Cover image courtesy of Twin Hills Stud
The Thoroughbred Report caught up with Twin Hills Stud Manager Chris Kent, with farm owner Olly Tait currently in Great Britain celebrating a memorable week at Royal Ascot. Tait, who manages Wathnan Racing, a major up-and-coming racing and breeding operation, was on hand to witness their success in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, courtesy of the exciting Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}).
The win of Buccleuch added to the successful weekend, an encouraging sign for Peltzer’s early runners. It helps add momentum to the breeding season and the spring, which could be a breakout season for the young sire as they become 3-year-olds and get more of an opportunity to show their prowess over more ground. Buccleuch looks poised to play a key role in that trajectory.
Tait and Wathnan's big week
Australian bloodstock figure and Twin Hills Stud owner Olly Tait has played a pivotal role in the rise of Qatari powerhouse Wathnan Racing, which enjoyed a breakout Royal Ascot campaign with five winners during the prestigious week, highlighted by Group 1 success with Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
Since joining Wathnan Racing in 2022, Tait has been instrumental in guiding its swift emergence as a major international force. Widely respected across the global thoroughbred industry, he brings decades of expertise in bloodstock management and strategic development.
Tait spent 15 years at Darley, where he played a key role in transforming the organisation into a global leader. He helped establish studs in Australia, Japan, and the United States before stepping into a global leadership role in 2010, based in Newmarket, where he oversaw Darley’s worldwide operations.
Olly Tait | Image courtesy of Wathanan Racing
Chris Kent of Twin Hills Stud praised Tait’s and Wathnan's recent achievements at Royal Ascot, noting:
“They’ve had a fantastic week at Ascot. Wathnan has made significant investments, and those are the kind of results you hope for. Olly knows what it takes to build a world-class operation, and it was brilliant to see it all come together for him and the team.”
“Wathnan has made significant investments, and those are the kind of results you hope for. Ollie knows what it takes to build a world-class operation.” - Chris Kent
“It’s a great result for Olly, Richard Brown, and everyone involved. They put in the work sourcing these horses, and to see that pay off on one of racing’s biggest stages is hugely rewarding.”
Buccleuch puts Peltzer in the spotlight
Buccleuch delivered an eye-catching performance at Flemington on Saturday, bounding away to score impressively in the 2-year-old 1420-metre event. Trained by Patrick and Michelle Payne, the well-related gelding shapes as a promising late-season juvenile and an even more exciting 3-year-old prospect with staying potential.
By emerging sire Peltzer, who stands at Twin Hills Stud, Buccleuch was well-supported in betting off the back of a dominant debut win at Echuca on June 3, where he started a commanding $1.14 favourite. On Saturday, he settled off a solid tempo before unleashing a strong finish to upset the well-favoured Observer (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) - marking Peltzer’s first metropolitan winner..
“It was a fantastic win, he settled beautifully off a good speed and really ran away with it,” said Kent. “He’s got plenty of scope and looks like a horse that will only get better with distance and maturity.
“He’s (Buccleuch) got plenty of scope and looks like a horse that will only get better with distance and maturity.” - Chris Kent
“It’s an exciting result for the farm, for Olly (Tait) and his family, and for all the shareholders in Peltzer. It’s a very good international family, and the Taits have had enormous success as breeders over many years.
“Just recently, they sold Jenny Jerome for $400,000 at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, and along with the Nivisons, they’ve bred stars like Tie The Knot, Cherry Tortoni, and Spinning Hill.
“As I said, hopefully this guy can be the next one, it would be fantastic for Peltzer, and he certainly looks promising, so who knows?”
Buccleuch winning the 2-year-old Handicap at Flemington | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Buccleuch is the fourth foal from Golden Fastnet (Fr) (Fastnet Rock), a dual winner in France who was Listed placed on the track. She is a half-sister to Wind Chimes (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a Group 3 winner and Group 1 performer in France, her placings included in prestigious races, the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.
Wind Chimes was in the spotlight earlier this month, selling to Ben Kwok for $305,000 via the Inglis Digital June Sale, and it was reported that she is expected to visit either Profondo or Shamexpress (NZ) this spring.
Since foaling Buccleuch, Golden Fastnet produced a yearling colt by Hallowed Crown, and a weanling filly by Prized Icon, before she sadly died in November last year.
Peltzer: A talented galloper with progeny poised to progress
A standout as a yearling, Peltzer was snapped up by Gerald Ryan Racing and David Raphael for $260,000 from Mill Park Stud’s draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale and he wasted no time making an impression on the track.
Trained by Gerald Ryan, Peltzer was unbeaten as a juvenile, claiming victories over 1000m and twice over 1200m. As a 3-year-old, under the training partnership of Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, he immediately announced himself at a higher level. He ran second in the G2 San Domenico Stakes, fourth in the G2 Run To The Rose, and capped the campaign with major wins in the G2 Stan Fox Stakes, G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes, and the $1 million Bondi Stakes.
Peltzer | Standing at Twin Hills Stud
He retired to Twin Hills Stud in 2021, where he has stood four seasons. His fee for 2025 has been reduced to $11,000 (inc GST), excellent value for a promising, well-credentialled stallion.
“He throws a lovely type,” said Kent. “He really stamps them. They’ve always looked like they’d be back-end 2-year-olds and better again at three, very much like he was himself.”
“They’re very typical of the So You Think/High Chaparral line — horses that improve with age. As they get older, they just keep getting better.”
His sire, So You Think (NZ), has been one of Australasia’s premier stallions, with 63 stakes winners, including 12 at Group 1 level.
So You Think (NZ) | Standing at Coolmore Australia
“Peltzer’s ticking over nicely in terms of bookings, and hopefully Buccleuch’s win can only help that,” Kent said.
“He’s in that tricky fourth and fifth-season window when breeders want to see how the first crops perform, but he’s doing exactly what we expected, producing late-maturing types who should thrive at three.”
“Peltzer’s ticking over nicely in terms of bookings, and hopefully Buccleuch’s win can only help that,” - Chris Kent
Kent also highlighted Tom Vegas, Peltzer’s first winner, who saluted on debut and has placed again since.
“He’s got a great group of shareholders behind him who will continue to support him strongly. It’s shaping up really well, and the So You Think/High Chaparral line just keeps going from strength to strength.”
A Sireline on the move
When High Chaparral (Ire) - an outstanding 10-time winner and six-time Group 1 victor, entered stud at Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand two decades ago, it was clear he had the potential to make a mark on the Australasian breeding landscape. What few could have predicted, however, was just how profound and far-reaching that impact would become.
Now, twenty years on, the High Chaparral sireline is thriving more than ever. His sons So You Think and Dundeel (NZ) have established themselves as elite sires in both Australia and New Zealand. Their legacy is being carried forward by the next generation - young stallions like Super Seth, Castelvecchio, and D’Argento, who are already producing top-class Group 1 winners and performers.
High Chaparral (Ire) | Stood at Windsor Park Stud
“The So You Think or High Chaparral line is outstanding,” said Kent. “So You Think and Dundeel are incredibly well-proven and have delivered consistency for many years now.
“The line is thriving, developing and flourishing, which is hugely exciting for Peltzer, as So You Think and Dundeel are now becoming grandsires to young stallions that are already doing the job.”
Kent remains confident in the long-term success of the lineage. “We have complete faith in the line. If you give them the time they sometimes need, they reward you - and when they do, they can really shine.”
Chris Kent | Image courtesy of Twin Hills Stud
The evolution of the High Chaparral line has shown a clear tendency to produce tough, talented, and progressive racehorses. It’s no surprise that Peltzer’s progeny, like recent Flemington winner Buccleuch, look likely to mature into strong 3-year-olds. Buccleuch may be the early headline act, but Kent believes there could be more to come.
“He looks the type that could get black-type either as a late 2-year-old or at three, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we see more smart ones popping up. Hopefully Peltzer could shape up as another success story from this outstanding sireline, from his base here at Twin Hills.
