Photo: Reg Ryan (Racing Photos)
John Thompson and Greg Tomlinson have combined for another major stakes success in Australia.
The respective principals of Rich Hill Stud and Nearco Stud bred and sold She’s A Hustler (Ace High), who continued her excellent strike rate when she claimed the Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (2040m) at The Valley.
The daughter of Rich Hill resident Ace High has won six of her nine starts, with one of her three runner-up finishes posted in last season’s Listed Centaurea Stakes (2017m) at Morphettville.
Thompson and Tomlinson previously joined forces to purchase Temolie, the dam of the Gr.1 ATC Derby (2400m) winner and multiple top-flight placegetter Aeliana.
“When we invested in Vadamos, Greg wanted to buy a couple of mares to go to him and I suggested we go 50-50 in a couple, and when Proisir was coming up we bought Temolie to go to him,” Thompson said.
“It’s worked out particularly well for us and those couple of mares.”
She’s A Hustler was purchased out of Rich Hill’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale by agent Phill Cataldo for $70,000.
“She had one start in New Zealand for Roger James and Robert Wellwood at Matamata and ran second as a three-year-old and looked very smart,” Thompson said.
She’s A Hustler subsequently made her way to Begg’s Cranbourne stable and is now likely to bid for further black type success in the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.
The mare is a daughter of the Bernardini mare Snow Petal, who was successful on two occasions and is a granddaughter of the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
She was later a multiple stakes winner in Singapore where she earned Horse of the Year honours.
“We bought Snow Petal at the Gold Coast (A$120,000) to go to Vadamos at the time, and we bred a really good horse called Freeze Frame,” Thompson said.
“She ran second and should have won the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m), but he sadly died after that.
“We’ve got a Proisir three-year-old filly (Frozen Fortune) who has just come back into work with Tony Pike, we’ve been avoiding all the wet tracks with her.
“Hopefully, she might get through to some of the fillies’ races over Christmas.”
Mick Price Breeding & Racing secured her brother at Karaka earlier this year for $100,000.
“The mare recently foaled a Chaldean filly and we’ll be breeding her back to him,” Thompson said.
