Popular Tarzino heads Westbury Stud roster

Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino will stand at a service fee of $25,000 + GST this season Photo: Trish Dunell

Westbury Stud has handed their young sire Tarzino a rise in service fee to $25,000 + GST on the back of continued success following his two Group One winners last season alongside strong returns in the sale ring.

From his first crop, the son of Tavistock produced Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) winner Jungle Magnate and Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) heroine Gypsy Goddess while his yearlings sold for up to $260,000 at Karaka in the last 12 months and averaged A$225,000 at the Magic Millions Sale.

He is also the sire of black-type performers Tarex, Foreign Raider, Mountain Guest and Bitcoin, who won his Australian debut by a wide margin at Ballarat for trainer Lindsey Smith to press his claims for higher honours in Saturday’s Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2400m).

“Tarzino will head up the Westbury roster at $25,000 + GST in 2023 after making a wonderful start to his career,” Westbury General Manager Russell Warwick said.

“Such was the demand for him in 2022 that he covered the largest number of mares (197) by any stallion in New Zealand.”

Associate stallion El Roca will stand at $15,000 + GST, Reliable Man at $13,500 + GST, Redwood will be offered at $10,000 + GST with Swiss Ace and newcomer Ferrando both priced at $5000 + GST.

Fastnet Rock’s son El Roca produced his second Group One winner this season with Romancing The Moon a dominant winner of the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m), a race also won by another daughter in Travelling Light in 2020.

Bella Mente and Mali Ston have also performed at the top level while El Roca was further represented by recent Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) winner White Noise.

The stallion has been represented this season by stakes performers Rocababy, a Listed winner, Norwegian Bliss, Lucky Patch, Oldtown Road and Miss Rockette.

Dalakhani’s son Reliable Man has produced top-flight performers in Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) winner Miami Bound, Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Sentimental Miss and Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m) winner Inspirational Girl, who sold for $1.1 million at last week’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale.

Reliable Man sired two stakes winners on Saturday at the Sunshine Coast, with four-year-old mare Essonne coming with a barnstorming finish to win the Listed Silk Stocking (1400m), with three-year-old filly Renaissance Woman pressing her Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) claims with an outstanding win in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m).

“Reliable Man has crossed very well with the Southern Hemisphere bloodlines and aside from his large number of winners, he has 10 Group One performers Down Under to his name and Renaissance Woman looks a strong chance in the Queensland Oaks,” Warwick said.

Redwood has enjoyed a stunning year with his son Sharp ‘N’ Smart winning three times at Group One level and Platinum Invador claimed the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m), while Saturday’s Listed winning juvenile Solidify is on a path to the Gr.1 JJ Atkins (1600m) in Brisbane.

“He has also produced Tuchel, who was narrowly beaten in the Hong Kong Derby (Gr.1, 2000m), Malaysian stakes winner Black Thorn and the Australian black type performers Pink Ivory and Tokorangi, plus Solidify looks something special,” Warwick said.

Elder statesman Swiss Ace continues to be a proven source of success as the sire of Group One winner Julius and stakes winners Swissta, Secret Spirit, Little Giant, Passing Shot, Miss Federer, First Serve, Speedy Meady, Mywayorthehighway, Mr Malek, Top Prospect, Huka Eagle, Sergio, East Asia, Ichiban and January.

Group Three winner and Group One placegetter Ferrando will join the roster with his oldest progeny currently yearlings and has covered 142 mares to date.

“By the very good sprinter Fast ‘N’ Famous, Ferrando is a grandson of Redoute’s Choice and was a particularly fast sprinter,” Warwick said.

“He recorded 1.07.73s for 1200m when winning the Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1200m) over Heroic Valour and posted 1:06.96s when finishing second in the Telegraph Handicap (Gr.1, 1200m).”

Ferrando is the first foal of the Captain Rio mare Rio Nugget and from the family of former Champion Australian Three-Year-Old filly and three-time Group One winner Samantha Miss.