Mogumber Park

BY KRISTEN MANNING

Mogumber Park’s Colin Brown and Fiona Lacey look forward to yearling sale time - it is, they say, “a very nice time of year.”

“It is a chance to catch up with people you don’t see the rest of the year - from around the state and around the country,” Brown said, adding that whilst the sales week is a busy one, there are relaxing moments which provide the opportunity to sit down “and chew the fat” with trainers, breeders and owners.

A lovely chance to mix business and pleasure and there is certainly plenty of business happening with Brown excited about the 18-strong draft being presented in 2023.

“We have ten different stallions represented - five from Western Australia and five from the east coast and we are really happy with the way they have grown out.”

Mogumber take their time with yearling sale preparation - their youngsters handled at different times during the year with some early education during the winter to that come summer time they are easily handled.

“They learn a bit each time without any stress being placed on them,” Brown said.

And a few days off over the Christmas/New Year period - the staff also enjoying a break - has them fresh heading into the final weeks of the preparation.

Tipped out each night, the youngsters enjoy their work with Brown noting that “each morning they are at the gates waiting for us. We find this works really well, the horses don’t go stir crazy and further down the track they are easy to break in and train.”

When asked for the draft’s highlights Brown was happy to pause, noting that “it is hard to pick the stand-outs which I think is a good sign!”

Happy with each of the 18, Brown did pick out a few he thinks will be of particular interest to buyers - such as lot 160, the first foal for the Testa Rossa mare Poverty Point, a half-sister to the Group 1 Railway Stakes winner Elite Belle, the Group 2 Perth Cup winner Mississippi Delta and the dual Listed winner Battle Emblem.

“She will be close to being our sale-topper,” Brown said, delighted with the progress the daughter of Playing God has made.

“She is a first foal and when she arrived we thought she was pretty ordinary,” he laughed.

“But the breed can be like that - they just take a little time but they really improve.”

“Another filly with great residual filly is lot 69,” he said - a daughter of Mogumber’s own Safeguard and the stakes placed Coast To The Post whose four foals to race are all winners including the stakes placed Miss West Coast (also by Safeguard) and the dam of the 2022 G2 Percy Sykes Stakes winner Paris Dior.

“She will be well looked at as her family is really growing and developing - and her half-sister was pretty unlucky not to win the Karrakatta Plate.”

Magnus is a stallion who is well respected in Western Australia and Mogumber’s filly (lot 108) out of a half-sister to the dual Group 3 winner Casino Dancer from the family of the Railway Stakes winner Great Shot is one sure to draw attention.

“Her half-brother won his first two starts in Hong Kong earlier in the year whilst her full sister Magnalee won only recently.” Brown is also excited about a filly out of the Fastnet Rock mare Sazavee, one of only two progeny of Yes Yes Yes in the sale.

“She is lot 2 so we will know early!” Brown said. He will have to wait a bit longer for another youngster he has plenty of time for - lot 306, a Bondi filly out of the stakes placed Notjustaprettyface whose son Green Shadows is showing plenty of potential for the Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou stable.

Those looking for an early comer are well advised to check out lot 37, a Rommel full brother to Ultimate Command and Diamond Command - both two-year-old city winners.

“He is a big, strong colt who stands over a lot of ground, he is a very good looking horse.”

As is lot 197, a Headwater colt whose full sister Honey Dew (part raced by WA football legend Brad Hardie) has already won twice in town with more to come.

“I think she will attract a fair bit of attention,” Brown said.

“Star Turn and Shamus Award are stallions really doing well and we are looking forward to selling yearlings by them... a colt (lot 298) out of a half-sister to the Group 3 Tesio Stakes winner Ocean Challenger and a filly (lot 139) out of a halfsister to the Group 3 Tasmanian Derby winner Mega Boss.”

Brown was happy to hand over the reins to Lacey when we asked a few non-racing questions...

What holiday do you think has the best food? Italy.

What food are you a master at cooking? Risotto.

What songs are on your playlist right now?

Pink and Ed Sheeran.

What drives you nuts about social media?

The ads and the fact I never see stuff from friends.

Favourite junk food?

Chocolate.

What event in your life had a huge impact?

The birth of my first child.

What place have you visited that filled you with awe?

Rome.

What phobia do you have?

Spiders (she is not alone there!).

What makes you nervous?

Pre-sale scoping.

Who is the most argumentative in your family?

My oldest son Connor.

What was the best decision that you have ever made?

To become a vet.

What would you do if you sold a yearling for $5 million?

Buy a boat.

What’s one thing your dogs could say that would completely ruin your image if they could talk?

That I am a big softie!

What would you like on your epitaph?

I am still hoping for immortality at this stage.

What songs take you back to your teen years?

Anything from the 80’s.