G1 JJ Atkins Stakes winner Capital Gain (Ad Valorem {USA})’s half-sister by Acrobat has thrilled Twin Hills Stud stud manager Chris Kent. The filly is out of winning mare Zuzao (Delzao), who was raced by Rob Manwaring.
From Capital Gain to Headley Grange
Twin Hills Stud client Rob Manwaring bred and part-owns Friday’s G3 Cameron Handicap winner Headley Grange (Exosphere).
Headley Grange is a 5-year-old gelding trained by Joe Pride for Manwaring and his racing partners. A winner on debut as a spring 3-year-old, Headley Grange earned his first black type win in Friday’s G3 Cameron Handicap. He took his record to 10 wins from 21 starts with earnings over $820,000.
Manwaring’s Acrobat filly from Zuzao is a stand-out at Twin Hills Stud.
Acrobat x Zuzao filly | Born at Twin Hills Stud
“Rob Manwaring owns the mare. He bred and part-owned Cameron winner on Friday, Headley Grange. He’s an astute breeder and also bred the Group 1-winning half-brother (to this filly),” said Kent.
“We foal his mares down for him, and then they go back to his place near Harden.” Harden is a 40 minute drive from Twin Hills Stud on the way north towards Yass.
Zuzao has five named foals for three winners, led by G1 JJ Atkins Plate winner Capital Gain who won twice at two and again at four. She produced a Pierro colt who sold at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $520,000. He was named Napa Valley and has won twice this year.
Zuzao has an unnamed 3-year-old colt by Shalaa (Ire) and an unnamed 2-year-old filly from Acrobat’s first crop. A full sister to the 2025 filly, the 2-year-old was sold through Widden Stud’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft to A McRae for $20,000.
Bred to be precocious
By Acrobat, who won his only start in the Listed Inglis Nursery Stakes, and a half-sister to a juvenile Group 1 winner, this filly is bred to fly early. Further, Acrobat is a son of Fastnet Rock, from the Danzig (USA) sireline, which is the same sireline as Captain Gain’s sire Ad Valorem (USA), a son of Danzig.
Acrobat (USA) | Standing at Coolmore
“She’s a lovely filly with a lot of quality. Strong, well balanced and the mare has done an excellent job. She’s only two and a half weeks old and seems a very forward filly. She’s bred to be early and has a nice presence about her,” said Kent.
“I haven’t heard where Ron is going to send Zuzao this spring. She’s an older mare now, 19, so he’ll likely take his time with her before deciding.”
Zuzao is out of a winning daughter of G2 Edward Manifold Stakes winner Darling Take Care (Bending Away {USA}).
Busy spring at Twin Hills
Twin Hills Stud is located in Cootamundra, around six hours drive south of the Hunter Valley. “We foal around 130 to 150 mares each spring. Some are owned by Twin Hills, some by clients. We’ve got mares here who will go to our stallions, others like Ron’s mare who will foal down then go home, and others who live here full time,” Kent said.
“We walk out to both Victoria and NSW. Logistically we are in a good position and have the ability to go north or south. We are fortunate to be here. It’s lovely country, good growing country.”
