Grose Wold in the Hawkesbury Valley.
Mr Calvin moved his imported US bred sires, including Swiftly Morgan, Dignitas, Bluescope, and Garganey to Cootamundra.
Also transferred was Irish bred import Lorenzaccio, who left behind a foal which under the name of Ahonoora was to become a prominent influence on the breed.
Following Mr Calvin’s death, Dawson Stud was purchased by television media personality Mike Willesee who further developed the property into a state-of-the art showplace under the name of Trans Media Park.
Trans Media Park stallions included Let’s Get Physical, Sir Dapper, Joindre and Sovereign Red.
In 1993, the property became an arm of the Ingham Brothers’ Woodlands breeding and racing empire, and at one time stood English Derby winner Quest For Fame.
Sheikh Mohammed’s world-wide Darley operation took over the Cootamundra stud when they acquired the Ingham’s horse breeding and racing interests in 2008.
Now the Tait family have set their sights on their own commercial breeding operation at the well-known Cootamundra property and have introduced the US bred Bobby’s Kitten and Australian bred Odyssey Moon to become its foundation stallions.
Serving his first book of mares in Great Britain earlier this year, Bobby’s Kitten was an outstanding racehorse winning six races, five in North America.
His highlights include the Group 3 Pilgrim Stakes as a juvenile at Belmont Park, and the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
Among the fastest sons of five time champion US and Canadian turf sire Kitten’s Joy, Bobby’s Kitten belongs to the maleline of Sadler’s Wells’ sire El Prado.
Winner of the renowned Group 3 Melbourne sprint, the VRC Standish Handicap, Odyssey Moon is a son of Australian sire sensation Snitzel, who is fast taking over the mantel from his champion sire Redoute’s Choice.
One of the fastest juveniles of his generation, Odyssey Moon displayed his toughness when pushing Pride Of Dubai to the line when second in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes.
