Tuthills take aim at Karaka with quality boutique offering

Image courtesy of Beaufort Downs

Stealing time between being hands-on with inspections, Olly and Annabel Tuthill spoke to TDN AusNZ on Thursday, ahead of their seven-strong Book 1 draft of yearlings heading through the ring at Karaka, and according to them it’s the strongest draft they’ve yet presented.

With all but two of their draft being homebreds from their 100-acre North Canterbury property, they are rightly proud to be leading the way amongst New Zealand’s younger generation of breeders.

“I’ve dealt with thoroughbreds through polo all of my life, so you’re part of the industry in that way,” Olly Tuthill told TDN AusNZ. “I grew up with thoroughbreds and Annabel was the same with her eventing, she always used thoroughbreds in eventing."

It’s a project long in the making for the Tuthills, and the five or so years they’ve been in business isn’t the half of their combined experience with thoroughbreds. With British expatriate Olly a former polo player and native Kiwi Annabel coming from an eventing background, both previously represented their respective nations at their chosen sports.

Gallery: Beaufort Downs' owners, Annabel and Olly Tuthill

“Her family have bred racehorses for generations. Her cousin, Gus (Wigley), runs Inglewood Stud which is just down the road.

“Her dad has had racehorses and has always bred racehorses, and they sold yearlings back when the sales used to be at Trentham.”

The family involvement stretches even further back still for Annabel as one of her great-grandparents was Ken Austin, the auctioneer who sold Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}).

A growing success

It’s unsurprising then to hear that their relatively new venture has not been without reward, as they continue to grow gradually. They love buying young mares with a view to turning them into successful broodmares, and they look well on track with one particular example.

At the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale they purchased two-time winner Dazzling Lady (NZ) (Lonhro) for $155,000, a maiden mare in foal to So You Think (NZ). Pleased with the resulting filly foal, they sent her back to the Coolmore stallion which resulted in a sister.

With that first filly bringing NZ$75,000 at Karaka in 2020, her older sister went even better at the following year’s sale, commanding NZ$200,000 to the bid of Duncan Ramage’s DGR Thoroughbred Services (FBAA) and trainer John Sargent.

The now 3-year-old was named So Dazzling (NZ) and was a winner of last September’s Kennedy Oaks Preview. And, whilst she looks an exciting prospect, they’ve since had further sale-ring success with the same stallion.

“On potential she’s looking quite smart,” Tuthill said. “We sold another So You Think filly last year which, on potential, could be even better… She’s not racing yet, but she’s a lovely, lovely filly.”

Out of the Exceed And Excel mare Lagertha, that filly was a NZ$380,000 hit - the most expensive yearling by So You Think at the 2022 NZB Karaka sale, selling again to Duncan Ramage and now trained by Phillip Stokes at Pakenham.

A big week ahead

With last year’s yearling filly out of Lagertha the most expensive sold by Beaufort Downs, the Tuthills will be hoping they can top that figure this year, and there’s a good chance it’ll be the well-bought Dazzling Lady that’s responsible if so.

Being a sprinting mare herself, and a precocious one too, they decided to turn towards a speedier influence for her 2020 mating. Landing on Darley’s first-season sire Microphone now looks an inspired choice, as the resulting colt (Lot 134) has been notably busy during this week’s inspections.

“He’s been really popular, he’s a really solid horse,” Tuthill said. “Microphone seems to be leaving some really nice types. He’s a solid, muscly horse and he looks like he could go quite early.

“We’re really happy with all the colts. The pick of them though, I would say, is the Deep Field colt. I don’t think I can fault him. He’s a lovely, lovely horse, he’s been out all the time.

“He’s got a head like his Dad, and that always helps when they throw towards the dad, he looks just like Deep Field.”

Consigned as Lot 621, the Deep Field yearling is the first foal from Via Veneto (All Too Hard), a $180,000 buy by the Tuthills at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, and herself out of the twice Group 1-placed mare Valdemoro (Encosta De Lago).

Of their three fillies in Book 1, Tuthill picked out Lot 199, a Dundeel (NZ) filly out Free Speech (Exceed And Excel) - a dual-winner who’s a half-sister to Group 3 winner Communique (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) and from the family of Australia Champion Samantha Miss (Redoute's Choice).

“She’s just got an amazing walk to her,” he said. “She’s got a lovely hip on her, and it shows in her walk. She’s got a huge step and she’s been pretty busy as well.”

Kept busy

Both Olly and Annabel Tuthill have been busy too - finding, with some relief, that the sales ground at Karaka has been busier than ever this year. Back to unrestricted travel post-COVID, they were only just able to make time in between inspections to speak to TDN AusNZ on Thursday.

“It’s a relief really, coming out of COVID,” said Tuthill. “It definitely feels busier here at Karaka. We were surprised how busy it was at Karaka previously, but the parades did sort of tail off once everyone had seen what they wanted to see.

“At the moment, we’ve been busy every day… and there’s a much better atmosphere.”

Given that they enjoyed some great results during COVID-affected years, they both admit that they don’t yet know how this will affect trade, but surely it can’t be a negative.

“The way the sale went during COVID, you’ve got to hope that with more people allowed back in the country that it can only improve. You never can tell, but there’s nothing like seeing the horses in the flesh for the foreign buyers.

“Online was great, and the videos were great, but seeing a horse in real life is different.”