The deeds of the Champion Hong Kong galloper Beauty Generation (Road To Rock[AUS]-Stylish Bel[AUS]) have been significant in the decision of this year’s Breeder of the Year Nearco Stud and Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year Stylish Bel (Bel Esprit[AUS]-Stylish Victory), at the Horse of the Year awards evening hosted by NZTR.
Nearco Stud is the name given to South Island entrepreneur Greg Tomlinson’s thoroughbred business, and he was on hand at the gala event to accept the trophy for Breeder of the Year.
“I am really an accidental breeder, but I am thoroughly enjoying it, my heart is really in racing and producing winners,” he said when accepting the award.
“Breeding a horse such as Beauty Generation is quite extraordinary. You never expect to breed a horse to that quality and although you try your best as breeders its quite an effort to go through to try and choose what you are going to do with your matings, then going back and revisiting that and consulting before you make your final choice. That’s it everybody is just trying to do their best for the stake holders in the industry.
Tomlinson bred Beauty Generation from Stylish Bel after leasing her from her then owner Peter Woods. She is now owned by Rosemont Stud in Victoria, and on their behalf Russell Warwick from Westbury Stud accepted the Arion Pedigrees sponsored Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year Award. Ironically Westbury Bloodstock were the original owners of Stylish Bel when she commenced her breeding career.
“Anthony Mithen and Nigel Ross asked me to pass on their congratulations and thanks to Peter Woods and Donna Logan,” said Warwick, “they had a foal share with Tarzino and Stylish Bel and when Beauty Generation started to show the form it did they then purchased the mare and took her back to Australia. They recognise if it wasn’t for Peter and Donna they wouldn’t be involved in the mare.”
He went on to congratulate Nearco Stud and stated that for Beauty Generation its been a great story for both the new owners and the old owners and for those involved going forward.
Beauty Generation was once again in the year under review named Hong Kong Horse of the Year, after victories in the Gr.1 HKJC Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Cup, Gr.1 HKJC Champions Mile, Gr.1 HKJC Hong Kong Mile and Gr.1 HKJC Stewards. As well he was successful at group two level in Gr.2 HKJC Chairman’s Trophy, the Gr.2 HKJC Shatin Trophy, and Gr.2 HKJC Jockey Club Mile, along with the Gr.3 HKJC Celebration Cup.
A little closer to home Nearco Stud also bred Belle Du Nord (Reliable Man[GB]-Bankside Belle), who won the Gr.2 Waikato RC Cal Isuzu Stakes, and the smart South Island two-year-old filly Miss Federer (Swiss Ace [AUS]-Halobelle) who won the Gr.3 Taranaki JC 2YO Classic, and the Listed CJC Welcome Stakes.
Over the summer in Melbourne Manolo Blahniq (Jimmy Choux -Floramour) took out the Listed VRC Chester Manifold Stakes, and during the year ran a host of stakes placing, while in Singapore Distinctive Darci (Darci Brahma – Distinctive Lass) also scored at stakes level placing in the Singapore Colonial Chief Stakes.
As stated earlier Stylish Bel is now resident in Australia and according to Anthony Mithen will visit I Am Invincible (AUS) this season.
“She missed to I Am Invincible(AUS) last year, but we are keen to go back, he throws a champion with any old mare so we are hoping we get something good breeding him with Stylish Bel,” Milthen mused.
“Ironically, she has a Tarzino yearling that will go to the sales this summer, as Tarzino beat Beauty Generation in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas, when he raced in Australia as a three-year-old known as Montaigne. It’s all very exciting for a mare we have owned for less than 12 months, and I really have to thank Peter and Donna the accolades should go to them.”
Stylish Bel has also left Steel Cutter a full-brother to Beauty Generation who has won two races in Singapore, and Drops of Jupiter (Echoes of Heaven[AUS]) who has been placed second twice in two starts. She also has a two-year-old unraced filly by Tavistock.
She herself was an unraced daughter of the stakes placed winning mare Stylish Victory, who is also the dam of the stakes winners Victory Trump and Savage Attack. - Michelle Saba
