Twilight in the spotlight at Tamworth

Yarradale Stud resident Scandal Keeper sired his second winner when Twilight Scandals flashed home at Tamworth on Monday.

Twilight Scandals (3f Scandal Keeper – In Twilight by Dr Grace) left it late to nail front-runner Shakawe by a half-head in the 2TM Country Music Maiden (1200m).

The winner is prepared at Scone by Alex Martyn and he races the filly in partnership with his wife Janice, son Nathan and daughter-in-law Stephanie.

Martyn also manages Yarrandi Stud for prominent owner-breeder Jim Koureas.

“I’m sure Twilight Scandals can go on and win a few more,” Martyn said.  “She was headstrong early on and then developed some mouth ulcers so we had to back off.

“She can be a handful but I reckon that’s because she’s out of a Dr Grace mare.  I broke-in a few of them years ago and they could buck with the best of ‘em.”

Martyn bought Twilight Scandals for $5,000 from Toolooganvale Farm at the Inglis June Sale in Sydney last year.  “She was bred by Brooke Terry who works at Toolooganvale,” Martyn added.  “Her dam had a colt by Shaft last month and Brooke said he will be the mare’s last foal.”

Toolooganvale studmaster Geoff Harris also sold a Scandal Keeper – Deyarra colt at Scone last year.  “He caught my eye before the sale and Geoff got $20,000,” Martyn recalled.  “He looked a real nice type.”

The colt was purchased by a good judge in John Foote.  He has been named Royal Butler and is being trained by Darren Weir at Ballarat.

Twilight Scandals is part of a small first crop sired by Scandal Keeper when he stood at Darley in 2007.  He was subsequently sold to Yarradale Stud and owner Ron Sayers has been rushed with bookings this year.

His brilliant Melbourne sprinter Zamorar has been the catalyst for all the phone calls.  He was a runaway winner at Bendigo and Moonee Valley in September and then ran a tip-top fourth to Sepoy in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.

Scandal Keeper (Danzig) is a three-quarter brother to the dam of Sepoy.  He won in Sheikh Mohammed’s colours at Newmarket and stands for a $4,400 (inc gst) service fee at Yarradale.