Most of us would agree that 2020-2021 has been a bloody trying and painful year. There is no possible way, as we left the Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale in January 2020, that we could have foreseen the events of the next 18 months. For most of us here in Victoria that period feels like a lifetime ago, and I'm sure it feels the same for many others around the country and the world as well.
The silver lining though, for me, from the last 12 months, was watching with joy and delight (and some pride I might add), of the rise and rise of Victoria's Champion Stallion, who today is wearing the crown of Champion Australian Stallion for the 2020-2021 Season.
Written Tycoon was the first Victorian stallion on my books, and his home was Woodside Park Stud who were also my first Victorian farm. They have been a terrific bunch to work with and their success helped me establish the Victorian aspect of my business following the big move I made with my two children in January 2014. My start in Victoria was slowed by the settling process of getting the kids in to their new schools and life and then hit the major hurdle of getting a truly stupid and nasty cancer diagnosis in the 2nd half of 2014. It wasn't until February 2015 that I was back working again and I did my first shoot for Woodside Park on the 16th March 2015. I was immediately struck by Written Tycoon, in particular the enormous presence he possesses and how beautifully behaved and gentle he was. He's a little like Snitzel, in that he swells with presence in the paddock, gathers himself together in the perfect outline of a proud and noble stallion. And of course the other truly lovely thing about him, and working with him, is that he's always been totally without malice and working inside his paddock has always been a lovely experience.
He is the sire of Group 1 winner Ole Kirk, Odeum, Pippie, Capitalist (who’s made a brilliant start with his first runners and was just pipped for Champion First Season Sire by fellow Newgate Stud barn mate Extreme Choice), Written By (now at Widden Stud with his first yearlings to sell in 2022), Despatch, Music Magnate, Luna Rossa, Tycoon Tara and Tyzone. He stood the 2020-2021 season at Arrowfield Stud, in a 1 year arrangement between Woodside Park Stud and Arrowfield, where he served an absolutely lovely book of mares, and he returns to Victoria, to Yulong Farm, where he will be beautifully looked after and get the best opportunities in the final years of his career as a stallion. There is much excitement about the foals that will be born in the Spring of 2021 with mares such as Black Caviar, Naturale (dam of Ole Kirk and full sister to ‘Nelly’), Shoals, The Broken Shore (dam of Shoals), More Joyous, Earth Angel and Miss Helsinki due to foal to him. I didn’t see him last year, for the first time in 6 years, and can’t wait to see him later this month.
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WRITTEN TYCOON winning the 2005 G2 Todman Stakes. He came up against some other handy 2yo colts that year. Stratum and Snitzel to name a couple. |
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Woodside Park Stallion Parade 2019. Pre Covid, where all was still right in the world. He was a bit of a rockstar that day. |
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Such a signature brand |
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Fan favourite |
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OLE KIRK (Written Tycoon x Naturale), winner of the G1 Golden Rose and G1 Caulfield Guineas in 2020-2021 |
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ODEOM wins the 2020 G1 Thousand Guineas |
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DIRTY WORK completes a stellar 2020 Caulfield Guineas Day for Written Tycoon, winning the G2 Schillaci Stakes. He has retired to Spendthrift Farm. |
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