Trelawney farewells blue hen Sayyida
Trelawney Stud has farewelled one of the cornerstones of its broodmare band, with New Zealand Broodmare of the Year Sayyida dying at the age of 26.
The daughter of Zabeel and Eastern Princess leaves an enduring legacy through five-time Gr.1 winner Ocean Park and a powerful female family that continues to feature prominently within Brent and Cherry Taylor's Cambridge nursery.
Sayyida was the first race filly purchased by the Taylors with the intention of eventually breeding from her and showed considerable ability during a brief career for trainer Roger James.
A two-time winner, she was regarded as a leading prospect for the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) before suffering a career-ending injury in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2000m) during her three-year-old season.
After being nursed back to health, Sayyida went on to make an exceptional contribution at stud despite producing only a relatively small number of foals.
“Sayyida was the first race filly Cherry and I bought to race and breed from,” Brent Taylor said.
“She gave us a short but exciting race career, but showed us she was a high-class performer that we could breed from with confidence that she could express her ability in her progeny.”
That confidence was emphatically rewarded through her outstanding son Ocean Park.
By Thorn Park, Ocean Park won five races at Gr.1 level, headed by the Cox Plate (2040m), along with the Underwood Stakes (1800m), Caulfield Stakes (2000m), New Zealand Stakes (2000m) and Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m).
His outstanding 2012-13 campaign earned him New Zealand Horse of the Year honours as well as champion middle-distance titles in both New Zealand and Australia, while Sayyida was subsequently crowned New Zealand Broodmare of the Year in 2013.
Ocean Park retired to Waikato Stud in 2013 and has continued his mother's influence at stud, siring Gr.1 winners Kolding, Tofane, Kovalica and Ocean Billy.
Sayyida's influence has also flourished through her daughters.
Ruqqaya produced Grunt, who won the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, along with Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) winner Zayydani and Listed Birthday Cup placegetter Addison.
Another daughter, Lady Sayyida, produced Gr.2 Rose of Kingston Stakes (1400m) winner Excelida and dual Gr.2 winner Shanwah, with both also earning placings at Gr.1 level.
The family remains firmly embedded at Trelawney, with Ruqqaya, Zayydani, Addison, Reemyya, Ayyesha and Madiyya among Sayyida's descendants retained within the stud's broodmare band.
While Sayyida's own breeding career is over, the influence of one of Trelawney's most important foundation mares is set to continue for generations to come
