Tweenhills transformed into a power player in the stallion game

What a difference a decade has made for David Redvers' Tweenhills Stud.

In 2009 the farm's stallion ranks comprised Ishiguru, Lucky Story, Sleeping Indian and Trade Fair. All enjoyed their moments in the sun by supplying the odd high-class runner, but none were Group 1 winners themselves and they were certainly more bread and butter than brilliant.

Redvers was asked in the Racing Post Bloodstock Review published at the end of 2008 how difficult he had found it to secure new stallion talent that year.

“Well, we found it impossible,” was the answer. “The stallion potential just wasn't there and although we put in an extremely generous offer on one horse, his owners decided to continue racing.”

Fast-forward ten years and Redvers and his team at Tweenhills are launching three new names with outstanding credentials for 2019 – Group 1 winners Roaring Lion and Lightning Spear, and reigning champion Australian first-season sire Zoustar.

They reinforce a strong roster that already includes 2017 leading first-season sire Havana Gold and next year's freshman Hot Streak, whose yearlings have caused a stir at Tattersalls over the past week. Charm Spirit, who has fared well with his debut two-year-olds this season, is also welcomed back from standing in France.

The reason for the transformation of Tweenhills is Redvers' introduction to Sheikh Fahad Al Thani around 2010, and becoming manager for the ambitious young owner and his brothers' Qatar Racing venture.

The stud, home to blue-collar stallions only ten years ago, is now one of the most important operations in Britain thanks to the injection of those top-class horses Qatar Racing have dug deep to purchase and race in their claret silks with gold braids.

There will likely be a fair few horse boxes being driven west to Gloucestershire during the next breeding season that in previous years would have been Newmarket-bound.

With Qatar Racing digging deep to replenish its racing string – going to a Book 1-topping 3,500,000gns for the Dubawi brother to Too Darn Hot and Lah Ti Dar this month, for example – Tweenhills looks set to become even more of a power player in the stallion game in future.

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