The late, great Tavistock (NZ) is the sire of nine individual Group 1 winners and 39 individual stakes winners that have combined for a staggering 80 stakes victories.
Bred by Henrietta, the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, at Bloomsbury Stud in New Zealand in 2005, Tavistock hailed from the outstanding family that included blue hen Mrs Moss (GB) (Reform {Ire}), who is the dam of 1986 Japan Cup winner Jupiter Island (GB).
In December 2019, Tavistock died at Cambridge Stud, aged 14.
Tavistock (NZ)
Tavistock is the sire of winners of some of the biggest races in the world, including the Victoria Derby, Hong Kong Derby, New Zealand Derby, South Australasian Oaks, Rosehill Guineas, Sistema Railway and Chater Cup.
One feature race that has eluded him, however, is the Melbourne Cup, although it must be said that he hasn’t had many runners in the great two-mile contest. His daughter Tralee Rose (NZ) ran a gallant ninth last year after winning her way into the race via her Geelong Cup triumph.
Tavistock has the bases loaded for this year’s Melbourne Cup, with three of the 23 runners by the ill-fated champion sire. All three are bred by Cambridge Stud’s founder, Sir Patrick Hogan.
Sir Patrick Hogan with Tavistock (NZ)
Marcus Corban, who spent 40 years at Cambridge Stud, 30 as general manager, told TDN AusNZ, it was pleasing to see Tavistock well-represented.
“It’s great, I was a bit surprised to see three of them there in the field and at least a couple of them look to have a chance,” Corban said.
Corban explained that a win by one of Tavistock’s trio would be a massive shot in the arm for Hogan, who is widely regarded as a master breeder.
Marcus Corban | Image courtesy of Cambridge Stud
“Tavistock was a horse that was very special to Sir Patrick. He bought him as a stallion, loved his pedigree, did his research on him,” said Corban.
“He could breed a stayer with a turn of foot and he was a sprinter-miler with a turn of foot.
“It would be great for one of them to run a big race on Tuesday.”
“Tavistock was a horse that was very special to Sir Patrick (Hogan). It would be great for one of them (Tavistock's progeny) to run a big race on Tuesday (in the Melbourne Cup).” - Marcus Corban
Looking for more Cup glory
Hogan has enjoyed great success in the Melbourne Cup, with Cambridge Stud’s foundation sire Sir Tristram (Ire) siring 1982 Cup hero Gurner’s Lane (NZ). Empire Rose (NZ) made it two wins for the great sire when she was triumphant in 1988, while Brew (NZ) made it three when he was victorious in 2000.
Sir Tristram’s champion son Zabeel (NZ) has also had a trio of winners, with Might And Power (NZ) scoring in 1997, Jezabeel (NZ) a year later and Efficient (NZ) in 2007.
And in 2001, Cambridge Stud’s unheralded stallion Rhythm (USA) joined the party when his brilliant mare Ethereal (NZ) completed the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups double.
Sir Patrick Hogan with Sir Tristam (Ire)
Tavistock will be represented by the Joseph Pride-trained Stockman (NZ), Young Werther (NZ) for Danny O’Brien and Symon Wilde’s mare Tralee Rose.
Both Stockman and Tralee Rose are out of Zabeel mares and that nick has been hugely successful, producing 13 stakes winners (five of them at Group 1 level).
Stockman was offered by Cambridge Stud at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 1). He was bought by Proven Thoroughbreds / John Thompson Racing for NZ$175,000.
Group 3 winner Stockman (NZ), trained by Joseph Pride, will jump from barrier two in Tuesday's G1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The winner of $1,343,890 will jump from gate two under Sam Clipperton.
Tralee Rose made NZ$50,000 at the same sale. Again, offered by Cambridge Stud, she was purchased by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock.
The 6-year-old mare will be break from stall 21 and will be handled by Dean Yendall.
Dual Group 3 winner Tralee Rose (NZ), trained by Symon Wilde, will jump from barrier 21 in Tuesday's G1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Young Werther went through the ring at Karaka (Book 1) 12 months later. Also a member of Cambridge Stud’s draft, he was knocked down to Aquis Farm / O'Brien Thoroughbreds NZ$140,000
Damian Lane has the ride aboard Young Werther, which will jump from barrier 20.
“I think Joe Pride has timed his run right with Stockman, and Young Werther wasn’t too far away in the Cox Plate,” Corban said.
“Danny O’Brien has got a great knack in the Melbourne Cup, so as long as it doesn’t get too wet, he could give them a bit of a fright too, Young Werther.”
Group 1 runner-up Young Werther (NZ), trained by Danny O'Brien, will jump from barrier 20 in Tuesday's G1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
While Tavistock may be yet to taste success in the Melbourne Cup, his sire, Montjeu (Ire) did so in 2012 with Green Moon (Ire). A year later, another of Montjeu’s sons, Mount Athos (Ire), ran third in the race won by Fiorente (Ire).
Montjeu is one of three sons of Sadler’s Wells (USA) to have sired a Melbourne Cup winner, with the other two being Scenic (Ire) and High Chaparral (Ire). Viewed won the race for Scenic in 2008, while Rekindling (GB) achieved the feat for High Chaparral in 2017.
