Cover image courtesy of Westbury Stud
Written by Paul Vettise
Telperion made a dream start to the second stage of his career when his son Stormy (NZ) was successful on debut at Awapuni on Saturday.
The Westbury Stud-based stallion has enjoyed strong support through the early stages of his breeding career and a victory at the first time of asking was also well-received across the Tasman.
“Godolphin still own half of him with us so I’m sure they are delighted as well with the start he’s made to his stud career,” Westbury Stud General Manager, Russell Warwick, said.
“It’s very satisfying for his first runner to win and he’s had very good numbers with good support from breeders and breeding right holders and Gerry (Harvey) has sent good numbers of mares to him.
“He hasn’t served less than 118 mares each season so there are plenty more of them to come out.”
“He hasn’t served less than 118 mares each season so there are plenty more of them to come out.” – Russell Warwick
Telperion was prepared by then Godolphin Head Trainer John O’Shea and during a six-start career he was a stakes winner and performed creditably at the highest level.
“Looking at the stallion physically, he looks more of a 3-year-old type – he’s a big, strong horse,” Warwick said.
“In saying that, he was fourth in the G1 Golden Slipper S. behind Capitalist, second to Yankee Rose in the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce S. and won the Listed Lonhro Plate so he was a sharp horse.
“I would have thought had Telperion won he would have been a far better 3-year-old.”
A half-brother to the G1 Randwick Guineas winner Kementari (Lonhro), Telperion is out of the winning Redoute’s Choice mare Yavanna and stands at a fee of NZ$5000 + GST .
“To be fair and honest, it’s not an easy task when you’re positioned at the lower end of the market. But we have supported him heavily and his first runner has won so things can only get better as they go along,” Warwick said.
“To be fair and honest, it’s not an easy task when you’re positioned at the lower end of the market.” – Russell Warwick
Stormy, the first foal of the unraced Swiss Ace mare Silent Night (NZ) is trained by Tony Pike and sat close to the pace before producing a determined finish under Lisa Allpress, who has recently returned to riding following hip replacement surgery, to land the Feilding Hotel 2YO.
Westbury has enjoyed a good run of recent success with last season’s G1 VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) winning the G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup to boost her G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup chances.
Miami Bound was purchased out of the Karaka farm's New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft for NZ$120,000 by trainer Danny O'Brien.
De La Terre (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) was also successful last time out in the G3 Soliloquy S. to confirm plans for a crack at the G1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas. She was a NZ$55,000 Karaka buy for Rogerson Bloodstock.
