Harry Herbert, Managing Director of Europe's leading syndicator Highclere Racing, was hosting an event in the Jockey Club rooms at Newmarket recently when he noticed a new face sitting at one of the tables.

He made his way over to the lady and introduced himself.

"She was lovely, a good, tough, hard working woman from the north of England," he said. "I'd been speaking to her at length over the phone about a particular horse she was interested in. "I started gently teasing her that it had taken me five half an hour phone calls to get her across the line with the horse and that I considered myself better than that.

Reward for Effort's flying start to the year gained momentum on Friday night when his improving filly Brugal Reward claimed a tenacious win in the Group III MVRC Typhoon Tracy Stakes at Moonee Valley.

A last start winner at the same venue, the Darren Weir trained filly was drawn the outside in the field of 11, but charged home with a late rush for Ben Allen to snatch a neck win in the 1200 metre sprint.

"I was confident because she did it so well last week and they went quick in front," Allen said.

"Once we got into the straight she really found her stride and was strong through the line for a good win."

The campaign for Britain to remain in the EU may have failed narrowly under the slogan 'Stronger Together,' but at Ballylinch Stud that sentiment has become a business ethos that is reaping dividends.

The farm's stallion barn has been augmented this season with the arrival of New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Fascinating Rock (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), which brings to five the number of Flat sires on the roster. Each member of the quintet remains in the part-ownership of his former racing owner, with high-power syndicates having been formed to launch their stud careers.

"I'm a believer in syndication of stallions," says Ballylinch Stud's managing director John O'Connor. "I feel that when people are equity owners in stallions they are more committed to that horse. I've always found that it has been beneficial to us. We know that we have a first-class stallion facility here with a lot of historyand a track record of success."

Snitzel had his 21^st two year-old winner of the season at Newcastle's Beaumont Track on Wednesday so we thought we'd have a crack at guessing just how many winners he'll have this season in the quest to set a new Australian record and with perhaps a new world mark in sight.

The latest winner was Hypnotist, a colt out of My Amazing Dream which was purchased out of New Zealand last year by James Harron Bloodstock for $240,000 from the Highview Stud draft at the NZB Premier Yearling Sale.

21 two year-old winners for one stallion by this stage of the season is a stunning performance so it's an interesting exercise to delve into the figures and see just what Snitzel's opportunities are for the remainder of the season.