Derby Runner for Tarcoola Stud

Media Release - Thursday October 24

Based on prices and performances, top Victoria Derby prospect Thought of That was a bargain buy.

After a demolishing a 1620m maiden at Donald by eight lengths, the Ciaron Maher/David Eustace trained colt shot into Derby favoritism with an impressive victory in the Ladbrokes Group 3 Classic (2000m) at Caulfield.

Thought of That is headed to the Victoria Derby - image Grant CourtneyVictorian breeder Ken Williams, who operates Tarcoola Stud on the Mornington Peninsula with his wife Denise, was expecting the colt to fetch $200,000-plus when he went under the hammer at the Sydney Easter sales.

Instead he was knocked down for $100,000 and later syndicated in an exercise that Williams was told took three minutes.

“We had 14 X-ray hits and he was vetted five times and we were told there were three Hong Kong blokes on it,” Williams said.

“Something happened. I don’t know what happened but when it went into the ring it was friendless.”

What surprised Williams was that the son of So You Think, out of Hold Me Closer, was a stunning looking colt – and has continued to develop – and should have fetched more.

The Williams own Hold Me Closer and have a stunning colt by Press Statement out of the mare which has just produced a Spirit of Boom filly.

“We bred the mare,” he said.

“It’s a funny story because we sold her up at the Magic Millions and the Coolmore boys ended up buying her and there was a foal share and they finished up buying the other half. They raced it and it wasn’t a bad racehorse but it had slightly off-set knees which pulled it up. It won in Sydney.”

Coolmore said they didn’t want to breed from Hold Me Closer and offered to sell her back to Ken and Denise who happily agreed.

Williams points out that Hold Me Closer’s dam, Intertwined, produced 2002 Golden Slipper winner How Funny.

“How Funny is Sir Tristram and she came from a mare called Twining who was an unbelievably good racehorse,” Williams said.

“So when you look at his (Thought of That’s) breeding, he is out of a Twig Moss mare, out of a Sir Tristram mare, out of a Danehill Dancer mare and all of them all the way through have got black type everywhere.

“So it shouldn’t be surprising that he has a little bit of ability.”

The next time Tarcoola Stud puts one of Hold Me Closer’s progeny through the sale ring, they are hoping that Thought of That will add plenty of value to the sale price.

While this year’s Derby (2500m) has plenty of top prospects, Maher said Thought of That responded to the blinkers being applied before his Donald maiden victory at his sixth start.

“He obviously put the writing on the wall at Donald when we put the shades on. He is a colt and just needs that bit of focus,” Maher said.

Jockey Linda Meech said Thought of That, who led all the way at Caulfield to win by 3.8 lengths, just idled in front.

“He just went whatever speed I needed to hold the front, he never got flustered, never touched the bridle and gave a great kick from the 600,” Meech said in her post race interview.

“I gave him a little squeeze and he never looked like getting beaten.”

Thought of That will now go straight into the Derby.

TBV News

Advertisment
More Reading...
Cambridge Stud News and New Website
Cambridge Stud have been on a winning roll and have just launched their exciting new website.
Bellatrix Star to Lead Flemington Contenders for Te Akau and Fortuna
The Melbourne Cup Carnival holds special memories for both Te Akau Racing and Fortuna Racing, and there could be more to come with five black-type contenders on Derby Day at Flemington on Saturday.
Switzerland Brother an Inglis Easter Highlight for 2025
An “arrogant’’, “dominant’’ and “awesome’’ victory solidified Easter Sale superstar Switzerland’s future at stud when he produced a devastating performance to win the stallion making G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington today.
Wootton Bassett Colt Wins G1 Breeders Cup Turf Juvenile Colts
The worldwide winning wave of juvenile winners for Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett rolled into Del Mar in North America on Friday when talented colt Henri Matisse claimed victory in the Group I Breeders’ Cup Turf Juvenile (1m).
Back to Back Victoria Derby Winners for Triple Crown Hero American Pharoah
The Watson family owned South Australian nursery Mill Park is a name synonymous with serious Group I horses and in particular those bred by astute breeder Harry Perks and this winning association struck for a third time in the $2million Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday when Goldrush Guru saluted to join previous winners they have produced in Rebel Raider and Warning.
Third G1 Win for Star Savabeel Mare Atishu
A year after flying home for second behind Pride Of Jenni in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), Go Racing’s pin-up girl Atishu(NZ) (Savabeel) returned to Flemington on Saturday and went one better for the Kiwi syndicators.
Fawkner Park Back to Winning Ways in G3 Rosehill Gold Cup
Since winning the Listed Albury Gold Cup in March, Fawkner Park has undergone an amazing transformation.
Switzerland Wins the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes for Coolmore
After Coolmore’s $875,000 I Am Invincible colt Home Affairs captured the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2021, it was the turn of the $1,500,000 Snitzel colt Switzerland to do the sponsor proud in the $2,000,000 Group 1 feature at Flemington on Saturday.
2024 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw
The all important barrier draw for the world’s richest handicap, the $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) has been held for a field which contains horses bred in seven countries and trained in four.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 2
Here is the full list of 137 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.