'Flashy pedigree' helps Mullins bumper runner stand out on paper

Followers of National Hunt breeding may be left scratching their heads when they happen across the pedigree of Thalitleozibatler, who makes his debut in the bumper at Tipperary on Monday.

Thalitleozibatler was bred in Australia by Gilgai Farm, whose owner Rick Jamieson is best known as the breeder of wondermare Black Caviar.

Previously named Oz in Australia, Thalitleozibatler arrived at Willie Mullins' Closutton Stables in June last year and will be ridden by son Patrick for the Old Mates Syndicate, whose distinctive green and gold silks with a boxing kangaroo are also sure to draw plenty of attention.

"We've a few Australian owners who are just mad into Irish and English jump racing, and they try to get over to Cheltenham every year," said the trainer.

"I met them when I was out in Melbourne, and they had this fellow and decided he was going to be too big for Flat racing, so they decided they'd have a little crack by sending him over to Ireland to see if we can make a jumper out of him.

"He looks a real old-fashioned jumping type but goes on good ground. He doesn't look like an Australian horse so much, he looks like an Irish jump horse, so let's hope he's as good as one.

"He's got a very flashy pedigree and we're hoping a bit of that stamina and pedigree will come out. He jumps well at home too, but we'll start him off in a bumper."

Thalitleozibatler: as a yearling when offered at the 2016 Inglis Melbourne Premier SaleCredit: Inglis

The six-year-old gelding is by Onemorenomore, a son of Red Ransom who won the Group 1 Champagne Stakes at two before embarking on a stud career with stints at Vinery Stud in New South Wales and Ridgewood Park in Victoria. He was exported to New Zealand last year.

The sire's 11 stakes performers to date are headed by the Group 2 Sweet Embrace scorer One More Honey.

Thalitleozibatler is the first living foal out of Miss Keepsake, a hugely talented racemare who won the Queensland Oaks before finishing third in the Queensland Derby seven days later.

The New Zealand-bred daughter of Keeper was kept in training until five, when she finished second in the Queen of the Turf Stakes at Rosehill.

Jamieson added Miss Keepsake to his broodmare band after spending A$400,000 (£219,000/€242,000) on her at the 2012 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

She is also the dam of five-year-old Sebring mare Collectable, a dual winner who competed twice at the highest level, the three-year-old Wandjina colt Token Spirit, and is carrying to the ten-time Group 1 winner So You Think, the sire of six elite winners to date.

Thalitleozibatler changed hands once at public auction, when bought by Karl Brown Bloodstock from Gilgai Farm for A$40,000 at the 2016 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

Horses bred in Australasia have succeeded in jump racing in Britain and Ireland previously, perhaps best evidenced by the New Zealand-bred pair Seagram and Lord Gyllene, who both appear on the Grand National roll of honour.

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