Flying Missile a boost for Twin Hills

By Bren O'Brien

A bumper start to the new racing season from progeny of new stallion Smart Missile certainly set the tone for Twin Hills Stud's stallion parade at their farm in Cootamundra on Sunday.

Smart Missile's first stallion parade at Twin Hills was well supported from the public, as the former champion Australian first-season sire enjoys a purple patch of form from his progeny.

With 17 winners from 68 starters in the first three weeks of 2018-19 season, Smart Missile sits second overall, behind only I Am Invincible (Aus), on the sires tables in terms of overall winners.

"It was great to show off Smart Missile in his first year here," Twin Hills owner Olly Tait said. "It was a great turnout from the breeders on what was a fairly cold and windy day."

Gooree Park Stud chose to stand the son of Fastnet Rock at Tait and his wife Amber's new operation, which they took ownership of from Godolphin in early 2017.

Tait said Smart Missile was an important addition to the roster in just their second year in business.

"We were keen to get a proven sire and we thought Smart Missile fitted the bill," Tait said.

"He's a good stallion and to be able to stand stallion that gets the volume of winners he does is important. He's getting good quality winners too, He has a lot of winners in Sydney and Melbourne, with regularity and so we couldn’t be happy with how he's gone."

First crop foals for Odyssey Moon

It's also an important time for Twin Hills' foundation stallion, Odyssey Moon, whose first lot of foals have just hit the ground.

Tait said the reports on the first crop from the son of Snitzel are proving very positive.

"So far, so good, only a limited number. We're very happy, and hopefully if the ones that have been born so far are any indication, then we are in good shape," Tait said.

Smart Missile, whose has produced four stakes winners to date, stands for $13,200, while Odyssey Moon stands for $8800.