Few breeders understand the value of partnerships in thoroughbred racing and breeding better than Telemon principals Dan and Rae Fletcher.
A good advertisement for Telemon for breeding in partnership is SOLAR CHARGED, a mare the Fletcher family owns in conjunction with Qatar Bloodstock and Widden Stud.
Dan Fletcher, on why they went into partnerships:
“When we started doing partnerships, we were trying to make our dollar go further and reduce risk.
“We could only afford a nice mare or two by ourselves or we could get into several nice mares if we could find a compatible partner. The latter option had a lot of appeal.
“A lot can go wrong in this business so risk management is paramount. Partnering not only spreads your risk but you increase your chances of being involved when things go right.”
Recently Telemon made some quality additions to their portfolio by partnering with Western Queensland couple Yasmine Johnson and Andrew Thomas via their vehicle Thomjon Livestock.
The first acquisition together was racemare SECRET LADY.
A 4yo by CHOISIR from stakes-winning mare FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, SECRET LADY was purchased by the partnership for $100,000 in an Inglis Online Sale towards the end of 2019.
SECRET LADY was the first acquisition by the Telemon & Thomjon Livestock partnership.
Bred in Western Australia, she was a $150,000 purchase at the 2017 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale by Sydney-based trainer Gary Portelli in conjunction with Aquis Farm & Blue Sky Bloodstock.
She went on to pay back her new owners with interest almost immediately, winning over $300,000 in prizemoney in her 2yo season.
“The main attraction with Secret Lady is she was a high class 2yo,” explained Fletcher.
SECRET LADY after leading all the way to win the rich Golden Gift 2yo race at Rosehill.
“She ran in both the Magic Millions as well as the Slipper and was competitive in both. We did her ratings and there’s no doubt she’s better than a lot of stakes-performed 2yos without actually having black type.
“Over the long run we feel we’ve bought a quality mare to breed from. She’s arguably half price so we see her as an example of an inefficiency in the way the market attributes value.
“She has a half sibling in Perth who won a trial by 5 lengths in February, so fingers crossed the family stays active and her pedigree keeps improving.”
Now being trained by Tony Gollan at Eagle Farm, SECRET LADY won her first trial in impressive fashion and placed 4th on debut after starting as favourite in early March.
Trainer Tony Gollan, on her first preparation with the stable:
“We gave her a slow build up this preparation and she has really impressed us with her work. Her trial and jumpout were terrific, she has thrived in the feed bin and presented like a million dollars for her first race which I expected her to win.
“Unfortunately due to the firm surface on the day she jarred up and we’ve had to put her out for a short break, but I’m sure she’ll be winning Saturday races for us when we get her back.”
For now, she is spelling at Telemon enjoying the lush pastures and Autumn sunshine before she embarks on her ‘unfinished business’ on the racetrack.
“At this stage we need to give her a couple of months off and the plan is to have her back in July,” said Dan.
“We’d like to enhance her record even further if we can – Tony’s confident she has more wins in her before she heads off to be a mum.”
Telemon and Thomjon went back to the Inglis Digital platform more recently to tap into a bloodline that has been the source of their greatest success, paying $42,500 for CAUSEWAY QUEEN – a half-sister to none other than SUNLIGHT’s mother, SOLAR CHARGED.
CAUSEWAY QUEEN winning over 1400m at Caulfield as a 3yo.
Dan Fletcher, on her purchase:
“We did our due diligence and she passed muster. We thought she was good buying under the circumstances being an unreserved mare selling while the COVID-19 crisis is unfolding.
“Even though things are terrible economically at the moment, we couldn’t resist tapping into this family again given where it’s taken us already.
“We love the fact she’s not some inferior sibling to a star performer. She was a high-class race filly in her own right winning six straight in the city including multiple stakes wins.
“She’s by an outstanding broodmare sire in GIANT’S CAUSEWAY and has been well mated. She’s already produced a really good horse in LINCOLN FALLS who has been highly competitive up to Group 1 level and has some nice stock coming through.
“She’s may be older mare but we’ve done quite well with these sort of mares and we feel we know what to look for.
“She’s in foal to ALL TOO HARD – he looks a good cover for her and he’s been reinvigorated commercially thanks To ALLIGATOR BLOOD, so overall we think she’s value.
“Yas and Thommo have been shoulder to shoulder with us in nearly all of SUNLIGHT’s big wins, so it wasn’t hard to convince them to join us in breeding from such a close relation.”
CAUSEWAY QUEEN in foal to 4 time Group 1 winner ALL TOO HARD at Bhima Thoroughbreds.