History has a way of repeating. Which is why we should not be surprised to see the winners keep coming from Twin Hills Stud, the recent Silver Eagle winner Vilana, by resident stallion Hallowed Crown, the latest example.
After nine years spent abroad, for the most part as chief operating officer of Sheikh Mohammed's global operations, Olly Tait returned to Australia on a permanent basis in 2017. It was just over 12 months ago that Tait and his wife, Amber, jumped at the chance to purchase Twin Hills Stud in Cootamundra, a 1011-hectare farm that Tait had a hand in running during his time with Darley and that was also nearby to where he grew up in rural New South Wales.
The red jacket, white cap colours of Olly Tait's family, inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2014, have long been a part of the fabric of Australian racing, carried by some of Australia's best racehorses including Baguette, Tie The Knot and Spinning Hill.
Twin Hills is located in the NSW Riverina and was established by Ferd Calvin before being purchased by media personality Mike Willesee in the early 1980's. Willesee developed the farm into Trans Media Park Stud, building world class facilities and standing outstanding stallions such as Snippets, Sovereign Red and Rubiton.
In 1993, the property became an integral part of Jack and Bob Ingham's Woodlands Stud. It was home to a large proportion of the Woodlands mares as well as stallions such as Strategic, Domesday and Derby winner Quest For Fame.
The Stud was sold to Sheikh Mohammed's Darley as part of its acquisition of the Ingham's racing and breeding interests in 2008. Since then it has played a central role in Godolphin's Australian racing operations and has been the base for outstanding racehorses such as Appearance, Exosphere, Epaulette and Guelph.
The stud was absorbed into Darley when Sheikh Mohammed's organisation bought the Inghams' bloodstock interests in 2008.
Tait helped establish Darley in Australia and managed branches in Japan and the US before relocating to Britain, where he was responsible for global operations. “I was very lucky to have been able to work for Darley around the world,” Tait says. “I was able to see how things are done differently in different countries. This is a global industry but there are not many operations that have an international presence, and I was lucky to work for Darley and get those opportunities. I'll be forever thankful for that.”
Perfectly situated between the Hunter Valley and North-East Victoria, the farm provides access to both of Australia's most prominent thoroughbred breeding areas.
Prompt Tait on the land itself and the response is both immediate and from the heart.
“I believe the strength of Twin Hills is the quality of the farm,” Tait said. “It's on fantastic land and has wonderful facilities. We're a commercial operation looking after a large number of horses for clients. I knew it was a good farm, but you have to get that message across and you have to get people to come with you on that. I think that's happened.
“I think we are situated on arguably some of the best Agricultural land in Australia. The climate helps, on average we are a little bit cooler than the Hunter Valley, the winters are a tad longer and the summers are kinder. Our land is undulating and drains well which is important.
Twin Hills feeds Barastoc Breed N Grow, and Tait is quick to credit the work of Dr Peter Huntington. “He’s a trusted advisor and we are lucky to be able to work with him,” Tait says. “Obviously the Breed N Grow works for us but we are also able to modify it throughout the year according to the tests we do with Peter and the results show in the horses we are producing.”
For many, starting a business on the scale of Twin Hills would be a daunting exercise but it is one that Tait, his wife Amber and children Rupert, Freddy and Daisy embrace wholeheartedly.
“Building a business from scratch is a challenging thing to do,” he adds. “I knew it would not be easy and we've faced challenges that come with that and overcome them. We get up every day and work hard and trust that the results will be good. Our clients need to see that and enjoy it with us.”
"Having grown up close to Twin Hills and been fortunate enough to work and live in the major thoroughbred breeding centres of the world, I know how lucky we are to have this opportunity. It is situated in an area that has produced countless Champions and Golden Slipper winners, Guineas, Derby and Oaks winners. It is a magnificent property with world class facilities on beautiful land.
“Every day we assess what we’re doing and what the market is doing and what our competitors are doing. We also take a step away and annually look at our business. We get some outside people in to discuss our business and make sure that we’re heading in the right direction and invigorate our ideas and that’s a process we find beneficial.
“We’ve grown healthily in three years and want to continue with the growth in the areas in which we operate – stallions, agistment and our own bloodstock trading. We've been very lucky as it's been a buoyant market in Australia and right around the world. The racing industry in Australia is very healthy and our timing has been good in that we have been a part of that.”
Twin Hills has grown from standing two stallions in 2017 to five in 2022 and this season is welcoming the first foals by resident Peltzer, a Group race winning son of Champion So You Think.
“We’re very pleased with Peltzer’s first foals, he’s a beautiful horse himself and his foals so far are certainly throwing him in physique.”
The next equine generation of Twin Hills Stud is on its way.