Tilianam (NZ) Brilliant in Lonhro Plate

Black-type success in Sydney has come quickly for the connections of Tilianam (NZ) (Savabeel), just 12 months after buying the filly for $270,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2020.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the highly talented Tilianam extended her unbeaten record to two-from-two in Saturday’s A$140,000 Listed Darley Lonhro Plate (1000m) at Randwick. She has now earned A$82,000 in stakes for her five owners.

A debut winner in Canberra last month, Tilianam was thrown in at the deep end on Saturday and delivered again.

Ridden by Tim Clark, she sat just behind the leaders before launching a sharp sprint in the straight to take control of the race. She kept going strongly to the line, holding off the fast-finishing Jamaea (Headwater) by a short neck.

Waterhouse and Bott are now considering a late nomination for the A$3.5m Group One Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill in March.

“We’ve got a few decisions to make – I don’t think she’s paid up for the Slipper,” Bott said. "Being a filly by Savabeel out of New Zealand, we weren't necessarily expecting her to come up this early, but her attitude has allowed her to be so precocious early in her career.

“That attitude will take her a long way. She’s been so professional from the outset. We saw that on debut at Canberra, and she’s obviously improved off that today.”

Clark was impressed with how the filly felt.

"Typical of Gai and Adrian's horses, she's just so professional,” he said. “She's such a sweet little filly to ride and does most things right. Having a great attitude takes them a long way in these early two-year-old races.

“They ran along nicely, she got into a good position and most importantly she was able to travel through the race and she wasn't chasing the whole way.

“She was able to come from behind the speed, and I thought she showed a wonderful turn of foot to put the race away. She waited once she did get to the front – the second horse (Jamaea) was out fairly wide, so she couldn't see her a lot."

A full-brother to Tilianam was offered by Waikato Stud during Book 1 of Karaka 2021. Sent through the ring as Lot 138, he was bought by Mark Newnham Bloodstock for $120,000.

Vendor	Waikato Stud Ltd
Purchaser	Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott (New South Wales)
Breeding	Savabeel – Spending
Sale	Lot 299, Karaka 2020 Book 1, $270,000
Bred by	Waikato Stud Ltd