Telemon’s first full calendar year of operations included a number of highlights. As we all know, thoroughbred breeding and racing can be a rollercoaster ride. With a new year on us, here is a reflection of our many special moments in 2019 in pictures. Unfortunately, the one thing we can’t celebrate is the season and we look forward to some desperately needed rain in the new year.
JANUARY
The MEDAGLIA D’ORO x PEGGY JEAN colt (in the Widden Stud draft) which we are partnership sold for $1 million at the Magic Millions 2019 Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was the first million dollar lot of the 2019 sale and this was the first time we reached the magic seven figures at a sale.
FEBRUARY
After winning her first Group 1 as a 3yo filly in 2018, SUNLIGHT resumed in February with a fine 3rd in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes. Next start in early March (pictured), she beat Australia’s best sprinters in the Newmarket Handicap over 1200m. Over the rest of the year, she went on to win the Group 1 William Reid Stakes & Group 2 Gilgai Stakes, not to mention some memorable placings in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes, Group 1 Moir Stakes and inaugural $7.5M Golden Eagle.
MARCH
KIAMICHI, first crop daughter of our foundation stallion SIDESTEP won the Group 1 Golden Slipper with a sensational front-running performance. KIAMICHI (ex OUACHITA) also won the Group 3 Magic Night & placed in the Group 1 Sires Produce as a 2yo and in doing so marked SIDESTEP as one of the most exciting young stallions in the land.
APRIL
After what would turn out to be the last good rain our region would see for 2019, we hosted a professional photo shoot of our farm. The images (many on our website) showcase the beauty of our region, the variety of services we offer, the quality of our paddocks & the professionalism of our team.
MAY
We announced exceptional sprinter JUNGLE CAT would join champion 2yo colt SIDESTEP on our roster for the forthcoming breeding season. JUNGLE CAT achieved Group 1 success defeating Breeder’s Cup sprint winner STORMY LIBERAL in the 2018 Al Quoz Sprint over 1200m in Dubai. At his next start the high-class son of sire of sires IFRAAJ became the first topweight since TESTA ROSSA almost 20 years ago to land the Group 1 Rupert Clarke Stakes.
JUNE
Telemon’s first Magic Millions National Sale concluded in June with some outstanding results. One of our top-selling lots was in the Broodmare Sale with race filly SHEISWHATSHEIS (pictured) fetching $300,000 for great judge Suman Hedge.
JULY
We were delighted to host respected thoroughbred journalist & presenter Caroline Searcy and her crew at Telemon in July as she filmed a feature on our farm and stallion SIDESTEP (pictured) for ‘Bred To Win’ on Sky Thoroughbred Central.
AUGUST
What a remarkable first season his progeny delivered! In August, SIDESTEP was crowned the champion first season sire of Australia for 2018/19. One of his acknowledgments was at the NSW Breeders Awards with this magnificent trophy (pictured).
SEPTEMBER
Breeding season hit top gear in September with many on-farm mares foaling down. One of our early arrivals was this WINNING RUPERT x SECRET BOND colt for our great clients at River Junction.
OCTOBER
The owners of Telemon, the Fletcher family, had the joy of being involved in a number of classy racehorses with assignments during the Spring Racing Carnival. One of their most exciting prospects emerged in a European 2yo RUSSIAN CAMELOT who won on debut over 1400m at Ballarat in October, providing trainer Danny O’Brien and all connections with hope they may have a nice Queensland Winter staying type on their hands.
NOVEMBER
SISSTAR emerged from the shadow of her big sister SUNLIGHT with Group 3 success on Ladies Day during the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington. SISSTAR showed her opposition a clean set of hooves with victory in the rich Red Roses Stakes over 1100m and looks set for bigger and better things.
DECEMBER
December was a busy month to round out the year with our stallions SIDESTEP & JUNGLE CAT completing duties for their strong book of mares. We were thrilled to host OUACHITA (pictured), dam of Golden Slipper winner KIAMICHI. It should come as no surprise she returned with a large contingent of Darley’s elite broodmare band safely in foal to SIDESTEP.