Inside Breeding 2025

SCHWARZ ZOUSTAR’S WFA SUPERSTAR INSIDE RACING SIRES SUPPLEMENT 2025

FIRST-SEASON SIRES Extensive profiles of the new stallions of 2025

SWETTENHAM’S WOODED Wowing them in France

MOONS ALIGN FOR SOUTHPORT TYCOON Following the footsteps of his champion sire

G.A

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A Gold Coast summer means

20 Races for $20.55 Million Races programmed for all ages & classes from 1000m-2200m SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2026 – 10 RACES AQUIS PARK GOLD COAST Featuring $3m TAB Magic Millions Sunlight (3YO slot race - SW), 1100m $1.5m Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS (Qlty Hcp), 1300m $1m TAB Magic Millions The Syndicate (3YOs & up - WFA), 1100m $500,000 TAB Magic Millions The Wave (3YOs & up - WFA), 1800m

2 0 2 6 G O L D C OA S T M AG I C M I L L I O N S CA R N I VA L GOLD COAST YEARLING SALE, 13-19 JANUARY 2026 Program subject to change. All race entries & acceptances are to be made via the Racing Australia Service Centre.

Detailed race conditions & deadlines published by Racing Queensland.

SATURDAY 17 JANUARY 2026 – 10 RACES AQUIS PARK GOLD COAST Featuring $3m Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL- SW), 1200m $3m Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (RL- SW&P), 1400m $2m Magic Millions Cup (RL- Qlty Hcp), 1400m $1m Howden Magic Millions Snippets (SW&P), 1200m $1m TAB Magic Millions Fillies & Mares (SW&P), 1300m $1m Queensland Magic Millions Subzero (Qlty Hcp), 2200m

$750,000 IN RACING WOMEN’S BONUSES

M AG I C M I L L I O N S . C O M . AU raceseries@magicmillions.com.au I 07 5504 1200

SYDNEY SPRING RACING SCHEDULE 9 August

16 August

23 August

30 August

6 September

13 September

20 September

27 Septe

ROYAL RANDWICK

ROSEHILL GARDENS

ROYAL RANDWICK

ROSEHILL GARDENS

ROYAL RANDWICK

ROSEHILL GARDENS

ROYAL RANDWICK

ROSEHIL GARDEN

Concorde Stakes G3 SW+P 1000m $1,000,000

Sheraco Stakes G2 SW+P 1200m $300,000

The Shorts G2 SW+P 1100m $1,000,000

Missile Stakes G2 SW+P 1200m $300,000

Toy Show Quality G3 Qlty 1100m $250,000

Mosytn Copper Show County G3 Qlty 1200m $250,000

Open 1000m 1349m

Theo Marks Stakes G2 Qlty 1300m $300,000

Winx Stakes G1 WFA 1400m $1,000,000

Tramway Stakes G2 SW+P 1400m $300,000

Bill Ritchie Handicap G3 Qlty 1400m $250,000

Golden Pe G2 SW+P $400,000

Chelmsford Stakes G2 WFA 1600m $300,000

7 Stakes WFA 1600m $1,000,000

Shannon Stakes G2 Qlty 15 $300,00

Asahi Super Dry Kingston Town Stakes G3 SW+P 2000m $250,000

Colin Step Quality G3 Qlty 24 $250,000

Tea Rose Stakes G2 SW 1400m $300,000

Heritage S LR SW+P $200,000

Open 1350m 1799m

Open 1800m 3200m The Rosebud LR Qlty 1100m $200,000 3YO 1100m 1599m

Silver Shadow Stakes G2 SW+P 1200m $300,000

San Domenico Stakes G3 SW+P 1100m $250,000

Furious Stakes G2 SW 1200m $300,000

Up & Coming Stakes G3 Qlty 1300m $250,000

3YO 1600m 2400m

2YO

Group 1

4 INSIDE BREEDING

No sex restriction

Fillies & Mares

Colts, Geldings & Entires

Run to the Rose G2 SW+P 1200m $300,000

Ming Dynasty Quality G3 Qlty 1400m $250,000

Golden Ro G1 SW 140 $1,000,00

mber

27 September

4 October

11 October

18 October

25 October

1 November

4 November

8 November

CK

ROSEHILL GARDENS

ROYAL RANDWICK

ROSEHILL GARDENS

ROYAL RANDWICK

ROYAL RANDWICK

ROSEHILL GARDENS

ROYAL RANDWICK

ROSEHILL GARDENS

Premiere Stakes G2 WFA 1200m $1,000,000

The Nivison G3 SW+P 4YO&Up 1200m $250,000

The TAB Everest G1 WFA 1200m $20,000,000

Five Diamonds Prelude LR 5YO SW+P 1500m $1,000,000

Russell Balding Stakes SW+P 1300m $3,000,000

Choisir Stakes LR Hcp 1100m $300,000

00m

00m

m

Sydney Stakes G3 WFA 1200m $2,000,000 Silver Eagle G3 SW+P 4YO 1300m $1,000,000 The Kosciuszko SW+P 1200m $2,000,000 Golden Pendant G2 SW+P 1400m $400,000

Epsom Handicap G1 Hcp 1600m $1,500,000

King Charles III Stakes G1 WFA 1600m $5,000,000

The Invitation G2 SW+P 3YO&Up 1400m $2,000,000

Golden Eagle SW 4YO 1500m $10,000,000

The Big Dance LR Qlty 1600m $3,000,000

The Four Pillars BM68 Hcp 3YO&Up 1500m $500,000

The Little Dance 1600m Qlty $500,000

Hot Danish Stakes G2 SW+P 1400m $500,000

Angst Stakes G3 SW+P 1600m $250,000 Shannon Stakes G2 Qlty 1500m $300,00

Alan Brown Stakes Qlty 1400m $1,500,000

Reginald Allen Quality G3 3YO QLTY F 1400m $250,000 St Leger G3 SW+P 2600m $500,000

000m

Colin Stephen Quality G3 Qlty 24000m $250,000

The Metropolitan G1 Hcp 2400m $750,000

Hill Stakes G2 WFA 1900m $2,000,000

s 0m

Heritage Stakes LR SW+P 1100m $200,000

Dulcify Stakes LR SW+P 1600m $250,000

Roman Consul Stakes

r Dry own

The Barn Dance Ctry SC 1300m $250,000

Golden Rose G1 SW 1400m $1,000,000

Craven Plate G3 WFA 1800m $750,000

Rosehill Gold Cup G3 Qlty 2000m $750,000

Five Diamonds LR 5YO SW+P 1800m $2,000,000

G2 SW 1200m $300,000 The Tapp-Craig LR SW+P 1400m $500,000

Flight Stakes G1 SW 1600m $750,000

Gloaming Stakes G3 SW 1800m $500,000

Spring Champion Stakes G1 SW 2000m $2,000,000

The Callander -Presnell G2 SW 1600m $1,000,000 Brian Crowley Stakes LR SW+P 1200m $200,000 Breeders’ Plate G3 SW 1000m $250,000

Golden Gift 2YO SW 1100m $1,000,000

Gimcrack Stakes G3 SW 1000m

Head of Racing & Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani

Racing Department General Racing Enquiries

P | +61 2 9663 8410 M | +61 421 020 828 E | nramdhani@australianturfclub.com.au

Locked Bag 3, Randwick NSW 2031 P | +61 2 9663 8424 E | dobrien@racingnsw.com.au INSIDE BREEDING 5

GROUP 1 SONS AT STUD

Dundeel THE SIREMAKER

Dundeel has three Group 1-winning sons at stud, two of whom have sired multiple Group 1 winners DUNDEEL $88,000 INC. GST JON FREYER +61 408 583 888 | SALLY GORDON +61 421 080 021 ALISON BRASSIL +61 439 338 630 | MITCHELL RALPH +61 475 258 950

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Joins TOO DARN HOT as the only other Gr.1 Winnng 2yo by DUBAWI to ever stand in Australia

A FIVE LENGTH Gr.1 Winning 2yo, One of Europe’s Highest Rated Juveniles of his generation.

A Multiple Gr.1 3yo, By the Hottest Sire of Sires in the World, DUBAWI From GALILEO’S Greatest Ever Daughter, Champion 2 & 3yo; MINDING

Sam Dubaw e i/G cross a alileo s Sire, NIG Gun HT THUND OF ER

Charlie Sprague (+61 499 583 479) Ryan McEvoy (+61 439 802 837) rosemontstud.com.au

2025 Fee: $22,000 inc GST Limited Nominations Available

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CONTENTS | INSIDE BREEDING 2025

36

First-season sires of 2025

ANDREW GARVEY profiles Australia’s new stallions for the 2025 breeding season.

SCHWARZ INSIDE RACING

SIRES SUPPLEMENT

2025

ZO US TA R’S WF A SU PE

FIRST-SEASON SIRES

RS TA R

Extensive profiles of the new stallion s of 2025

SWETTENHAM’S WOODED

Wowing them in France

MOONS ALIGN FOR SOUTHPORT TYCO ON

Following the footstep s of his champion sire

G.A

10 Rosemont’s new recruits

Blue Gum Farm has added two outstanding stallions to its growing stallion roster, writes DANNY POWER

12 Wooded starring in France Swettenham Stud’s Wooded his sired his first Group 1 winner from his first French crop. The profile of the son of Wootton Bassett is on the rise.

88 II N N SSII D DE E B BR RE EE ED DII N NG G

14 Lovatsville Strikes with new sire and ideas

18 Royally bred Kingwill suits Riverbank

JAMES TZAFERIS talks to Lovatsville’s Sam White about ther farm’s new stallion and progressive plans for more breeder engagement.

Kingwill, a half-brother to sire sensation Extreme Choice, is the new boy at Victoria’s Riverbank Farm.

COVER PHOTO: the equine Adonis,

16 Dundeel emerges as sire of sires Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel is proving a surprise source of commercial stallions, writes DANNY POWER

Schwarz, pictured in full flight winning the Group 1 William Reid Stajkes. The son of Zoustar will stand his first season at Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre.

PHOTO RACING PHOTOS THE COVER IS AN INSIDE BREEDING PROMOTION WITH ROSEMONT STUD.

Cover story

10

Schwarz, the exciting and handsome Group 1-winning son of champion sire Zoustar, will stand his first season at Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre, in Victoria. He will be joined by Dubawi’s champion 2YO son Henry Longfellow.

SUPER SIRE: Toronado, pictured at Swettenham Stud, was Victoria’s most successful stallion at the 2025 Premier Yearlong Sale.

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CONTENTS | INSIDE BREEDING 2025

24

Tycoon stars on Widden’s roster at Widden Victoria Pictured is Widden Victoria’s new sire Southport Tycoon, who returns to the former home of his champion sire.

20 Yulong’s trio add to Victoria’s new sire list Yulong has moved quickly to update its stallion roster with three exceptional young sires that offer breeders variety in pedigree and price, writes JAMES TZAFERIS

26 Legendary coup for Woodside Park

Thanks to good timing and good connections, Woodside Park was able to secure exciting young sire prospect, Celestial Legend, writes JAMES TZAFERIS

HARDIE GRANT MEDIA Private Bag 1600, South Yarra, Victoria, Australia 3141 Ph: (03) 8520 6444 hardiegrant.com No responsibility is accepted by Hardie Grant Media for the accuracy of any statement or advice contained in the text or advertisements.

28 Sejardan gives Blue Gum a kick along

Excited by the response to the first foals of Sejardan, and it’s steady as you go at Blue Gum Farm.

20 Riverstone kicks off with Group 1 star

New stallion farm, Riverstone Lodge, has secured am international Group 1-winning son of Zoustar as its first sire.

30 Maluka learns a lot from its Beau

Luke Anderson’s Maluka Thoroughbreds dipped its toe into the stallion game with General Beau and now he is eager to see the first foals.

34 Larneuk revitalised

by Griff

The well-known Euroa farm, Larneuk, will stand Caulfield Guineas winner Griff.

PUBLISHED BY Hardie Grant Media for Racing Victoria

DESIGNER Kate Slattery

EDITOR Danny Power

Racing Photos, Bruno Cannatelli, (Unless stipulated, photos supplied)

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Geoff Slattery

PHOTOGRAPHY

46 Darley banks on class

Darley’s second-season star Cylinder and the consistent Stakes-producing Street Boss and Brazen Beau headline its Northwood Park roster.

50 Advertisers feature An Inside Breeding feature supporting advertisers in this edition.

* Stud fees published include GST

ADVERTISING & MARKETING INQUIRIES Cathryn Meredith on 0418 757 344 or cm@magazinemedia.com.au

WRITERS

Danny Power, Andrew Garvey, James Tzaferis

For future advertising inquiries contact Cathryn Meredith: cm@magazinemedia.com.au or phone 0418 757 344

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INSIDE BREEDING 9

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS AT ROSEMONT

BY DANNY POWER

BRILLIANT RACEHORSE: Schwarz, pictured in full flight winning the Listed Springtime Stakes at Flemington, is now the headline stallion at Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre.

W

hen breeders and bloodstock agents see Rosemont Stud’s new sire Schwarz, it’s easy to see why some think he’s named after legendary bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, given his jawdropping physique.

Like most of the Rosemont colts, Schwarz is named after former AFL football star David Schwarz, a brilliant and enigmatic player for the Melbourne Football Club. He joins names such as Brereton, Millane, Catoggio & this year’s $3M Magic Millions 3yo Guineas winner Bosustow as Stakes Winners to have represented the Rosemont Alliance colts partnership since 2022.

Schwarz joins the high-class shuttler Henry Longfellow (by Dubawi [IRE]), a Group 1-winner two-year-old and arguably the 10 INSIDE BREEDING

best-bred horse in the world, as a newcomer to Rosemont’s expanding stallion roster.

He also shares a barn with the speedy and talented Doull (by Snitzel), who retired to stud last year, and is another success story from Rosemont’s yearling sale buying spree.

Schwarz, even as a yearling, was gaspingly good-looking.

He cost the Rosemont Victorian Alliance partnership $1.25 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast sale in 2022.

After Rosemont paraded Schwarz at the Great Southern Weanling Sale at Oaklands Junction in May, such was the impact the stallion made, the phones at Rosemont ran hot with bookings.

Schwarz not only stunned onlookers—bloodstock agents and breeders—with his imposing physique and presence but also captivated in the way he prowled around the inside

parade ring like a panther.

Schwarz offers everything you’d want in a stallion—race performance, athleticism and muscle.

However, his pedigree is probably more impressive than his looks.

Not only is Schwarz a son of the newly crowned firsttime Australian champion stallion, Zoustar (by Encosta De Lago’s great son Northern Meteor), but he also comes from Australia’s, and arguably the world’s, premier female line for producing stallions.

His dam, Summer Sham (by Not A Single Doubt) is a great-granddaughter of the broodmare gem, Shantha’s Choice (by champion broodmare sire Canny Lad), the dam of multiple Australian champion sire Redoute’s Choice (by Danehill [USA]) and Group 1-producing stallion Manhattan Rain (by Encosta De Lago).

Shantha’s Choice is a halfsister to two top stallions, Group 1 winners Umatilla and Hurricane Sky, and their close relation, the Group 1 Australian Guineas winner Al Maher.

This is the famous international family of sires founded by Shantha’s Choice’s granddam, Best In Show (USA), who is the ancestress of such stallions as Try My Best (USA), El Gran Senor (USA), Northern Guest (USA) and Spinning World (USA).

Schwarz carries a doublecross of the famous female family through Zoustar’s dam, Zouzou, by Redoute’s Choice.

Both sides of the pedigree are riddled with champion stallions.

Zoustar comes from the direct female line of Australia’s first great stallion, Chester, who dominated breeding at the end of the 1800s. And Summer Sham’s sire Not A Single Doubt, also a champion stallion, is from

ROSEMONT STUD

EQUINE ADONIS: Schwarz parading at Rosemont Stud where he is turning heads with his magnificent physique.

the family of legendary sire and brilliant two-yearp-old Snippets.

Add all this to Schwarz’s race performance. Right from winning his first campaign as a three-yearold in the spring of 2023, Schwarz looked special. His dynamic all-theway win in the Listed Springtime Stakes (1400m) at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week.

In May 2024, Schwarz won the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m), again with a display of front-running speed, and followed up with a win in the determined win in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) early last spring before a dominant display of gate-speed to land the Group 2 Australia Stakes (WFA-1200m, The Valley) earlier this year.

However, Rosemont hit pay dirt when Schwarz sealed his stud future with a win in the $1 million Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on March 22, defeating this season’s dual Group 1 winner Jimmysstar.

Rosemont’s stud principal, Anthony Mithen, said securing a stallion such as Schwarz was the aim of the Alliance venture, but admitted it’s like finding “a needle in a haystack” when you consider around 1800 yearlings were sold Australia-wide each year.

“He’s a five-time stakes winner, and we would argue that he’s the best-performed and best-looking son of Zoustar ever to go to stud,” Mithen said.

“Everyone is looking for a needle in a haystack at the sales, which is the best son of the best stallion, and fortunately, we have managed to find that needle in Schwarz.”

Schwarz will stand his first season at a fee of $38,500.

HENRY IS POETRY IN MOTION

Rosemont’s ability to source Henry Longfellow from Coolmore could be regarded as a coup, not only for the stud but for Victorian breeding, especially following the exceptional success of another of Dubawi’s great sons, Too Darn Hot, shuttling to Australia.

With Too Darn Hot standing at a fee of $275,000 at Darley this spring—and full booked—Henry Longfellow, winning of the Group 1 National Stakes (1200m) at the Curragh, looks incredible value at a fee of $22,000.

Henry Longfellow is not only a Group 1-winning son of the world’s current champion sire, but his dam, Minding, often regarded as Galileo’s best daughter, was a champion winner of seven Group 1 races.

Mithen backed up trainer Aidan O’Brien’s assessment that Henry Longfellow was a special racehorse with speed and acceleration.

“If ever there was a colt bred destined for greatness, it is Henry Longfellow” said Mithen.

If ever there was a colt bred destined for greatness, it is Henry Longfellow ANTHONY MITHEN ON HENRY LONGFELLOW WORLD CLASS: Former

star Irish 2YO Henry Longfellow, by the great Dubawi, will stand his first Australian season at Rosemont Stud in Victoria.

“Like Too Darn Hot, who we have strongly supported in 2024, he is a highly rated, Group 1-winning two-year-old by the world’s number one sire of sires, from a phenomenal female family.

“Henry Longfellow ended the 2023 season second only to City Of Troy as Europe’s highest-rated two-year-old. His Timeform rating of 120+ compares equally to Australia’s best juveniles in recent years, such as Shinzo (120), Farnan (122), Anamoe (120+) & Stay Inside (122).

O’Brien rates Minding as the best filly he has trained. To add more mayonnaise to this pedigree, Minding’s dam, Lillie Langtry, won Group 1s at two and three.

“Sons of Dubawi have set the industry alight and his legacy as a breed-shaping stallion is proving every post a winner with eight of his sons having already sired Group 1 winners, including Night Of Thunder, Too Darn Hot, Zarak and New Bay,” Mithen said.

“Given the impact stallions such as Too Darn Hot and Night Of Thunder—also from a Galileo mare—have had in Australia, particularly with Danehill-line mares, it made sense for us to target a high-quality two-year-old son of Dubawi to stand in Victoria.”

Victorian breeders inspecting Henry Longfellow will be impressed by his quality, movement and balance.

Apart from the new stallions, Rosemont stallion roster includes proven Group 1-producing stallion Shamus Award (by Snitzel), whose fee in 2025 is an enticing $33,000. That’s a bargain fee for a stallion who has sired five Group 1 winners, including stars such as Incentivise and Duais.

There is some excitement around Extreme Warrior (by Extreme Choice), whose first crop is twoyear-olds run this spring after appealing to buyers at the sales. Reports from trainers are encouraging. His fee will be $13,200.

Street Boss’s fast son, Hanseatic, will stand at $16,500, and Doull, one of the best-looking sons of Snitzel, will cover his second book of mares at $7700, after serving 70 mares in his first season.

INSIDE BREEDING 11

SWETTENHAM

Wooded is carving out his own career

T

here is good reason for excitement in the air at Adam Sangster’s Swettenham Stud as the 2025 breeding season gets underway.

One is the arrival of the first foals of their young gun Lofty Strike—one of the best-bred sons of the great Snitzel at stud—will hit the ground after the flashy bay covered an excellent book of 115 quality mares last season.

And then there’s the stud’s stalwart, Toronado (by High Chaparral [IRE]), who will cover another full book after he served 170 mares, many from the Hunter Valley, at a fee of $88,000 in 2024; that fee will remain the same in 2025.

And the farm has been buoyed by the success in Europe of another of their young stallions, the Group 1-winning Wooded, who is regarded as the fastest son of Coolmore’s super stallion Wootton Bassett, who is standing in the Hunter Valley at an Australian-record fee of $385,000.

As expected, Wooded (IRE), in his third season, with around 50 mares, was quieter than he was in his first two years, when covering close to 100 mares each time. This can happen with stallions in their third season as breeders wait to see how the foals are developing and, in this case, how his first European runners are faring.

In Wooded’s case, it is a tick-tick.

Wooded’s first-yearlings were extremely well-received this year. His three yearlings in the Melbourne Premier Sale at Oaklands Junction averaged $120,000, and he had a colt sell

12 INSIDE BREEDING

BY DANNY POWER

T T T

I Y

$

FULL FLIGHT: The impressive Wooded let’s down when galloping in his paddock. The Group 1-winning son of Wootton Bassett is now a Group 1-producing sire.

winners so far from Wooded’s for $NZ200,000 at Karaka (Book first French-born foals.

1) in New Zealand.

Swettenham’s general More importantly, in Europe, manager, Sam Matthews, where his oldest is three, believes Wooded, an imposing Wooded is on a roll. dark bay standing His son, 16.2hh, is the ideal Woodshauna, gave Wooded, an speed stallion for the young stallion imposing dark the short, stockier his first Group 1 bay standing sprinting mares in success when he 16.2hh, is the Australia, and that won the Prix Jean ideal speed is proving true with Prat (1600m) at stallion for the the quality of the Deauville, carrying short, stockier stallion’s progeny. the colors of bigsprinting mares “The Australians spending American are typically used John Stewart for in Australia to those 15.2hh, the first time, after SAM MATTHEWS 15.3hh sprinters— he paid £635,000 the Rubick sorts of horses, the (AUD $1,280,000) for the colt Snitzels and the Not A Single on the Goffs London online sale Doubts,” he said. “Wooded has platform in June. got a bit of leg, so he can cover Interestingly, Woodshauna’s those speed mares, and you career had closely followed his sire’s career, as both had won the won’t end up with something that’s 15.1hh. He gives them a bit Group 3 Prix Texanita (1200m, Chantilly) before taking out their of leg, and they’ve still got that lightning-fast speed.”

Group 1. In Wooded’s case, it Toronado, a consistent sire was the 2020 Prix de l’Abbaye of Stakes winners is a stallion (1000m) at Longchamp. that Hong Kong buyers can’t Woodshauna is one of 13

get enough of. His yearling sale average skyrocketed by more than 55 per cent in 2025—54 sold at an average of $245,370— highlighted by the ToronadoHardly Surprising (All Too Hard) colt, from Gilgai Farm, selling for $1 million as the equal-top yearling at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.

Lofty Strike—the only stallion at stud out of a Golden Slipperwinning mare (Overreach, by Exceed And Excel)—was the second busiest first-season stallion in Victoria in 2024. He will cover his second season at $22,000.

Rounding out Swettenham’s roster is I Am Invincible’s fast and precocious son, I Am Immortal, who continues to build his profile as his progeny hit the tracks. His 2025 Group 3-winning son Athanatos is likely to be a spring contender.

I am Immortal’s yearlings are popular with buyers looking for a VOBIS-eligible yearling. His fee will remain at $8800.

3 y

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C P E H

ENTRIES CLOSE 15 AUGUST 2025

2026

Inglis Yearling SALES SERIES

THE ONLY SALES COMPANY TO INCREASE YEARLING TURNOVER YOY IN 2025 INGLIS YEARLINGS AVERAGED

160,977

$

31% more than the average of yearlings sold by Magic Millions

IN 2025 INTERNATIONAL SPEND ACROSS INGLIS YEARLING SALES

64,796,000

$

That’s more than double the amount spent at Magic Millions Yearling Sales

Classic Yearling Sale 8-10 February Premier Yearling Sale 1-3 March Easter Yearling Sale 29 & 30 March HTBA Yearling Sale 19 April

LOVATSVILLE

Lovatsville adds a new sire to its innovative plans

A

t a time when the national foal crop is declining and some part-time breeders are exiting the industry due to rising costs, Sam White is charging ahead with his pursuit of a dream that will see his Victorian operation, Lovatsville, increase its stallion roster to five this spring.

White is aware of the challenges, but he is also keen to be part of the solution as he sets about putting Lovatsville, set in the heart of Victoria’s thoroughbred breeding mecca between Seymour and Nagambie, on Northwood Road.

He’s keen to recruit mares to his stallions, but he is also hellbent on attracting new breeders into the industry via innovations ranging from broodmare syndicates to pinhooking partnerships.

If there are would-be breeders out there who are unsure of how to get involved, White wants to

BY JAMES TZAFERIS

hear from them. “There’s no doubt that it’s daunting, I often think of us alongside our neighbours Godolphin, Swettenham and Yulong. Three enormous, wellestablished names and probably a different profile to us at Lovatsville, but the end outcome and what we are all trying to do is the same,” he said. “We’re trying to breed champions, be a part of the story and provide a return to our clients.

“If you’re devoted to the client’s outcome being a positive one, then you’ll get a result at the end of it. We were lucky to get some good support last year (in Lovatsville’s first stud season), for which we are very thankful.

The foal crop has diminished, but that’s the game telling us something, so we’ve got to listen to that.

“We’ve all got a role to play; do we need to provide a product that’s more accessible to the market? Do we, as an industry, need to recruit more people to the game rather than relying on them falling into our laps?

Do we need to revise the fees, considering we still need to run

a commercial operation?

“We’ve probably tried to take some parts of those issues into our own hands, and while we can’t change the industry, we can help positively impact our own business, and that’s what we’re trying to do. It will require a bit of work, but we’re committed to doing it.”

Lovatsville’s stallion roster has something for every breeder.

There’s the new addition Move To Strike, who is the first Group 1-winning two-yearold by champion sire I Am Invincible to retire to stud. He joins the established pin-up Royal Meeting (by Invincible Spirit [IRE]), a Group 1 winner in the northern hemisphere, who produced 2024 Group 1 Blue Diamond winner Hayasugi in his first crop.

Elite miler Fierce Impact, a son of Japanese sire legend Deep Impact will have his oldest crop race as three-year-olds during the spring, and Melbourne Cup hero Gold Trip (by Outstrip [GB]) and Snitzel’s fast son Generation will have their first foals on the ground from August.

TURNING HEADS: The 2023 Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip has let down into a magnificent stallion and Lovatsville’s Sam White is predicting growing support from broodmare owners for the grandson of Exceed And Excel.

The underlying theme from Lovatsville is that there are deals on the table for the savvy breeder willing to buy into White’s vision. “We’re happy to deal and we’re happy to be there for the breeder to make it count for them at the end,” he said.

“We’re willing to do business and were looking for new ways to innovate. We aim to attract new individuals to the game and remove barriers to entry.

“Whether that’s through smaller percentages in broodmare ownership or pinhooking partnerships with Lovatsville, we have a lot of opportunities available for new participants, and we’re happy to take people on the journey with us.”

Move To Strike was purchased

by Te Akau Racing for $575,000 at the 2024 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale before winning the 2025 Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce over 1400m at Trentham for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. White said his arrival is a coup for the farm.

Based on his pedigree, performance and looks, the young entire is expected to be one of Victoria’s busiest firstseason sires at an introductory service fee of $16,500.

LOVATSVILLE

“We were always confident in how the horse would be received, but you never know how Kiwi form will translate back across the ditch,” White said. “We were heartened that he had strong Australian form lines through his two-year-old career via Bellatrix Star, who was a multiple Stakes-winning threeyear-old in Australia and placed in a Coolmore, and Savaglee, who was placed in the Australian Guineas, as well as Sergeant Major, who won a Listed race at Randwick in April.

“I think it’s the sire line and the fact that he’s the only Group 1-winning two-year-old by I Am Invincible at stud that has attracted interest to this point. But when people saw him when he was paraded at the Great Southern Sale in Melbourne, they were very much taken by his physique and his substance.

“I think he’s going to be the style of horse that can put a stamp on his stock and put plenty of substance and quality to provide a yearling that will sell well. The shareholder group and our farm are sending him 60 mares, and then there are 15 breeding rights that are nearly done, so you’re talking another 20

or 25 mares. He will cover between 120 and 130 mares this spring, which will give him a great start.”

Gold Trip covered 65 mares in his first season at stud, and White expects that number to grow in 2025. While Melbourne Cup winners haven’t been the sexiest propositions at stud in the modern era, White said educated breeders can look beyond his win in the 3200-metre handicap to see the horse’s elite middle-distance ability over 2000m and 2400m.

“I reckon we’ll see more mares to Gold Trip this year than last year,” he said. “It’s silly to say that

HISTORY MAKER: Move To

Strike retires to Lovatsville with the distinction of being the first Group 1-winning son of I Am Invincible. The talented, good-looking black is pictured in full flight with Opie Bosson in the saddle.

winning a Melbourne Cup is a negative, but that’s how the market potentially deems it. He won a Turnbull over 2000m and smashed Romantic Warrior, and we know how well that form stacked up.

“He also ran fourth in the Arc as a three-year-old, beaten a length-anda-half, and there’s not an Australian animal, in my opinion, that could do that, including So You Think and The Autumn Sun. So as far as racetrack performance, he is elite.

“More and more so, once people have seen him at the farm, they are taken by him because he has a kinglike presence about him. We are excited to see his first foals. I think he’s appealing to more breeders as a dual-purpose horse—you can breed to race, and a lot of trainers have sent mares to him because they appreciate his quality and the fact he raced on during his career, but I think there’s a bit of a commercial element to him as well.

“I am sure the likes of Gold Trip’s trainer Ciaron Maher and owner Australian Bloodstock will be shortlisting and buying these horses in the ring, as will a lot of other trainers, because they appreciate how good he was.”

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INSIDE BREEDING 15

ARROWFIELD STUD

The art of the Deel

I

n a year when Arrowfield Stud mourned the death of its four-time champion stallion, Snitzel, the historic Hunter Valley breeding operation had good reason to celebrate the emergence of Dundeel as not only an elite stallion but also a proven sire of sires.

Although there’s isn’t a son of Snitzel at Arrowfield Stud, who also stood Snitzel’s champion sire Redoute’s Choice (by Danehill [USA]), Dundeel’s second-crop son, Castelvecchio, winner of the 2019 Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m), has joined his sire at the Scone farm and has started his stud career with a bang.

This year, in the space of two months, Dundeel’s impact on Australian racing and breeding hit a crescendo when three of Australia’s four Group 1 Derby winners carried Dundeel’s stamp.

Castelvecchio first hit the headlines in the spring when his first-crop son El Castello won the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. In April, at Randwick during The Championships, Castelvecchio sired his second Group 1 for the season when his exceptional daughter, Aeliana (ex-Temolie,

by Star Witness), thrashed her male rivals, winning the Australian Derby (2400m) by 5.5 lengths. All of Castelvecchio’s six Stakes winners are from his first crop, three-year-olds last season.

Four weeks after Aeliana’s triumph, Dundeel’s daughter, Femminile (ex-Femme Fireball,

by Pierro), matched Aeliana when she also beat the males

BY DANNY POWER

MESSARA’S PICK: Arrowfield Stud’s John Messara’s keen eye for a stallion led him to the two-time Group 1-winning European champion two-year-old, Vandeek, who stands his first season in 2025.

to win the South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville.

Femminile attempted to win a second Classic, the Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm in June, but struggled on the soft track to finish 11th behind Maison Louis (ex-Cote D’Or [NZ], by Makfi [GB]), a son of New Zealand’s latest sire sensation, Dundeel’s son Super Seth, who stands at Waikato Stud.

Dundeel’s success rewards Arrowfield Stud’s supremo John Messara for taking the punt on a brilliant six-time Group 1 middle-distance son of Epsom Derby winner High Chapparal (IRE), a son of Sadler’s Wells (USA). Messara’s gamble has paid handsome dividends.

Dundeel, in the past two seasons, has covered books of 178 (fee $82,500) and 141 ($88,000), and this season he will be Arrowfield’s headline stallion at his $88,000 fee.

Castelvecchio has had a huge fee boost from $22,000 to $49,500, and Super Seth, the 2019 Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner, will cover his sixth book after his fee was increased from $NZ45,000 to $NZ75,000 on the back of siring

four Group 1 winners in 2025, including the same-day winners of the Australian Guineas at Flemington (Feroce) and Randwick Guineas (Linebacker) in March.

The Dundeel phenomenon has now hit Victoria with his dual Group 1-winning and fastest son, Celestial Legend, joining the stallion roster at Woodside Park, Tylden.

Arrowfield is banking of Messara’s good eye and intuition for finding the right stallion for his roster with his most recent selection, the grey English sprinter Vandeek, a 2021 son of rising star stallion Havana Grey (by Havana Gold [IRE]) from the Exceed And Excel mare, Mosa Mine (GB), who is also the dam of this year’s Ascot Group 2 Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad (by Starspangledbanner).

Vandeek was a star juvenile in 2023, winning the Group 1

Middle Park Stakes (1200m) at Newmarket in England and the Group 1 Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville in France in an unbeaten season.

Messara said he had his eye on Vandeek because of his keen interest in the progeny of English stallion Havana Grey, who, he said, after starting his career without fanfare, was “improving” his mares significantly. Havana Grey has topped the UK’s sire list in his seasonal group in his first three seasons at stud, with 26 Stakes winners.

“I tried to buy into Vandeek’s father, that was my starting point. There was no interest in selling, because they could see what I was seeing,” Messara said.

“We looked then at his progeny, and a 20 per cent share became available in Vandeek at the time his owners were looking for a stud to stand him in Europe.

“We bid for that share but failed to get it. However, (The Thompson family’s) Cheveley Park, very good friends of ours, bought it, and we immediately asked if we could stand the stallion. It’s the Galileo-Danehill cross again. The cross gave us Frankel in England and our own top-class stallion, The Autumn Sun, in Australia.”

Messara said the athletic Vandeek fits perfectly into Arrowfield’s roster. “We haven’t got a horse quite like him.”

His fee is $22,000.

KING OF ARROWFIELD:

Dundeel, looking regal in his paddock, is not only one of Australia’s leading sires, but the Arrowfield Stud stallion is proving an outstanding sire of sires.

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RIVERBANK FARM

Kingwell joins a Royal court at Riverbank

BY DANNY POWER

W

eaning time on any farm can be difficult and sometimes stressful, but for the Osborne family of Riverbank Farm, Benalla, it was a labour of love as it was in 2024 when they were in admiration of the quality of the first foals of their new sire, the former highclass racehorse Dalasan (by Dalakhani).

In a break from what can be an arduous weaning process in April, studmaster Russell Osborne, while perusing the early Inglis online sale, stopped on a colt with the credentials to add to the stallion roster at Riverbank, a long-time familyrun farm, which has built a sound reputation for offering well-bred, affordable stallions for the breed-to-race market.

A few clicks of the mouse, and Osborne had secured the royally bred Kingwell, a son of I Am Invincible, and a half-brother to sire sensation, Extreme Choice (by Not A Single Doubt), who will stand this season at Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, in the Hunter Valley, for a record fee of $330,000. Both stallions are out of the Hussonet (USA) mare Extremely.

Kingwell was offered for sale

by his trainers, Mick Price and Michael Kent, who had him for four starts for a Geelong 1130m maiden win at three, followed by a close third at Sandown when Kingwell showed the speed you would expect of a horse with his pedigree.

It was no surprise that Price would snap up Kingwell as a yearling for $550,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Price had trained Extreme Choice to win the 2016 Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m, Caulfield) as a twoyear-old, and the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1200m, Moonee Valley), beating the older horses, at three in the same year.

The Kingwell sales pitch online stated: “Potential stud prospect. A quality individual, 16hh and weighing 520kg.

Great to train, ride and handle.”

Unfortunately, for a high-profile ownership group that included his breeder, Yuesheng Zhang of Yulong, Kingwell was sold due to ongoing issues that restricted his racing career.

Caroline Osborne, Russell’s wife and resident vet at Riverbank, said Kingwell was a perfect fit for the farm and its breed-to-race concept. It had been planned to race Kingwell

before retiring him to stud, and he was put into work with the Osbornes’ daughter Olivia, who was starting out in her training career. With the support of her twin sister Sarah, Olivia has taken over the stable from her father, giving him more time to run the stud.

Kingwell gave the Osbornes a huge thrill by winning on Benalla Cup day, in September 2024, but he suffered an injury at his next start at Ballarat.

Attempts to get him back to racing were unsuccessful.

“He’s the sort of stallion we look for. We’re excited about him,” Caroline Osborne said.

Breeding buffs will notice that Kingwell’s sire line has similar pedigree patterns to the sire line of his half-brother.

Kingwell’s sire I Am Invincible (by Invincible Spirit [IRE]) is a Danzig-line stallion from a mare by the great broodmare sire Canny Lad (by Bletchingly), whereas Extreme Choice’s (by Not A Single Doubt) grandsire, the champion Redoute’s Choice, who is by Danzig’s son Danehill from a mare by Canny Lad. The Riverbank Farm model offers well-credentialled stallions at affordable fees.

Importantly, the stallion fee also covers veterinary fees, which is an important added value for broodmare owners operating at the budget end of the market.

Excitement still surrounds Dalasan, (by Dalakhani [IRE]), whose fee remains at $5500,

because he offers a point of difference to his barn mates at Riverbank in that he was a superior racehorse at the highest level. He was a Group winner over 1200m at two and three, who stretched out to be a multiple Group winner at distances from 1600m to 2025m, and he was third in two of Australia’s most famous Group 1 handicaps, the 2021 Doncaster Mile (1600m) and the 2021 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.

The Osbornes have been buoyed by the success this season of the progeny of their two young sires, Prince Of Caviar (by Sebring), a son of the unbeaten Black Caviar, and Winx’s half-brother, Boulder City (by Snitzel).

Prince Of Caviar (fee $4400) has a potential Stakes horse in the mare Attachments, bred and raced by Black Caviar’s managing part-owner Neil Werrett. Attachments, from the Lope De Vega mare Kee Da Vega, has won two of her four starts. Boulder City’s (fee $4400) profile is growing as his progeny mature. His winners include the seven-time Singapore winner, Pacific Star, and the metropolitan winners, Cobblestone Way and Expeetee.

Rounding out the Riverbank roster is the farm’s stalwart Redente (by Redoute’s Choice), a prolific sire of winners who stands at $3300, and Wayed Zain (fee $2200), a staying son of High Chaparral (IRE) whose dam is a half-sister to champion sire Encosta De Lago.

ROYALLY BRED:

Kingwell, pictured after winning at Geelong, is a halfbrother to super sire Extreme Choice.

He will stand at Riverbank Farm, Benalla, for a fee of only $5500. PHOTO RACING PHOTOS (REG RYAN)

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YULONG

Growing Yulong puts faith in young stars

BY JAMES TSAFERIS

T

hat’s the philosophy being adopted by Yulong’s stallion team this spring as they go to market with a roster that is headlined by newcomers Growing Empire and First Settler.

Neither colt won at the elite level, but both showed enough ability and boast an abundance of commercial appeal for the burgeoning Victorian farm to shift its sights from the racetrack to the covering shed.

Growing Empire, a four-yearold son of Zoustar out of the Group 2-winning Snitzel mare Miles Of Krishnan, cost Yulong $700,000 at the 2023 Sydney Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, was a multiple Stakes winner for trainer Ciaron Maher at two and three.

He showed his talent at the top end last spring when he was placed in three consecutive Group 1 races—against the older horses in the Manikato Stakes (1200m), beaten by Southport Tycoon in a photo, at Moonee Valley and third behind Bella Nipotina in the The Everest (1200m) at Randwick, and then a third behind Switzerland in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.

Yulong’s Chief Operating Officer, Sam Fairgray, said it was an easy decision to send Growing Empire to stud in 2025, despite the belief from his trainer that he would’ve

20 INSIDE BREEDING

won a Group 1 had he stayed in training as a four-year-old. He will stand for an introductory fee of $22,000.

“He proved that he was competitive at the highest level,” Fairgray said. “He was a multiple Stakes winner at two, trained on at three, and was multiple Group 1 placed.

“We didn’t think he needed to do anything more on the track.

He could go on and win a Group 1, but his profile is such that he is regarded very highly, and I think that’s how breeders will see him.

“As we’ve seen some other successful stallions in this country, they can retire early without having a lot of starts, and it can work in their favour.

“They don’t have to be Group 1 winners to be champion stallions, as we’ve seen with Not A Single Doubt, I Am Invincible and Written Tycoon.”

Written Tycoon will stand his 19th season at stud for a private fee at Yulong. Although the champion sire isn’t accessible to all breeders, Fairgray hopes his impressive son First Settler is an attractive option at $11,000 for both commercial players and the breed-to-race market.

A $750,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling purchase, First Settler was undefeated at two and won the Group 2 Danehill Stakes at three during a short but brilliant six-start racing career for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES: The impressive Growing Empire, pictured at Flemington with Mark Zahra in the saddle, headlines a trio of exciting young stallions that will join the Yulong roster in 2025. PHOTO RACING PHOTOS

Fairrgray said Yulong’s owner, Yuesheng Zhang, has been mindful of continuing Written Tycoon’s legacy at stud, and First Settler is the farm’s starting point.

“Mr Zhang is very keen to get sons of Written Tycoon onto the roster and stallions like Capitalist and Ole Kirk have gone very well, so he’s already becoming a sire of sires,” he said.

“First Settler is just a belter of a horse, he’s so good looking, and when people see him, they won’t be disappointed. I think he’s going to leave the most magnificent foals.

“He’s at a fee which is very competitive, and I think it allows breeders to make a little bit of money.”

Breeders’ Cup Mile hero More Than Looks is the third of the newcomers to Yulong’s roster in 2025. Although he didn’t race in Australia, Fairgray is confident the horse boasts a pedigree and racing profile that will appeal to local breeders.

His sire, More Than Ready, who shuttled to Australia from 2001 until 2019, sired more than 100 Stakes winners over a variety of distances. He sired two Golden Slipper winners (Sebring and Phelan Ready) and three Derby winners as well as champions such as More Joyous, Samaready and Verazzano.

Importantly, More Than Ready proved to be the ideal outcross to the wealth of Danehill-line mares in Australia, which is something that will also make his son appealing.

“It’s a bloodline that has already worked in Australia,” Fairgray said.

“His performance to be able to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile (1600m) was brilliant, and I think the thing that captures people the most is his turn of foot.”

Emerging sire Alabama Express (by Redoute’s Choice) will stand for $66,000—up from $55,000 in 2024—in 2025 after a brilliant season in which his daughter Treasurethe Moment stamped herself as Australia’s champion three-yearold filly, winning three Group 1s, including VRC Oaks and Australian Oaks double.

PIERATA IS ONE TO WATCH, SAYS FAIRGRAY Fairgray said he is maintaining the faith in Pierata, who will command a fee of $55,000, The Group 1-winning son of Pierro has covered books of 191 and 199 in his two seasons since moving to Yulong, including several of the farm’s higherprofile broodmares.

“He’s got big numbers to come, and he covered some of our best mares last spring, including Imperatriz, Chain of Lightning and Duais. Pierata is a stallion that is doing well, but he could really leap ahead.”

Young stallions Lucky Vega (by Lope De Vega [IRE]) and Tagaloa (by Lord Kanaloa [JPN])—standing for $38,500 and $22,000 respectively—have enjoyed success with their first crop two-year-olds. At the same time, Group 1-producer Grunt (by O’Reilly [NZ], fee $19,800), Japanese shuttler Panthalassa (by Lord Kanaloa [JPN], $16,500) and Diatonic (by Lord Kanaloa [JPN], $13,750) are all priced to give breeders commercial opportunities.

ONE TO WATCH: Pierro’s fastest

son, Pierata, pictured at Yulong in Nagambie, has covered some outstanding mares, including Imperatriz, and he is earmarked as a stallion to follow by Yulong’s Sam Fairgray.

INGLIS

Winx colt to star at Inglis Easter 30), and HTBA (April 19).

“We genuinely enjoy what we do for work, we pride ourselves on working hard for our clients and the team gets a huge thrill in seeing our clients enjoy great success at all levels of the market,’’ Hutch said.

“We want our customer service to be widely regarded as the best not only in Australia but around the world, we work hard to get a lot of internationals to our sales and we want them to enjoy their experience, to have access to the best horses and for them to get great results for themselves to ensure they keep coming back.

“We celebrate our clients’ success with them and understand the amount of hard work that goes into the journey to get a horse to a yearling sale so we strive to ensure optimum results at the end of that journey for our breeders and vendors.’’

Entries for Inglis’ 2026 Select Yearling Sales close on August 15.

The presence of the highly anticipated Snitzel-Winx colt at next year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale will ensure its standing as the biggest spectacle of any sale anywhere in the world in 2026.

Entries for Inglis’ Select Yearling Sales Series are now open, and CEO Sebastian Hutch believes the success Inglis clients enjoyed in 2025 will give breeders and vendors the confidence to do business with Australia’s longest-serving auction house again in 2026.

In 2025, Inglis was the only Australasian auction house to increase turnover year-on-year and gained a majority market share from select yearling sales turnover against its nearest rival, despite offering 622 fewer lots.

Inglis’ overall yearling average ($160,977) and median ($80,000) were also the best in the business by some 31% and 45.5% respectively.

There will again be four yearling sales at Inglis next year: Classic (February 8-10), Premier (March 1-3), Easter (March 29-

SUPER COLT: Inglis CEO Sebastian Hutch with the weanling Snitzel-Winx colt at Coolmore Stud.

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INSIDE BREEDING 21

MCGAW STORY

McGaw draws attention to his sire

R

ising star McGaw, who is on a Group 1 Caulfield Guineas path this spring, is the boost to kick along the already promising start to the stud career of his sire I Am Immortal.

McGraw, out of the Librettist mare Niki Piki Milo, goes into the spring unbeaten in two impressive starts, including a dominant win in the $1 Showdown (1200m) at Caulfield in March.

He is from the second crop of Swettenham Stud’s young sire, I Am Immortal (by I Am Invincible), who will stand this season at a fee of $8800. The performance of McGaw in the spring could make that fee one of the breeding bargains of the season.

McGaw is a typical example of the type of horse that I Am Immortal is producing. They started to show winning form as late two-

year-olds before blossoming at three.

Trainers Emma and David Browne have earmarked a spring campaign that they hope will see McGaw in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in mid-October, although David Browne said, after McGaw won a jump-out stylishly in late July, that the “fork in the road” will be before the Guineas when it will be decided if McGaw will be better suited targeting a shorter race like the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in November.

Swettenham’s Sam Matthews admits he got it wrong with I Am Immortal by thinking he’d sire progeny like himself—fast and precocious. I Am Immortal was a two-time Stakes-winning juvenile.

“They’re probably going to be better three-year-olds, and I stuffed up a bit by saying that they were only going to be early two-year-olds.

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22 INSIDE BREEDING

GUINEAS BOUND: McGaw, pictured winning the $1 Showdown (1200m) at Caulfield in March. The son of Swettenham’s I Am Immortal is one of the early favourites for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas in October.

They’re fast racehorses, they’re big and strong, but they probably just take a bit more time than we expected SAM MATTHEWS

“He’s 16.2hh and he’s 620-odd kilograms, so he’s a big horse and he throws big horses. They’re fast racehorses, they’re big and strong, but they probably just take a bit more time than we expected.”

I Am Immortal is proving to be the ideal VOBIS horse. In 2024, his classy filly I Am Velvet won the VOBIS Gold Ingot (1400m, Caulfield) and his three-yearold gelding Athanatos (out of an O’Reilly mare) won the VOBIS Gold Reef (1600m) at Flemington in March before going on to win the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville.

reporting for duty $8,800 (inc)

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Brazen Beau x Phosphorescence (Lonhro)

Market wants Elite Speed

Market wants Proven Sireline

Winner Blue Diamond Prelude defeating subsequent stallions: • Anamoe - stud fee $121,000 • Extreme Warrior - stud fee $16,500 • Hitotsu - stud fee $22,000

Market wants Type

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Brazen Beau, sire of outstanding first season sire Tassort $38,500.

Amazing head, strong as an ox, great conformation and so much presence.

WIDDEN

HISTORY SAYS WIDDEN GET IT RIGHT

BY DANNY POWER

A

ntony Thompson, with a family history of more than 150 years of thoroughbred breeding behind him at the historic Widden Stud in NSW’s Hunter Valley, knows more than most the attributes that make a stallion not only initially commercially appealing, but importantly, one that is going to be a success.

The Thompson family has masterminded the stud success of champion stallions such as Lochiel, Valais, and Heroic in the early 1900s, and then from the 1960s, Todman, Bletchingly, and Vain. More recently, under Antony’s guidance, Widden Stud has stood Sebring, Northern Meteor, and the current Australian champion sire, Zoustar.

Widden Stud’s two new stallions, Southport Tycoon and Cogburn (USA), for the 2025 breeding season couldn’t be more opposite, although both share a Group 1 race record, an aptitude for sheer speed and the all-important Thompson tick of approval Dual Group 1-winner Southport Tycoon takes up residence at Widden Victoria, near Romsey, in a barn at what was then Eliza Park, from where his champion sire Written Tycoon (by Iglesia) launched an incredible stud career that began with little fanfare and a low stud fee of only $8250.

The similarity between the

24 INSIDE BREEDING

GROUP 1 STAR: Southport Tycoon has been installed as the “top-dog” at Widden

Victoria at a fee of $38,500.

father-son Tycoons doesn’t end there. Both share the brand of boutique Queensland farm, Jan Clark’s Daandine Stud, which bred both horses, as well as Written Tycoon’s G1 Golden Slipper-winning son, Capitalist, who is now a prominent stallion at Newgate Farm in the Hunter Valley, NSW. Southport Tycoon, under the guidance of trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, won the 2024 Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m, Flemington) and backed that up in the spring of that year in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m, Moonee Valley) when he produced a jaw-dropping sprint from the back of the field to beat Growing Empire.

“Southport Tycoon is a very successful horse in Victoria and has very memorable victories at Flemington and Mooney Valley

at the Group 1 level, and some of his other peak performances have been in Victoria,” Thompson told Racing.com.

“His sire Written Tycoon, who has been the stalwart of the Victorian industry, is now private (at Yulong), with no access for breeders, so it’s the right time to hand over the baton to arguably his best son, and a dual Group 1-winning son.

“He’s a big, imposing and strong horse, and we’d looked hard at him on several occasions (before we bought into him), and it was Ciaron Maher that really pushed me to take a position.”

Thompson describes Southport Tycoon as big, strong and imposing. The chestnut will stand at a fee of $38,500.

Cogburn was no slow burn.

The nine-time winner from 16 starts was, at his peak, the highest rated sprinter in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse rankings (rated 121) in 2024, the year he won the Group 1 Jaipur Stakes (turf, 1100m) at Saratoga in world record time of 59.8 secs.

Cogburn was a powder-keg sprinter with all the physical attributes that suit Australian breeders, plus his pedigree, being from the Storm Cat sire line, although mostly familiar to Australians, offers another avenue for the wealth of Danehill-line mares in the country.

In a masterstroke to promote the American speedster to Australian breeders, the everdiligent Thompson organised for some of Australia’s most influential breeders, fellow studmasters and bloodstock agents to WinStar Farm in Kentucky to inspect Cogburn.

“We were keen to announce (him shuttling) early; the timing was great with a lot of the Australians in Keeneland for the November sales, and we took over 30 breeders out to WinStar to inspect Cogburn,” Thompson said.

“The response was fantastic.

I think you need to educate the market to a certain degree because they haven’t seen the horse race on home soil, and it’s not a horse they’re familiar with, but when you say the world’s fastest horse, that captures their attention and from there that interest has really grown.”

Cogburn will stand his first season at a fee of $27,500.

FAST BURN: World-record-breaking USA sprinter Cogburn offers a point of difference for Australian breeders. He will stand at Widden Stud in the Hunter Valley, NSW, for $27,500.

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WOODSIDE

Good timing lands Woodside a Legend

BY JAMES TZAFERIS

I

n the cutthroat world of commercial stallion deals, smaller farms need everything in their favour to get an edge on the larger, more powerful operators.

Knowledge goes a long way, as do relationships with the right people, keeping an ear to the ground, and deep pockets along with a smidgen of luck and good timing.

Just ask Mark Dodemaide, the Stallions Nominations Manager at Woodside Park Stud, who was pivotal in securing dual Group 1 winner Celestial Legend to stand at the Tylden farm, in Victoria, in 2025.

When the focus of the bloodstock world was on the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney this year, Dodemaide was working the phones to lay the groundwork with owner Bon Ho for his brilliant miler to join the Woodside Park stallion roster.

A deal was swiftly put together and agreed upon by Hong Kong-based Ho and Woodside Park Stud’s owner Eddie Hirsch before much of the racing world even knew the horse was retired.

26 INSIDE BREEDING

Australia—Aeliana won the Had Dodemaide hesitated, Australian Derby and she’s by even for a week or two, interest Castelvecchio, the Dundeel in Celestial Legend would’ve filly Femminile won the South heightened courtesy of a brilliant run of results by his sire Australian Derby and Maison Louis, who is by Super Seth, Dundeel and also his sire-sons was brilliant winning in Castelvecchio and Super Seth.

Queensland.”

“Celestial Legend was Although Celestial supposed to run Legend’s racing in the Doncaster You don’t career didn’t finish Mile, and he was scratched, so I see many horses in a blaze of glory, Celestial Legend guessed that there that are tough earned his place was something and brilliant as the headline act maybe not right in the same on Woodside Park with the horse,” package Stud’s 2025 roster Dodemaide said.

DODEMAIDE ON with his deeds on “It was the day CELESTIAL LEGEND the track in the before the Easter previous 12 months.

Yearling Sale in A $220,000 purchase at the Sydney, so I made some calls Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for and discovered the horse wasn’t Ho’s Legend Racing and Avenue going to race again.

Bloodstock, Celestial Legend “It all happened quickly. Bon was sharp enough to win at Ho was keen to keep half, so we two when he beat Ostraka over took the other half.

1200m at Rosehill.

“At the time, Dundeel was As a three-year-old, the going well, but if we had to do stunning grey was among the the deal now, maybe we’d have best of his generation. to fight off a few more people He was runner-up to than what we did then, because Ozzmosis in the Listed Heritage he’s probably gone to another Stakes (1100m) in the spring level with his sons. before sweeping all before him “When you look at the during a dominant autumn last three Derbys run in

campaign that included wins in the G2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m), G1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and G1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).

His elite-level performances, first against his age and then when beating older horses in the historic handicap, demonstrated a dazzling change of speed and a gritty tenacity, both of which are highly valued by Dodemaide.

“You don’t see many horses that are tough and brilliant in the same package,” Dodemaide said.

“In the Randwick Guineas, where he was three and four wide with no cover, he was extremely tough, and in the Doncaster, he was brilliant in the last furlong, coming from an impossible position.”

For pedigree buffs, like ex-Inglis bloodstock advisor Dodemaide, there is much to like about Celestial Legend.

Aside from the sire line, Celestial Legend is from an elite female family.

His granddam is Group 1 winner and South African Horse of the Year National Colour (by National Assembly), who left Group 1 winners Mustaaqeem and Rafeef, as well as Celestial Legend’s dam Sarraqa, who is by champion sire Snitzel (by Redoute’s Choice).

At an introductory fee of $27,500, Dodemaide is expecting solid support from breeders for Celestial Legend, on top of the mares that Ho and Hirsch are going to send his way.

At broodmare sales in Sydney and on the Gold Coast in May, Dodemaide purchased seven new mares to send to Celestial Legend.

“Eddie and Bon Ho have both committed a dozen mares each, but I reckon Eddie will end up sending at least 15 mares to him.”

Celestial Legend joins a Woodside Park Stud stallion roster that includes returning shuttler Benbatl (by Dubawi [IRE], fee $22,000), Group 1 producer Shalaa ( by Invincible Spirit [IRE], $19,800), Rich Enuff (by Written Tycoon, $13,200), Foxwedge (by Fastnet Rock, $8800), Vancouver (by Medaglia D’Oro [USA], $8800) and Frankel’s fast son Delaware ($7700).

GREY FLYER: Celestial Legend, with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle, in full flight, pictured winning the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes at Randwick. The exceptional grey will stand his first season at Woodside Park, Tylden.

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BLUEGUM FARM

Blue Gum takes stock with 2025 roster

BY DANNY POWER

F

or Blue Gum Farm’s Sean Dingwall, the 2025 breeding season is an opportunity to take stock after two hectic years since he and his partners in the Trilogy Group bought the historic Euroa farm from the Campbell family in 2023.

In that first stud season, Dingwall secured the highly regarded Flying Artie (by Artie Schiller [USA]) from Newgate Farm, from where he’d kicked off his career in style with an exciting two-time Group 1-winning son in Artorius, who replaced him at Newgate.

Dingwall said at the time that Flying Artie, whose dam Flying Ruby is a daughter of one of Blue Gum’s legendary stallions, Rubiton (by Century), was the perfect fit for the new farm. He has the same opinion of the former classy juvenile, the powerfully built Sejardan (by Sebring), who was bought to join Flying Artie.

Last year, Oxley Road was added to the team. Oxley Road is a two-time Group-winning brother to Group 1 winner Exceedance (fee $33,000), who

stands at Vinery Stud in the Hunter Valley. Both stallions are

by Exceed And Excel from the Thorn Park mare Bonnie Mac. Oxley Road covers his second book at a fee of $8800.

The Dingwalls—Sean and his wife Cathy—and their Trilogy partners Jason and Melanie Stenning, have invested significantly with shares in some exciting colts at the yearling sales. The hope is that one of those will eventually find its way to Blue Gum Farm. In the meantime, it is a policy of “steady as we go”.

Sejardan covered 103 mares in his first season, and Dingwall was excited to present some exceptional weanlings by him for sale in 2025. At the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale in May, Dingwall sold four Sejardan youngsters for an average of $81,500, with a top price of $130,000 for a colt from the Redoute’s Choice mare Statuette. The stallion also had three weanlings sell from between $70,000 and $80,000 at the Inglis Weanling Sale in Sydney.

Dingwall believes the good

TOP SELLER: This outstanding colt, by Sejardan from Statuette, made $130,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, where the stallion’s first crop sold for an average of $81,500.

impression the Sejardan weanlings made at the sales will transfer into support from broodmare owners in the stallion’s third season, at a fee of $13,750.

“Not a lot of mares were served in Victoria altogether last season,” Dingwall told The Thoroughbred Report. “He (Sejardan) still held his own, and obviously now people are starting to see his progeny at the sales. They were very well received at Sydney and on the Gold Coast. Off the back of that, we hope that we can get some good activity this season.”

Flying Artie (by Artie Schiller [USA]) continues to fly under the radar. With his youngest crop of racing age having just turned three—from his fifth crop, his second biggest with 129 foals—he boasts nine Stakes winners, including two at Group 1 level, the brilliant Artorius and international star Asfoora.

POWERHOUSE: Sejardan, who has developed into a magnificent stallion, has had a boost with the positive results from the sale of his first weanlings.

28 INSIDE BREEDING

Dingwall is hoping that dropping Flying Artie’s fee to $11,000 will boost his popularity. “He’s a difficult horse for people to go to, because his offspring won’t be winning beauty contests. But from the perspective of getting winning racehorses, there’s no stallion doing a better job,” he said. “He just continues to produce nice racehorses. He has two first-crop Group 1 winners, and he has city winners every week. He’s probably one of the best-value stallions in the country.”

In the season just gone, Flying Artie has sired 85 winners, including three Stakes winners, headed by Joe Pride’s exciting In Flight, who was a winter wonder, winning three Stakes races on the trot from May to July in three states—starting with the Listed Bright Shadow Stakes (1110m, Doomben), and followed by the Listed Bob Charley Stakes (1100m) at Randwick and the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

In Flight is an interesting case study for breeders looking to mate with Flying Artie. In Flight (b m 2020, ex-Waveline [USA], by Stravinsky [USA]) is a product of matching the sire lines of two closely related champion sires, Flying Artie’s fourth sire, Sadler’s Wells, and In Flight’s dam’s grandsire, Nureyev. Both great sons of Northern Dancer are from the same dam line—Sadler’s Wells’ dam, Fairy Bridge, is a halfsister to Nureyev.

Six of Flying Artie’s nine Stakes winners, including Artorius and Asfoora, are from Danzig-line mares, mostly through Danehill. Two are from Nureyev-line mares, and one is from a mare whose grandsire is Fairy King, Sadler’s Wells’ brother.

RIVERSTONE

S TA R LU S T L E A D S T H E WAY F O R R I V E R S TO N E

BY DANNY POWER

T

here are two ways to develop a fledgling stud farm into a commercial enterprise. One is the steady-asyou-go approach, and the other is to start off with a big splash.

Nick Taylor, the managing director and studmaster at Riverstone Lodge, Blandford, in the Upper Hunter Valley, has launched from the high tower with the announcement that 2024 Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Spring (1300m) winner Starlust will stand at Riverstone in 2025, as the stud’s foundation stallion.

Riverstone Lodge, built on 200 hectares of prime country north of Scone, is so new to the Australian breeding scene that the farm presented its first yearlings at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sales in January 2024.

By the end of that year, Taylor was on the phone chasing the farm’s first stallion.

It’s not a stroke of luck that Taylor has been able to secure Zoustar’s international Group 1-winning son from under the noses of Australia’s other studs.

It’s more a matter of good timing and persistence.

Part of that timing is the fact that Widden Stud’s Zoustar (by Northern Meteor) has just

PERFECT FOR AUSTRALIA: Starlust, a Group 1-winning son of Zoustar, pictured winning at York in England, will be the foundation stallion at Riverstone Lodge, in the Upper Hunter Valley, NSW.

secured his first Australian Champion Sire title with 15 Stakes winners and progeny earnings of more than $26 million.

Leading Irish bloodstock agent, Dermot Farrington, who was handling Starlust’s future for the stallion’s English owners, Jim and Fitri Hay, said Taylor’s persistence “wore me down”.

“Nick called me after the Breeders’ Cup. You could see he was very excited about the horse.

He kept calling and just wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

Farrington, who has

been buying yearlings and broodmares in Australia for more than two decades, knew plenty what a good Zoustar looks like. Which is why he was delighted when he had to pay only 55,000 guineas for the colt as a yearling at the 2022 Tattersalls October Sale.

“He was very correct with a striking head and very good eye. Everything you’d want in a yearling,” Farrington said. “He’s bred to be fast and precocious.

He was a very quick horse, and I’d expect him to get two-yearolds. He’s out of Group-winning

mare, Beyond Desire [GB], who is by Invincible Spirit, a prolific sire of two-year-old winners, and the sire of Australia’s (three-time) champion sire I Am Invincible.”

Importantly, for breeders, Farrington said Starlust is sound. “He could go around another 20 times. He’s so sound.

If his progeny is half as sound, we are in good shape.”

The widely experienced Taylor, who knows how tough it is to take on the big studs of the Hunter Valley, has been buoyed by the support he is getting for Starlust. Some of the Hunter Valley’s most successful breeders are backing the horse, including Mick Malone (North Bloodstock) and legendary bloodstock agent and breeder James Bester.

“To have a stallion of Starlust’s calibre as our foundation stallion is beyond exciting,” Taylor said.

“He’s the only son of Zoustar to win a Group race at two (the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes [1200m] at Kempton) and to train on to win a Group 1 at three. He’s got the best profile of any son of Zoustar at stud, and he’s quite unique being out of an Invincible Spirit mare, so that gives him every opportunity out here, which was another key alongside his form. He is the highest-rated son of Zoustar in the world, and his pedigree makes sense in Australia.”

Starlust, who will be a fulltime resident at Riverstone, will stand for a fee of $27,500.

471 Bridgewater Rd, Maldon Victoria Contact: Brian McKnight P: 03 5475 2810. M: 0418 139 546 E: oakfarm@bigpond.net.au W: www.oakfordthoroughbredfarm.com

INSIDE BREEDING 29

MALUKA THOROUGHBREDS

A General’s first cadets arrive at Maluka

L

BY DANNY POWER

uke Anderson can be compared with a pop singer who has been toiling away for 20 years to become an “overnight” success.

For Anderson, under his business name of Maluka Thoroughbreds, standing stallions on his own farm has been a long-held dream that came to fruition last year when the former classy sprinter General Beau became Maluka’s foundation stallion at his new home at Breeders Farm, at Kerrie, near Romsey.

Anderson refined his skills in the broodmare agistment and yearling sales industry from their previous farm at Avenel,

OFFICER IN CHARGE: Maluka Thoroughbreds’ debut stallion, General Beau, has let down beautifully. Maluka’s Luke Anderson is excited to see the General’s first foals.

but the move to Breeders Farm has enabled him to take the next step of combining their expertise in preparing yearlings with the task of standing a stallion.

It’s something that Anderson said has been an ambition since he got the first taste of working at such illustrious New Zealand farms as Patrick Hogan’s Cambridge Stud and the Chittick family’s Waikato Stud. For the Victorian-born lad, returning home to build a successful business was always his aim.

Breeders Farm is the catalyst for change. The property has a wonderful history of standing stallions, dating back to its early days as Yallambee Stud, where stallions such as Testa

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Rossa stood. More recently, it has served as a refurbished showplace built by the USA breeding conglomerate, Spendthrift Farm. When Spendthrift packed its bags in 2022, the farm was acquired by prominent Victorian businessmen and breeders, David Moodie and Ash Hardwick, trading as Hesket Bloodstock.

General Beau (b h 2019, Brazen BeauPhosphorescence, by Lonhro) was bred and raced by Moodie’s Contract Racing. Moodie, a former chairman of Racing Victoria, has been one of the strongest supporters of Victoria’s world-renowned Super VOBIS bonus program, especially during his time as chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, from 2006 to 2009.

It’s significant that he has selected General Beau to represent him at his new farm, because the Victorian-bred stallion is everything you want in a horse to breed to produce VOBIS-suitable progeny.

The General, trained by Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra, was fast, precocious, tough and durable.

He won as a pre-Christmas two-year-old at Flemington in September 2020, and in January won the Group 3 Blue Diamond

Prelude (1100m, Caulfield), beating the champion Anamoe, and the Listed Blue Diamond Prelude (1000m) before finishing close fifth behind Artorius in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.

He was a consistent sprinter at three, finishing third in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m, Moonee Valley) and second in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m, Flemington) before training on to be a consistent performer in Group races and winning the 2023 Listed Always Welcome Stakes (1200m) down the straight at Flemington during Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Maluka is promoting the good-looking General Beau as appealing to breeders for his precocious speed, soundness, and elite sire-line—his grandsire I Am Invincible is a three-time Australian champion stallion— and a “type” that will enhance mares deficient in bone and muscle.

Anderson said he can’t wait for The General’s “first cadets to arrive” when the foals hit the ground in the spring.

“With a relatively late start, he got just enough mares to give him a chance with his first crop on the racetrack. Like him, we’d expect them to be running early,” Anderson said.

“If General Beau throws his type, and he comes from a line of prepotent and athletic stallions, we will have a lot to look forward to in the spring.

“His first book included some of his owners best-bred mares from families with a great history.”

General Beau, for those looking to breed a VOBIS contender, stands at a fee of $8800.

LUXURY: The magnificent barns at

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LARNEUK STUD

GRIFF JOINS LARNEUK’S BOYS’ CLUB

I

t was only two years ago that Neville Murdoch, after 21 years standing stallions at Larneuk Stud, Euroa, declared he’d had enough of the thoroughbred stallion game.

At the age of 68, Murdoch put his pride-and-joy property on the market and bought land at Nagambie, where he planned to ditch the boys in favour of the girls, running a less stressful broodmare-only farm.

At the time, Murdoch said he was looking forward to a more leisurely lifestyle after building Larneuk from scratch and establishing a strong brand despite strong opposition from bigger and more profile farms around him in Victoria’s north-east.

“It’s not retirement, but it’s time to slow down. With stallions, I can’t buy them anymore, the prices are ridiculous, and I have seen that market fall away in the past five years,” he told ANZ Bloodstock in 2023.

“So, I said, ‘bugger this, I’ll sell up here and move over there to Nagambie’ and … get a life, drink wine and eat nice food.”

Let’s hope Murdoch found some beverages to suit his palate, but here we are two years later, and he is preparing his new stallion, the 2023 Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Griff, for his first stud season at Larneuk.

Down the road, at Nagambie, Murdoch is also preparing his own and his clients’ mares for the upcoming stud season.

So, what has changed? It

34 INSIDE BREEDING

BY DANNY POWER

TOO STRONG: Griff (Ben Melham) beating Veight to win the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas in 2023. The grandson of Snitzel will stand his first season at Larneuk Stud, Euroa. PHOTO RACING PHOTOS (REG RYAN)

wasn’t that there was little interest in picturesque Larneuk, the opposite in fact, for there was considerable interest in one of the key pieces of land, with three road frontages and an abundance of water, in the sought-after Gooram Valley.

Simply, for the crusty old former mechanic and self-taught horseman, it was too much not only to sell his farm but also to give away the pleasure he gets out of handling stallions.

At a time when most people are considering hitching a Jayco to a Ford Ranger for a new adventure, the former Kiwi horseman is doing what he loves, and Griff is putting a spring into his step.

The Caulfield Guineas deserves its place as one of Australia’s premier stallionmaking races. Griff might not be

the most high-profile of colts to win the 1600-metre classic, but he did so with a performance of sustained speed and stallion that saw some outstanding Group 1 winners, including Veight, King Colorado, Militarize, Little Brose and Southport Tycoon, wallowing in his wake.

Griff, prepared by Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustice, was one of the form horses going into the Guineas after winning the Listed Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington and the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.

“We could not be more delighted to be welcoming Griff to Larneuk,” Murdoch said.

“Horses of his talent and quality are hard to come by, and it is very exciting to have a Caulfield Guineas winner calling Larneuk home.

“At a fee of $9900, I think he’s the best-value Caulfield Guineas winner at stud” Griff joins some famous Caulfield Guineas winners that made it as stallions, such as the post-1960s stars Vain, Luskin Star, Grosvenor, Sovereign Red and Redoute’s Choice.

Even more significant is the emergence of recent Caulfield Guineas winners Super Seth (by Dundeel; won in 2019; and standing at Waikato Stud, NZ) and Ole Kirk (by Written Tycoon, 2020, Vinery NSW) as two of the most exciting young stallions in the southern hemisphere.

Griff is the first Group 1 winner for Trapeze Artist, who stands at Widden in the Hunter Valley, NSW, for a fee of $33,000. Griff’s dam, Chateau Griffo, is a daughter of Golden Slipper winner, the late Sebring (by More Than Ready [USA]) and Moulin Rouge, by Commands. It’s a pedigree rich in Caulfield Guineas history, because Griff traces back to Celia (by Spearhead [GB]), born in 1920, who is the dam of the outstanding galloper Attley, who like Griff, won Stutt Stakes (then the Moonee Valley Stakes) and Caulfield Guineas double in 1945.

Griff joins a Larneuk Stud stallion roster that includes Japanese Group 1 winner Lauda Sion (by Real Impact, fee $11,000), proven Stakes producing sire Impending (by Lonhro, $6600) and Wandjina (Snitzel, $6600), the sire of Hong Kong star Galaxy Patch.

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INSIDE BREEDING 35

2025 FIRST-SEASON SIRES

YOUNG GUNS: Southport Tycoon (outside) gets up to beat Growing Empire in a thrilling Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) in March. The two exciting young stallions are

two of a high-class batch of young stallions to kick off their stud careers in Victoria. PHOTO RACING PHOTOS

Victorian studs stock up on classy recruits ANDREW GARVEY previews the 2025 breeding season,

I

including extensive profiles of Australia’s first-season sires.

f broodmare owners needed a prod to look to Victoria for a stallion for their prized mare, they need only to look at the massive investment in new sires

by Victoria’s prominent stallion farms.

Victoria is on the move.

For the second year, Australia’s first-season sire list is dominated

by Victoria, as our burgeoning stud farms looked to improve the quality of stallions on offer.

In 2024, 13 out of 30 of Australia’s first-season stallions kicked off their stud careers in Victoria, headed by seven who had won at Group 1 level.

That figure is almost replicated in 2025 with another 10 stallions—from a national list of only 21—and again, another seven Group 1 winners. This is despite three of Victoria’s major stallion farms, Darley Northwood Park, Swettenham Stud and Blue Gum Farm, not adding to their stallion rosters.

Yulong is not taking a backward step with three new stallions entering service

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at Nagambie. The classy and precocious Growing Empire (by Zoustar) and First Settler (by Written Tycoon) are joined

by More Than Ready’s Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile-winning son More Than Looks. The mix offers breeders an interesting variety of new options for breeders while complementing Yulong’s established sires, such as the patriarch Written Tycoon (by Iglesia) and the rising stars Alabama Express (by Redoute’s Choice) and Pierata (by Pierro).

Rosemont Stud, at Gnarwarre, struck gold with its yearling purchase Schwarz (by Zoustar) when he won the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) in March. He is joined by shuttler Henry Longfellow, one of the best-bred and best-performed sons of Dubawi to stand in Australia.

The most expensive of those, offered at a fee of $38,500, is Southport Tycoon, a Group 1 winner at three in the Australian Guineas, who came back at four to win the Group 1 Manikato Stakes. He retires to Widden Stud Victoria, at Kerrie, the same

property—when known as Eliza Park—where his sire Written Tycoon launched his stallion career, at a fee of only $8250, before becoming Australia’s Champion stallion.

Another champion Australian sire with Victorian representation is Yarraman Park’s I Am Invincible (by Invincible Spirit [IRE]), whose son Move To Strike will stand at fledgling farm, Lovatsville, at Seymour. Move To Strike had the distinction of being I Am Invincible’s first two-yearold Group 1 winner when he won the 2024 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham.

One of the hottest stallions in Australia is Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel (by High Chapparal [IRE]), who not only continues to produce outstanding racehorses, but also is now a proven sire of sires thanks to the deeds of two of his Group 1-winning sons, his Arrowfield barn-mate Castelvecchio and New Zealand’s boom stallion Super Seth.

This augurs well for the prospects of Woodside Park’s

new boy, Celestial Legend, arguably the best-performed son of Dundeel. The grey Celestial Legend produced some incredible performances as a three-year-old when he won the 2024 Group 1 Doncaster Mile I (1600m) and Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) for veteran trainer Les Bridge. It’s a coup for Tylden farm owner, Eddie Hirsch, to secure Celestial Legend, who will receive strong support from the farm and his Hong Kong-based co-owner, Bon Ho. Euroa studmaster Neville Murdoch has added the 2023 Caulfield Guineas winner Griff, a son of Trapeze Artist (by Snitzel), to his roster at Larneuk Stud. Murdoch will be hoping Griff can continue the Caulfield Guineas tradition of producing quality stallions, and at a fee of only $ 9900.

Recent Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) winners to succeed at stud are The Autumn Sun (2018) (by Redoute’s Choice), who stands at Arrowfield Stud, Super Seth (2019), and Vinery Stud’s rising

2025 FIRST-SEASON SIRES

Darley continues to add quality stallions to its Victorian base at Northwood Park star Ole Kirk (2020) (by Written Tycoon).

Griff is a perfect choice for the breed-to-race broodmare owner, as is Kingwell (by I Am Invincible), a winning halfbrother to freakish stallion Extreme Choice (by Not A Single Doubt) who will stand at the Osborne family’s Riverbank Farm, Euroa. Kingwell should get a good start from Riverbank loyal breed-to-race clients.

In NSW, Coolmore Stud is launching the stud career of the 2024 Caulfield Guineas winner Private Life, who, like Ole Kirk, is by Written Tycoon.

Private Life is joined on the Coolmore stallion team by the 2024 Group 1 Epsom Derby winner City Of Troy (by Justify [USA]) and Snitzel’s brilliant son Switzerland, the decisive winner of the 2024 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.

The most expensive new sire for 2025 is Darley NSW’s Broadsiding (by Too Darn Hot [IRE]), whose two Group 1 wins at two and another two at three, as well as being a son of sire sensation Too Darn Hot (by Dubawi), justify his fee of $66,000. Broadsiding will stand alongside Too Darn Hot, whose $275,000 fee makes his son something of a value play.

Historic Widden Stud (Widden Valley, NSW) searched long and wide for the right outcross stallion for Australian mares before coming up with the exciting American speedster, and Group 2 winner over 1000 metres, Cogburn (by Not This Time [USA]). This horse impressed a group of Australian breeders who inspected him in Kentucky before he was moved to Australia.

One of the most interesting newcomers is the English-bred sprinter Starlust, who is the first stallion for a new farm, Riverstone Lodge, located near Murrurundi, at the top of the Hunter Valley, NSW. Starlust, a handsome son of shuttle success Zoustar (by Northern Meteor), was a Group winner in England over 1200 metres before a breakout Group 1 win in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint Turf (1300m) at Del Mar.

THE GREY FLASH: Celestial Legend, the most brilliant son of Dundeel, is the new sire at Woodside Park, Tylden.

VICTORIA

CELESTIAL LEGEND Grey 2020, Dundeel (NZ)Sarraqa, by Snitzel Woodside Park, Tylden.

Fee: $27,500.

Type: 16hh. “He’s an extremely good-looking, athletic horse. He fits the bill of not being too big or too small,’’ said Woodside Park’s Mark Dodemaide.

Performance: Only lightly raced at two, Celestial Legend showed plenty of raw ability to finish second on debut at Canterbury before overcoming difficulties to score a highly impressive win over 1200m at Rosehill, showing his trademark barnstorming finish. He had an outstanding Autumn campaign at three, winning the G2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill, followed by outstanding wins in the G1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and G1 Doncaster Hcp (1600m) at Randwick, on tracks ranging from good to heavy.

Pedigree: His sire Dundeel was Horse of the Year in New Zealand and champion middledistance male in Australia in 2013-14, winning a total of

FIRST SETTLER: Joins his sire Written Tycoon at Yulong, Nagambie.

six Group 1 races, headed by the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick. He has proven just as effective at stud, siring 37 Stakes winners, seven at Group 1 level. Dundeel is an emerging sire of sires.

His sons at stud include the Group 1-producers Super Seth and Castelvecchio, two of the hottest stallions in the southern hemisphere. Celestial Legend’s unraced dam is a daughter of South African Horse of the Year, National Colour, and a three-quarter sister to Group 1 winners Rafeef and Mustaaqeem.

FIRST SETTLER Chestnut 2021, Written Tycoon-Graciousness,

by Street Cry (IRE) Yulong Stud, Nagambie.

Fee: $11,000.

Type: 16.1. First Settler was bred at Baramul Stud. The farm’s racing manager, Luke McDonald, recalled the colt as a yearling as being: “Exceptionally well-muscled, very robust, strong, and wellproportioned.”

Performance: He was unbeaten in two runs at two over 1000m, winning on debut at Caulfield before backing

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FIRST-SEASON SIRES

GRIFF: The 2023 G1 Caulfield Guineas winner will stand at Larneuk Farm, Euroa.

up to win up the straight at Flemington. At three, he resumed with a second placing in the LR Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington before achieving a career-high when he won the G2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.

Pedigree: First Settler’s sire, a Group 2 winner, emerged from humble beginnings at stud to become Champion Australian sire in 2020-21. He has sired 77 Stakes winners, 17 at Group 1 level. His sons at stud include the exciting young sire Ole Kirk, Capitalist, Rich Enuff and Written By. His dam, a winner over 1600m, is a halfsister to prominent sire Casino Prince as well as the Stakes winners Tagus, Lord Of The Land, Metallurgical, and is the dam of champion 2YO Best Of Bordeaux, now at stud.

GRIFF Bay 2020, Trapeze ArtistChateaux Griffo, by Sebring Larneuk Stud, Euroa.

Fee: $9900.

Type: 16.1hh. “He is a lovely horse with great scope and a fantastic attitude,” said Larneuk Stud’s Neville Murdoch.

Performance: From three starts at two, he won over 1200m at Warwick Farm. He showed sharp improvement at three and, after two preparatory runs, stepped up in distance to win the Listed Exford Stakes (1400m) at Flemington. He then followed up with victory in the G2 Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley before crowning his career with an all-theway win in the G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

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GROWING EMPIRE: Speed and good looks. New to Yulong, Nagambie.

Pedigree: His sire, winner at two, and a son of champion at three won the Henry stallion Snitzel, was a G1 Coolmore Stud Longfellow top-class sprinter and Stakes and G1 Golden is a case of champion Australian Rose Stakes. Zoustar breeding the was the champion three-year-old of his best to the year, winning four Australian first-season times at Group 1 sire and is a highly best. level. Trapeze Artist successful reverse is the sire of five SWs shuttle stallion siring with Griff being his Group 1 winners in sole Group 1 winner. Griff’s Europe as well as Australia. dam was a smart 2YO, being He is the sire of 69 Stakes placed in a G3 Blue Diamond winners, 11 at G1 level. His Prelude. His second dam won sire sons include Zousain and eight races and placed twice at Lean Mean Machine. Growing Stakes level.

Empire’s dam, a half-sister to Group 1 winner and champion New Zealand two-year-old, Il GROWING EMPIRE Quello Veloce, was a five-time Bay 2021, Zoustar-Miles Of winner to 1700m and was G2 Krishan, by Snitzel placed.

Yulong Stud, Nagambie.

Fee: $22,000.

Type: 16hh. “Growing Empire is a gorgeous, athletic colt with the kind of looks breeders love to see in the ring,’’ said Sam Fairgray, Yulong’s Chief Operating Officer.

Performance: He was a muchtravelled juvenile, finishing second on debut in Sydney before winning the Listed St Albans Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley and then closing out his campaign with a victory in the G3 Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville. At three, he went back-to-back in the G3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield and the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington. He followed up with a string of Group 1 placings against Australia’s best sprinters in the Manikato Stakes, The Everest and Coolmore Stud Stakes, all over 1200m.

Pedigree: His sire was a G2

HENRY LONGFELLOW (IRE) Bay or brown 2020, Dubawi (IRE)-Minding (IRE), by Galileo (IRE) Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre.

Fee: $22,000.

Type: 15.3hh. “He bears a resemblance to both Dubawi and Galileo.” said Rosemont’s Ryan McEvoy. “He has a great depth of girth, and great movement, power and balance. He’s very much a real Australian style of sprinter—a big hindquarter, big overstep, good bone, and he’s extremely powerful,” Performance: Unbeaten in three starts at two in Ireland, winning the G1 National Stakes (1400m) and G2 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at The Curragh. At three, he was runner-up, beaten a neck, to three-time G1 winner Rosallion, in the G1 St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot (1600m) and finished third in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (1600m).

Pedigree: Henry Longfellow is a classic example of breeding the best to the best. His sire, Dubawi, was a champion racehorse, having won three times at the Group 1 level.

He’s been a champion sire,

POETRY: The brilliant Henry Longfellow is a boost to the Rosemont stallion stocks.

FIRST-SEASON SIRES

KINGWELL: Extreme Choice’s half-brother joins the team at Riverbank Farm.

MOVE TO STRIKE: Exciting Group 1 winning 2YO is new to Lovatsville, Seymour.

siring 146 Stakes winners, 60 at Group 1 level. His sire sons include highly successful shuttlers Night Of Thunder and Too Darn Hot. Henry’s dam was described by her trainer, Aidan O’Brien, as the best mare ever trained out of Ballydoyle.

She was the 2016 European Horse of the Year and won seven Group 1 races, including The Oaks and 1000 Guineas.

Minding is a sister to two Group 1 winners, and her dam was also a Group 1 winner.

G3 Manila Stakes (1600m) at Belmont and the Listed Jefferson Cup (1600m) at Churchill Downs. After being a runner-up twice at Group 1 level in the Keeneland Turf Mile and Saratoga Fourstardave Handicap, he beat a strong international field in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile (1600m) at Del Mar. Pedigree: He is a son of former star shuttle stallion More Than Ready, who in a storied career at stud sired 233 Stakes winners, 27 at Group 1 level.

His sire sons include Sebring, Gimmethegreenlight, Verrazano, Better Than Ready, and Ready’s Image. More Than Looks’ dam was a Listed winner over 1700m and is

of former champion sire Hussonet, best known in Australia as the sire of multiple Group 1 winner Weekend Hussler.

MORE THAN LOOKS (USA) Bay or Brown, 2020, More Than Ready (USA)-Ladies’ Privilege (USA), by Harlan’s Holiday (USA) Yulong Stud, Nagambie.

Fee: $22,000.

a half-sister to American G2 winner Takeover Target, not to be confused with the Australian star.

MOVE TO STRIKE Brown 2021, I Am Invincible-No Evidence Needed, by Shamardal (USA) Lovatsville, Seymour.

Fee: $16,500.

Type: 16.1hh. ‘’A colt with real presence, athleticism, and a powerful physique, but also with an intelligent and kind eye. He’s a magnificent individual, strong and imposing yet with a superb temperament,” said Te Akau Stud’s David Ellis.

Performance: He showed

Bay 2019, I Am InvincibleExtremely, by Hussonet (USA) Riverbank Farm, Euroa.

Fee: $5500

Type: 16hh. “He’s an eyecatching horse that showed elite ability from day one,” said his former trainer Cherie DeVaux of More Than Looks.

Performance: Unraced at two, but at three he won the

Type: 16hh. Kingwell was a $550,000 Magic Millions yearling bought by Mick Price Racing.

Performance: Kingwell had trialled impressively but didn’t get to the races until the second half of his 3YO season, scoring an impressive win at Geelong (1135m) at his second start.

A change of stables saw him overcome difficulties to win at Benalla (1106m) in September 2024. He was retired after only one more start.

Pedigree: Kingwell has an elite pedigree. He is the son of a three-time champion Australian sire, who has sired 117 Stakes winners, 17 at Group 1 level, with his sire sons including Brazen Beau and Hellbent. Kingwell is a half-brother to sire sensation Extreme Choice, who stands at Newgate Farm for a fee of $330,000 and has a strike rate of a Group 1 winner for every 23 runners. Their dam, Extremely, is a daughter

LO0KING GOOD: USA Group 1 winner More Than Looks is one of three new stallions for Yulong, Nagambie.

KINGWELL

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FIRST-SEASON SIRES

SCHWARZ: Group 1-winning son of Zoustar in full flight. Joins Rosemont’s team.

SOUTHPORT TYCOON: Headlines the stallion roster at Widden Victoria, Romsey.

himself to be a star in the making with a stunning 4.8-length win in a 1100m two-year-old 1000m event at Te Rapa. In three subsequent runs at two, he finished second, beaten a long head by star filly Bellatrix Star in the G2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Pukekohe, and he overcame a slow start to beat a quality field in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham.

Pedigree: His sire was a Group 3 winner and, from modest beginnings, rose to be champion Australian sire on three occasions, siring 117 Stakes winners, 17 at Group 1 level. His sire sons include Brazen Beau and Hellbent.

Move To Strike’s dam won six races to 1600m, including the G2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m), and was placed twice at G1 level. She has produced a further five winners, including G2-placed Discharged.

G1 Australian Guineas (G1) at Flemington. At four, he showed his versatility with a barnstorming win, beating Growing Empire, in the G1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

Pedigree: His sire, a G2 winner, emerged from humble beginnings at stud and from many different home bases became Champion Australian sire in 202021. He has sired 77 Stakes winners, 17 at Group 1 level.

His sons at stud include the exciting young sire Ole Kirk, Capitalist, Rich Enuff and

SCHWARZ Bay 2020. Zoustar-Summer Sham, by Not A Single Doubt Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre.

Fee: $35,000.

Type: “I haven’t trained a better-looking, more imposing colt than him, nor many faster,” said co-trainer John O’Shea.

Performance: Unraced at two, Schwarz commenced his career with an easy maiden win over 1200m at Gosford.

Two starts later, he won the Listed Amanda Elliott Stakes (1400m) at Flemington over the Cup carnival and the following Autumn took out the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m). At four, he won the G2 Missile Stakes (1200m) and G2 Australia Stakes (1200m)—

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at weight-for-age—before achieving Group 1 success in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

Pedigree: His sire was a Group 2 winner at two and at three won the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and Golden Rose (1400m). He was the champion Australian first-season sire and is a highly successful reverse shuttle stallion siring Group 1 winners in both hemispheres. Zoustar is the sire of 69 Stakes winners, 11 at G1 level, and his sire sons include Zousain and Lean Mean Machine. Schwarz’s dam won three races to 1400m, including the G2 Angus Armanasco Stakes, and is from the damline of champion sire Redoute’s Choice, who is also the sire of Zoustar’s dam.

Written By. Southport Tycoon’s dam, a USA-bred daughter of More Than Ready, is a halfsister to Listed Meadowlands winner Grace And Power, the dam of G1 VRC Classic winner Delectation and also to the dam of G1 Canterbury Stakes winner Artorius, who is at stud.

NSW

BROADSIDING Bay 2021, Too Darn Hot (GB)Speedway, by Street Cry (IRE).

Darley Kelvinside, Aberdeen.

Fee: $66,000.

Type: 15.3hh. “He’s got the same quality as Too Darn Hot.

SOUTHPORT TYCOON Chestnut 2020, Written TycoonReady To Rule (USA), by More Than Ready (USA) Widden Stud, Kerrie.

Fee: $38,500.

Type: 16.1hh. “A stunninglooking son of Written Tycoon.

We just had to add him to our roster,” said Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson.

Performance: Unraced at two, he won impressively on debut at Geelong over 1200m before backing up to score over 1300m at Sandown as an early-season three-yearold. At just his third run, he graduated to Group level when beaten in a photo finish in the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield. The following autumn saw him narrowly beaten in two Group 2 events, before winning the

STAR COLT: Broadsiding stands wth his sire Too Darn Hot at Darley Kelvinside.

FIRST-SEASON SIRES

Derby (2400m) at Epsom and Sandown’s Eclipse Stakes (2000m).

Pedigree: His sire was 2018’s USA triple crown winner and USA Horse of the Year.

Entering stud in the USA and Australia in 2019, he has quickly become a leading stallion and has sired 48 Stakes winners, with eight at Group 1 level. His dam is a sister to G1 Epsom Oaks winner Forever Together and half-sister to G1 Jean Prat winner at Deauville, Lord Shanakill. Forever Together has produced a further four Stakes performers.

COGBURN (USA) Bay 2019, Not This Time (USA)In A Jif (USA), by Saintly Look (USA) Widden Stud, Widden Valley.

Fee: $27,500.

DERBY WINNER: Justify’s best son, City Of Troy, winning the Epsom Derby. He will stands at Coolmore, Jerrys Plains.

He possesses outstanding balance, a substantial girth and shoulder, big hindquarters with a lovely action and a good head. He’s very much an athlete and is an exceptional physical specimen,” said Darley’s Victorian nominations manager Lisa Manning.

Performance: Broadsiding relished getting over a little more ground in his juvenile season, winning his final four starts, including the G1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick (1600m) and G1 J.J. Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm, before being crowned Australia’s champion 2YO. He was just as good at three, adding the G1 Golden Rose (1400m) and G1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill, as well as running third in the G1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m).

Pedigree: His sire is one of the world’s hottest stallions and will stand the current season in Australia at a fee of $275,000. Too Darn Hot was the champion European colt at two and three, and at stud, he has sired 24 Stakes winners, with three at Group 1 level.

Broadsiding’s dam won twice at 1600m and is a half-sister to G1 Thousand Guineas winner Flit.

CITY OF TROY (USA) Bay 2021, Justify (USA)Together Forever (IRE), by Galileo (IRE) Coolmore, Jerrys Plains.

Fee: $49,500.

Type: 16.1hh. “City Of Troy is physically an outstanding balance between Justify’s

brawn and Galileo’s class,” said Coolmore’s Colm Santry.

Performance: City Of Troy was the 2024 European Horse of the Year, and Champion European 2YO and 3YO of his year. He was unbeaten in three starts at two, including the G1 Dewhurst Stakes (1400m).

Three times a G1 winner at three, including the Epsom

Type: 16.1hh. “His physical attributes, his super speed and the fact he loves the turf, make him the perfect stallion to shuttle to Australia,’’ Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson said.

Performance: Cogburn a was winner every season from two through five. He won over 1200m at two and was a Stakes performer at three. He showed vast improvement when switched to turf later in his career, winning the G1 Jaipur Stakes (1100m) at Saratoga in a blistering 59.8 seconds, the G2 Turf Sprint (1200m, Kentucky

AMERICAN SPEED: The good-looking and extremely fast Cogburn will turn heads at Widden in the Hunter Valley.

INSIDE BREEDING 41

FIRST-SEASON SIRES

SWITZERLAND: Brilliant colt by champion sire Snitzel. Stands at Coolmore, NSW. PRIVATE LIFE: Written Tycoon’s first son to stand at Coolmore, NSW.

Downs) and G3 Troy Stakes (1100m, Saratoga).

Pedigree: His sire, a son of Storm Cat’s great champion Giant’s Causeway, was a smart 2YO in the USA, winning the G3 Iroquois Stakes (1700m) at Churchill Downs and being runner-up in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (1700m) at Santa Anita. Giant’s Causeway is the sire of 47 Stakes winners, eight at G1 level. Cogburn’s dam, In A Jif won seven races to 1200m, including the Listed Holiday Inaugural Stakes at Turfway Park. She is a halfsister to two Listed placegetters in the USA.

PRIVATE LIFE Bay 2021, Written TycoonAliyana Tilde, by Snitzel Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains.

Fee: $19,250.

Type: 16.2hh. “Private Life is not only an immensely talented colt, but one of the best-looking stallions we have had in the barn at Jerry’s Plains in my time,” said Coolmore’s racing manager John Kennedy. “He is an absolute standout, and breeders are going to love him when they see him.”

Performance: From two starts as a juvenile, he won over 1100m at Warwick Farm.

First-up at three, he won a 1200m three-year-old event at Warwick Farm and two runs later achieved G1 success when scoring an all-the-way win in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

Pedigree: His sire, a G2 winner, emerged from humble beginnings at stud to become Champion Australian sire in 2020-21. He has sired 77 Stakes winners, 17 at Group

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1 level. His sons at stud include emerging young stallion Ole Kirk, Capitalist, Written By and Rich Enuff. His dam, a sister to Group 3 winner Teaspoon and half-sister to G3 winner Smytzer’s Trish, won three races from 1300m to 1900m, including the G3 ATC Epona Stakes (1900m) and was second in the G1 ATC Australian Oaks (2400m).

STORM BOY Bay 2021, Justify (USA)-Pelican (NZ), by Fastnet Rock Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains.

Fee: $16,500.

Type: “An attractive, balanced, powerful, mature colt with a rich bay coat. Like all the best Justifys, he has an athletic walk and a relaxed temperament,” said Coolmore’s Colm Santry.

Performance: Storm Boy was the outstanding early two-

year-old from his crop. He beat Traffic Warden by 2.28 lengths on debut at Rosehill (1100m).

He then dominated his rivals to win the G3 B. J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm before producing a display of rare speed and stamina to win the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast, after which Coolmore bought a controlling interest in the colt. After a short break Storm Boy won the G2 Skyline Stakes (1200m, Randwick) before coming off the pace for third in the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.

In the spring, he won the G2 San Domenico Stakes (1100m, Rosehill). In 2025, Storm Boy failed to recapture his form in two starts in Ireland and England for trainer Aidan O’Brien.

Pedigree: His sire, Justify, was the 2018 USA Triple Crown winner and USA Horse of

the Year. Entering stud in the USA and Australia in 2019, he has quickly become a leading stallion and has sired 48 Stakes winners, eight at Group 1 level.

Storm Boy’s dam, Pelican, is a New Zealand-bred daughter of champion sire Fastnet Rock from a mating with champion racemare Seachange, the winner of seven Group 1 races in New Zealand.

SWITZERLAND Bay 2021. Snitzel-Ms Bad Behavior (CAN), by Blame (USA) Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains.

Fee: $60,500.

Type: 15.3hh. “He had so much presence. He’s a big, strong, handsome colt with a beautiful action and what a racehorse he turned into,’’ said his trainer, Chris Waller.

Performance: Winner of his first three runs at two from 1000m to 1200m, highlighted

MUSCLE AND SPEED: Magic Millions winner Storm Boy has returned from Ireland to stand at Coolmore, NSW.

FIRST-SEASON SIRES

STARLUST: International Group 1 winner by Zoustar. Stands at Riverstone.

by victory in the G2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill. At three, he won the G2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill before heading to Melbourne, where he proved too good for his rivals in winning the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.

Pedigree: His sire was a G1 winner who proved even more successful at stud, being champion Australian sire on four occasions. He has sired 160 Stakes winners, 23 at Group 1 level. His sons include Shamus Award, Russian Revolution, Wandjina and Trapeze Artist. Switzerland’s dam won four races to 1300m in the USA, including the G3 Ladies Turf Stakes at Kentucky Downs. She is a half-sister to North American Listed winners, One Bad Boy and Blessed Truly.

STARLUST (GB) Bay 2021 Zoustar-Beyond Desire (GB) by Invincible Spirit (IRE) Riverstone Lodge, Blandford.

Fee: $27,500.

Type: 16hh. “I wanted him to look like an Australian-type of horse, and he’s just that.

Big and powerful with plenty of gaskin bone and looks like he will suit all of the mares by from the Danehill, Redoute’s Choice and Snitzel lines, and he’s going to be able to cover those speed-type mares, which is just hugely exciting,” said Riverstone Lodge’s Nick Taylor.

Performance: He had a busy two-year-old season, winning three times, including the G3 Sirenia Stakes (1200m) at Kempton and finishing third in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (1000m) at Santa Anita. At three, he

won three times, including the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (1300m) at Del Mar and the listed City Walls Stakes (1000m) at York and was third in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes (1000m) at York.

Pedigree: His sire was a Group 2 winner at two and at three won the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and G1 Golden Rose (1400m). He was the champion Australian first-season sire and was a highly successful reverse shuttle stallion, siring Group 1 winners in both hemispheres.

He is the sire of 69 Stakes winners, 11 at Group 1 level.

His sire sons include Zousain and Lean Mean Machine.

Starlust’s dam won four races to 1200m, including the G3 Prix de Saint-Georges at Longchamp, and was a dual Listed winner in England.

Starlust is closely related to successful shuttle stallion Mastercraftsman.

VANDEEK: Grey and fast. Selected to stand at Arrowfield Stud, Scone.

TRAFFIC WARDEN Bay 2021, Street Boss (USA)Efficiently, by Exceed And Excel Darley Kelvinside, Aberdeen.

Fee: $22,000.

Type: 15.3hh. ‘’Traffic Warden is a good-looking horse with a phenomenal pedigree,’’ said Darley’s Victorian nominations manager Lisa Manning. “Nobody will be disappointed when they see him.”

Performance: At two, he won over 1000m at Sandown before winning the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

He then headed to Sydney, running second in the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick. At three, he won the G2 Run To The Rose (1200m) and ran a close second behind stablemate Broadsiding in the G1 Golden Rose (1400m), both at Rosehill.

Pedigree: His sire won seven races to 1400m in the USA and was a dual Group 1 winner. He

has been a highly successful shuttle stallion, siring 76 Stakes winners, 10 at Group 1 level. His sire sons include Holy Boss and Hanseatic, as well as the exciting former champion Anamoe. Traffic Warden’s dam was a winner at 1200m and is a sister to G2 winner and Golden Slipper runner-up Sidestep, as well as a half-sister to G1 winners Willowy and Skilled.

VANDEEK (GB) Grey 2021, Havana Grey (GB)Mosa Mine (GB) by Exceed And Excel Arrowfield Stud, Scone.

Fee: $22,000.

Type: 16.15hh. “He’s an outstanding physical specimen,” said Arrowfield’s Jon Freyer. “He’s a bigger horse than what you would imagine, and has got a good leg to him, has a wonderful shoulder and a sharp hind leg. Just a lovely, lovely horse.”

TRAFFIC WARDEN: Precocious son of Street Boss. Starts his stud career at Darley Kelvinside.

INSIDE BREEDING 43

FIRST-SEASON SIRES

His sire, Snitzel is a fourtime champion Australian sire, siring more than 160 Stakes winners, 23 at Group 1 level, with his sire sons including Shamus Award, Russian Revolution, Wandjina and Trapeze Artist. Prost’s dam is a city-winning 2YO and is a half-sister to G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Samaready.

TASMANIA

BODYGUARD PROST: A fast son of Snitzel from the family of Shinzo. Kicks off his stud career at Aquis Farm, Queensland.

Performance: Vandeek was the champion French colt in 2023.

Unbeaten in four starts at two over 1200m, including the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville and the G1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. He had just a further two career starts at three, finishing third in the G1 July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket and the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes (1200m) at Haydock.

Pedigree: His sire, an emerging force in Europe, is a grandson of former leading shuttle horse Teofilo. Havana Grey won the G1 Flying Five Stakes (1000m) at The Curragh, and at stud, from four crops to race, has sired 23 SWs with Vandeek being his only Group 1 winner to date. Vandeek’s dam has produced five other winners, including Gstaad, winner of the 2025 G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. His second dam is a half-sister to the dam of former leading shuttle stallion Anabaa.

44 INSIDE BREEDING

QUEENSLAND

PROST

Bay 2021, I Am InvincibleTumooh, by Fastnet Rock.

Armidale Stud, Carrick.

Fee: $8,800.

Type: 16hh. His trainer, Peter Snowden, described

Bodyguard as “the bestlooking horse I have ever been associated with”.

Performance: From four starts at two, he won the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield and the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.

Pedigree: His sire was a G3 winner and, from modest beginnings, rose to be champion Australian sire on three occasions, siring 117 Stakes winners, 17 at G1 level. His sire sons include Brazen Beau and Hellbent.

Bodyguard’s unraced dam is a half-sister to G3 ATC Festival Stakes winner Dajraan, and his second dam is G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Mossfun.

Bay, 2021, SnitzelSamarmeteors, by Northern Meteor Aquis Farm, Benobble.

Fee: $13,200.

Type: 15.3hh. “I strongly encourage breeders to inspect Prost, his race record and pedigree are impressive, but it’s the quality and type that separates Prost from others in his price range,” said Aquis director of sales Jonathan Davies.

Performance: Prost was up and going early, running third in the G3 Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Randwick and later in the season taking out the G3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill and was third in the G2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick. At three, he returned to win the G2 Callander-Presnell (1600m).

Pedigree: Prost is a threequarter brother to the 2023 Golden Slipper winner Shinzo.

BODYGUARD: The impressive looking son of I Am Invincible stands at Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tasmania.

N T

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*Number of thoroughbred mares and stallions registered in 2024 fed Barastoc. Source Thoroughbred Breeders Australia. *Number of thoroughbred mares and stallions registered in 2024 fed Barastoc. Source Thoroughbred Breeders Australia.

DARLEY

The Boss lauds over Northwood Park

BY DANNY POWER

HAPPY AT HOME: The magnificent Street Boss, sire of the champion Anamoe, in his element parading at Darley Northwood Park, Seymour, where he has stood for 14 seasons.

E

ven without his headline act, the champion Anamoe, a nine-time Group 1 winner before his retirement to stud in 2023, Darley’s Street Boss continues to prove himself one of Australia’s best stallions.

He finished the 2024-25 season with eight Stakes winners and progeny earnings just short of $10 million, with Group 1 winners Another Wil and Pinstriped, and the brilliant juveniles Tentyris and Tempted.

Street Boss, the best sireson of the great Street Cry (by Machiavellian [USA]), has lifted his profile from a low base—he stood for four seasons early in his career for as little as $11,000 and nominations were dealt as low as $8000. With his books limited to around 100 mares, in most cases, he covers half the size of the books of his rivals, who sit with him high on the leading-sire list.

The powerful chestnut, now 21, will stand his 16th season in Australia, 14 of those in Victoria. He will cover mares at a fee $66,000, after peaking at $77,000 in 2022 in his second season at Darley’s Kelvinside farm at Aberdeen in the Hunter 46 INSIDE BREEDING

SON OF A GUN: In the image of his sire Street Boss, the exciting Tentyris, pictured at

Flemington, is one of Australia’s most exciting three-year-olds. PHOTO RACING PHOTOS

Valley, NSW, before his return to Victoria in 2023 to avoid competition with Anamoe, who retired with more than $12 million in prize money.

Back at Northwood Park, Seymour, Street Boss has again had his book limited, covering 82 mares in 2023 and 75 last year. Demand remains strong, especially after the colt Tentyris and the filly Tempted— chestnuts like their sire—were among the best two-year-olds in the past season.

Tentyris (from the Exceed And Excel mare Deity), trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, was narrowly beaten by Devil Night in the

Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m, Caulfield) before beating Wodeton in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in March. The colt was one of the favourites for the Group 1 Golden Slipper but was forced to miss the race due to lameness.

Tempted, also out of an Exceed And Excel mare, Calliope, will join the Ciaron Maher stable after the decision by her trainer James Cummings to accept a position in Hong Kong. The filly, after winning the Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m, Randwick), finished on hard late for third behind Marhoona in the Golden Slipper

and then showed her class when she won the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April.

Tentyris and Tempted were products of Street Boss’s first season at Kelvinside in 2021, when he covered some of the best mares in the Hunter Valley thanks to the great success of Anamoe and other high-class sons such as Pericles and Traffic Warden, the latter who stands his first season at Kelvinside this spring. That means more can be expected of this underrated sire with his second Hunter Valley crop of 60 foals having just turned two. Street Boss, with 10 Group 1 winners on his CV, deserves his place as “the Boss” of the stallion barn at Darley Northwood Park.

In 2025, he will share his digs with four other stallions after the decision to leave the shuttler Blue Point (by Shamardal [USA]) in England, and the 2022 Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner, Golden Mile (by Astern), due to fertility problems, was gelded and returned to racing.

Without a new stallion on the 2025 roster, the Darley team have good reason to greet the breeding season with high expectation, with the first foals of the 2024 Group Newmarket Handicap winner Cylinder (by Exceed And Excel) due to arrive. Cylinder—fee $44,000— covered 124 mares in his first season, and he’s expected to be popular again with Victorian breeders looking for speed and precocity.

The reliable Brazen Beau (by I Am Invincible), the sire of 16 Stakes winners—three at Group 1 level—continues to produce a wealth of fast winners, which makes him ideal for Victoria’s rich VOBIS bonus scheme.

He will cover his 11th season at Northwood Park at a fee of $27,500.

Kermedec (by Teofilo [IRE]), (fee $13,750) and Paulele (by Dawn Approach [IRE], fee $11,000) round out Darley’s Victorian roster.

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48 INSIDE BREEDING

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WYNDHOLM PARK STUD / OAKFORD STUD

Wyndspelle is working for Wyndholm

W

ell-known Ballarat vet Dr Kim McKellar combines a passion for treating horses with breeding them.

McKellar has been treating racehorses in the Ballarat district for 55 years, and he’s been mixing the daily grind of veterinary work with the passion of standing stallions at his Miners Rest farm, Wyndholm Park, near the Ballarat racecourse.

McKellar’s philosophy is that breeding a successful racehorse isn’t for the rich and famous. His three stallions, Crackerjack King (IRE) (by Shamardal [USA]), Ringerdingding (by Sebring) and Wyndspelle (NZ) (by Iffraaj [GB]) each stand for a fee of only $6600.

The death in 2019 of Rebel Raider (by Reset), when he was on the verge of making the grade as a commercial stallion, set back McKeller’s ambitions for his little farm, but he may have found a more than adequate replacement in the former New Zealand Group 1 winner Wyndspelle (by Iffraaj [IRE]), who stood his first season at Wyndholm Park last year after starting his career in New Zealand and had a season at the now defunct Cornwall Park,

Toolern Vale.

Wyndspelle’s first of two New Zealand crops has just completed its three-year-old season, and the results are promising. From only 12 starters, he has had five winners, including two who have made it to Stakes company.

That strike rate could be even better had it not been for the alert bloodstock agents who have snapped up a couple of impressive Wyndspelle youngsters from trials for their Hong Kong clients, including My Wyndfall (out of the Rory’s Jester mare Foxtrot), who won three consecutive trials late in 2024 before the agents came knocking.

Wyndspelle’s daughter, the leggy Wyndsong (ex-Surveillance [NZ], by Rip Van Winkle [IRE]) was set for the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham in March after finishing a luckless fourth in the Group 3 Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie. The filly finished down the track in the Oaks in what Forsman described as an “end of preparation” run, and he has high hopes that with maturity, she can win at Stakes level.

Also, showing signs of being a Stakes horse is the two-yearold Wyndstorm (ex-Brambling [NZ], by Redoute’s Choice), who

SIRING WINNERS: Wyndholm Park’s new sire Wyndspelle has kicked off his stud career in style with his first crops in New Zealand.

produced a monster performance to finish fourth in the Listed Waikato Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa in May. The big gelding blew the start, raced four wide before steaming home late between horses. Trainer Hollie Wyndyard believes Windstorm, whose granddam Bramble Rose won the 2003 New Zealand Oaks, can be a Derby contender in 2026.

Wynyard, who co-trained Wyndspelle to win the 2019 Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes (WFA,1600m) at Trentham, likens Windstorm to his sire. “This guy is probably twice the size of his father, Wyndspelle was short and nuggety. But they are very similar in temperament. Wyndspelle was just an absolute dude, ultimate professional, who knew his job and gave it 100 per cent every day.”

On the South Island, Wanderin Spelle (ex-Wanderin Over [NZ],

The McKnights can do it all

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here’s not much in the thoroughbred breeding and racing business that the McKnight family hasn’t been involved in.

Patriarch Brian McKnight has been training horses—recently in partnership with his son Ashley— for 55 years, but there’s a strong passion for the family, who run Oakford Thoroughbreds at Maldon, for breeding and raising thoroughbreds.

The picturesque 324-hectare farm is a well-oiled machine that leaves no stone unturned

50 INSIDE BREEDING

to provide its clients with the best of service in all facets of the thoroughbred industry—racing, breeding, yearling preparation, agistment and rehabilitation.

With the breeding season just around the corner, Oakford Thoroughbred Farm headlines as a specialist in professional breeding services especially because of irts location in central Victoria, not far from Bendigo, giving the McKnights easy access to the Victorian studs, and is the perfect place to board mares for the breeding season.

ALWAYS WORKING: Brian McKnight

tends to a horse as it exits the swimming pool at Oakford Thoroughbred Farm, Maldon.

The farm also caters for walking-out mares, foaling down, and the natural progression to selling the foal as a yearling at the Melbourne sales.

This all adds up to a satisfying, worry-free result for broodmare

by Nom Du Jeu [NZ]) has been impressive through the winter on the synthetic tracks, although trainer Ross Beckett has been quoted in the press as believing the gelding has a bright future when he matures and gets onto the turf.

“He’s a lovely big 16.2hh gelding with a long scopey stride.

He has the big storming finish, he’s laid-back, takes everything in his stride. We’re confident he will go a long way,” Beckett told NZ Thoroughbred News.

With Wyndspelle’s sire, Iffraaj (by Zafonic [GB]), hitting the international headlines as the sire of Coolmore’s boom stallion Wootton Bassett (GB), who stands in the Hunter Valley for an Australian record $385,000, the team at Wyndholm Park have an air of expectation for the 2025 breeding season. owners.

Oakford offers the experience and reputation afforded by a lifetime involvement in the thoroughbred industry.

Brian McKnight, 77, has been in the area most of his working life, starting as a 17-year-old at Ed Barty’s Trevenson Park.

He worked at Trevenson Park for 33 years before developing Oakford on land next door—the McKnights moved there in 1997.

Oakford Farm also tailors the agistment experience to include stabling, rugging, premiumfarrier care by Ashley—a qualified master farrier registered with Racing Victoria—and on-call veterinary services from the vets at the Victorian Equine Group at Bendigo.

Farm manager, Brendan, carefully monitors all aspects of the feeding program, which includes consultation with a nutritionist.

The farm facilities include a working track, swimming pool, walking machine, water-walker and a treadmill.

FLINDERS PARK/RANVET

Does your breeding diet have the 500 Plus advantage?

“Three-quarters of the breeding is in the feeding,” said famous trainer Bart Cummings, who won 12 Melbourne Cups.

We can all agree that providing adequate sources of nutrition to our breeding stock can be one of the most daunting aspects of the season. A checklist that is complex in demands, with consequences that are too costly to face, makes for a difficult recipe to satisfy.

Providing a high-quality protein—that is, a source of protein that contains a higher proportion of essential amino acids than non-essential—is a critical priority on the list.

Protein is required both by the young horse for promoting rapid growth and by the mare to meet reproductive and lactation demands.

“A deficiency of protein will do more to suppress optimum

FEEDING IS EVERYTHING: The inclusion of Ranvet 500 Plus as a dietary supplement both before and after foaling allows for the promotion of enhanced milk production in the mare, as well as optimal growth and development rates in the foal.

growth rate than almost any other single nutrient group,” said legendary veterinarian Dr Percy Sykes AM, M.R.C.V.S., M.A.C.V.Sc. Ranvet 500 Plus Stud Formula is a high-quality protein supplement that provides a superior amino acid profile compared to its closest competitors.

The inclusion of 500 Plus as a dietary supplement both before and after foaling allows for the promotion of enhanced milk production in the mare, as well as optimal growth and development rates in the foal.

Ranvet’s 500 Plus formula reflects the most current research, providing the diet with a reliable source of key minerals, including Calcium, Phosphorus, Copper, and Zinc, which can be beneficial in reducing incidences of skeletal diseases. As a palatable pellet, 500 Plus can be easily mixed into the current ration.

Whether you are preparing your breeding stock for joining or your mare is entering her final trimester, it is not too late to reflect on your feeding regime and its performance. Submit your diet online at ranvet.com.au/ nutrition-centre/diet-evaluation/ for a free and personalised report compiled by a member of our nutrition team.

Flinders Park is horse heaven Flinders Park Stud is one of the showplace farms on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.

The farm, situated on elevated coastal land just outside the seaside town of Flinders, is managed by respected horseman Michael Cumming on behalf of owner Brian Coyle.

Although Flinders Park has far-reaching views over Bass Strait and Western Port Bay, the farm’s speciality is raising thoroughbreds on hilly paddocks with year-round green pastures enhanced by consistent coastal rainfall.

Cummings, who has more than 20 years of experience in the thoroughbred breeding industry, and his staff take pride in giving their equine residents—broodmares, foals and yearlings—the best of attention.

This is human and horse heaven, and only an hour’s drive south of Melbourne.

Flinders Park success stories include trainer Mick Price’s former outstanding Group 1 winner Pompeii Ruler, high-class Group 3-winning mare Humma Humma and her Stakes-winning half-sister Tycoon Humma, their dam Humma Mumma, Tasmanian Oaks winner Taleer and Stakes-

PRIDE AND JOY: Owner Brian Coyle and his former star galloper Pompeii Ruler pictured at picturesque Flinders Park Stud on the

Mornington Peninsula.

winners Taunting and Rockribbed.

Flinders Park’s services include: • Year-round agistment for broodmares and their foals, weanlings and yearlings.

• Racehorse spelling.

• Professional weanling

handling and yearling sales preparation for the Melbourne thoroughbred sales.

Some of Victoria’s leading trainers spell their horses at the farm, a testament to the level of care and supervision provided at

Flinders Park Stud.

Broodmare owners are always welcome to inspect their mares and foals.

To find Flinders Park Stud’s competitive rates, go to flindersparkstud.com.au.

INSIDE BREEDING 51

PLASVACC/SUPERIOR RUBBER SURFACES/ICONOCLAST

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Putting your trust in Plasvacc

he first 24 hours of a foal’s life are a fleeting but monumental period that lays the groundwork for its future well-being.

By focusing on immediate bonding, colostrum intake, careful observation, essential veterinary care and immunityboosting treatments such as Plasvacc’s Equiplas you can ensure your newborn foal’s healthy start.

Plasvacc plasma is never blended. We use single-source donor tracking and cell-free plasma to reduce the risk of adverse reactions. Each donor animal is carefully screened, meticulously cared for, and quarantined. Our high-gamma globulin, cell-free plasma biologics help patients heal more quickly with less drug intervention.

For the treatment of Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT) and Partial Failure of Passive Transfer (PFPT) in the equine neonate. Equiplas is also an effective supportive therapy for a range of conditions such

NURTURING POTENTIAL: Equiplas is a line of proven plasma products with the goal

of eliminating the risks associated with FPT by ensuring newborn foals receive superior immune protection, regardless of circumstances.

as diarrhoea, colitis, renal conditions and other active infections.

Equiplas® R is specifically designed to aid in the management and control of severe respiratory disease associated with Rhodococcus equi, more commonly known as “Rattles.” Despite

successful treatment, horses that recover may never reach their full athletic potential, so prophylactic administration is recommended.

Equiplas® E is designed to aid in the treatment of Endotoxaemia, also known as Colitis X, in horses.

Administration of Equiplas E’s

targeted antibodies will shorten the course of hospitalisation and help save animals that might not normally survive.

Gamma Check E is a rapid five-minute screening test that uses whole blood or serum as a semi-quantitative means to measure IgG levels in foals. No special equipment needed. The Gamma Check E test can be run as early as eight hours postfoaling, allowing time for oral colostrum supplementation.

A positive result indicates lgG levels greater than or equal to 800 mg/ dL. Leading equine veterinarians trust Plasvacc’s Equiplas® to improve and save the lives of their patients. When administering plasma for protection or recovery, if you count on antibodies, count on Plasvacc.

For more information or to place an order, contact your local veterinarian or veterinary wholesaler.

Superior equine ICONOCLAST UNIQUE rubber matting Graeme and Michelle Paterson formed Superior Rubber Surfaces (SRS) in New Zealand in 1997.

The Patersons are from a farming background in Clevedon, with a keen interest in horses, and they understand the durability requirements and importance of safe, hygienic, versatile surfaces.

SRS products are not hard pressed, so the full elasticity of the rubber is available, ensuring comfort and secure footing.

The SRS rubber products— True Seamless Sealed Rubber Matting, Made-to-Measure Mats and Reinforced Cleats—are tailormade on-site using a mobile work unit. The matting is bonded to the floor seamlessly with no joins, and sealed so contaminants can’t penetrate, which makes the SRS rubber extremely hygienic.

Not only is the rubber

extremely durable, but it is also virtually noise-resistant, which reduces the stress on the horses in a stable environment.

SRS manufactures and supplies top-quality, affordable products that work. We value delivering personalised services.

SRS products are suitable for horse transports, parade areas, breezeways, stables, tie-ups, wash bay, horse walkers, crushes, veterinary rooms and other hazardous areas in the workplace.

The Patersons are proud of their product and offer a personalised back-up service that is second to none.

They will be installing from Victoria through to Queensland in August.

Email: info@ superiorrubbersurfaces.com or phone: 0451 949 721.

SEAMLESS: Safe and hygienic, Superior Rubber Surfaces are perfect for all equine

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SUPPORT BOOTS

Iconoclast Orthopedic Support Boots feature our patented Double Sling Straps for unparalleled lateral support.

With its evenly distributed support to the suspensory branches, Iconoclast is the only boot that truly lists and cradles the equine leg. They are designed to reduce joint interference and restriction.

This is the perfect all-around boot for every equine discipline.

This support boot is designed for daily use while riding to help prevent soft tissue damage in the lower legs. Iconoclast Orthopedic Support Boots will help your horse feel more confident with each step he takes, in and out of the arena.

The Iconoclast Orthopedic Support Boot has revolutionised equine leg support. Iconoclast Boots are specifically designed to support and protect the suspensory and sesamoidial regions by providing 360-degree support of the equine athlete through a strap-on, non-restrictive device.

Our entire line of Iconoclast Boots was designed by horse trainers and leading veterinarians who were dissatisfied with the performance of every other equine boot on the market.

The equine leg needs support and protection against the daily rigours of extreme physical activities. There has not been a boot that adequately meets both of those demands until now.

SUPER SUPPORT: The Iconoclast Orthopedic Support Boot has revolutionised equine leg support.

IRONGATE/1EQUINE/TC FREEZEBRANDING

Probiotics: The gut feeling every stallion and mare needs For stallions and mares to enter the breeding season in optimal health, it is crucial that their gut health is at its best.

A simple dose of 1Equine Digestive Support with Probiotics is the aid to help you achieve that result with your stallion or mare.

During the breeding season, an unhealthy gut can lead to poor nutrient absorption, compromised immune function, increased stress, and overall health issues, which can negatively impact breeding.

Probiotics are key to ensuring that your horses can enter the breeding season with the best possible chance of fertility, which is why we recommend a daily dose of 1Equine Digestive Support with Probiotics.

One of the key benefits of feeding probiotics, especially after the mares have conceived a foal, is that if fed in the third trimester, the mother can pass on these probiotics

to the foal after birth, giving the baby the best possible start to life.

Digestive Support with Probiotics from 1Equine is formulated with probiotics, digestive enzymes, and red marine algae to enhance your horse’s digestive and gut health.

Leading Victorian breeder, Anthony Mithen, supports 1Equine products. “The equine world is full of research and development, but I believe we are missing a trick when it comes to gut health. Thankfully, 1Equine is changing that with their range of digestive support products for all our horses, young stock or mature racehorses.”

Digestive Support with Probiotics, available in a pellet form, is both palatable and costeffective, costing on average $1.25 and featuring 60 billion colony-forming units (CFUs) of probiotics per dose.

Available at Garrards Horse and Hounds or visit 1equine.com.au

Irongate—Australia’s most popular walker

AUSTRALIAN MADE: Irongate is a leader in the manufacture and design of equine exercise machines.

Irongate is a proud Australianowned company, and we not only manufacture everything utilising stringent quality assurance but also continue to set the highest standards in engineering, reliability, service, and safety.

We manufacture our walkers using only Australia-made steel, and with more than 600 walkers sold worldwide, the longevity of the product speaks for itself Irongate Australia has been in business for 30 years and is

performing stronger than ever, both locally and internationally.

Irongate prides itself on excellence and communication with our customers.

Evolution III is now in its 15th year of production and remains the biggest seller to date. The Irongate Australia Evolution III standard walker has a walkway width of 1900 mm. The roof is doughnut-shaped, with the roof sheets stretching over 4700 mm. It is more than adequate to

keep the weather off the horses; there is plenty of room for fans and additional lighting to be added.

The Slim Line Irongate Australia walker features a walkway width of 1200 mm. It offers all the same benefits as Evolution III and also features a roof that stretches over 3,000 mm.

We utilise the best, up-todate electronic systems for our Evolution III walkers, as well as the most robust motors and

gearboxes available on the market.

Irongate Australia walkers are 100 per cent hot-dipped galvanised to withstand all weather conditions.

Irongate Australia walking surface mats are made from high-quality Australian rubber, offering superior UV stability with a non-slip surface.

Irongate prides itself on excellence and communication with our customers.

INSIDE BREEDING 53

BETAVET/MAGIC BREED/WOODSHIELD

BuildaGut for digestive and hindgut health BuildaGut consistently proves itself to be invaluable for young horses as a slow-release, high-fibre, calcium-rich formula designed to support healthy gut flora, improve appetite and increase nutritional uptake.

When horses experience changes in their environment, such as preparing for sales, disruptions to their diet during travel, or mental stress from being stabled, it’s crucial to support their digestive health.

One of the most effective ways to do this is by focusing on the gut, and BetaVet offers a fabulous natural solution with BuildaGut. BetaVet’s experts have created a potent herbal blend to deliver optimal results in natural equine healthcare. With a dedication to quality, BetaVet ensures that the beneficial properties of its ingredients are preserved from harvest to feeding.

BuildaGut, our premium gastric conditioner formulation, is carefully crafted to soothe, restore, and enhance the digestive system. This formulation combines traditional digestivesoothing herbs with highly bioavailable natural minerals, additional fibre, and blackcurrant extract rich in polyphenols to offer excellent

HORSE HEALTH: BetaVet’s well-balanced BuildaGut formula is designed to help keep horses in peak

prebiotic support.

Red marine minerals from the Lithothamnion species provide a natural source of multiminerals that buffer the stomach lining. These minerals, including calcium, magnesium, silicon, and 74 trace elements like zinc, iron, and selenium, are slowly released, supporting digestive health.

Chamomile flowers that are known for their mild soothing, heat-reducing, and musclerelaxing properties that can help reduce the incidence of gastric conditions. Chamomile also supports gastric mucin, which protects the gastrointestinal tract and reduces acidity, making it ideal for horses post omeprazole or antibiotic treatment.

Fennel seed is included for its ability to aid in protein breakdown, relax the digestive tract, and boost digestion by supporting secretions.

Blackcurrant fruit is rich in polyphenols that helps promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, providing a significant prebiotic effect to help strengthen the gut lining. This helps maintain gut health and ensures a healthy gut lining.

Chicory root extract rich in Fibrulose, provides dietary fibre to support healthy bowel flora and acts as a prebiotic.

BetaVet’s well-balanced BuildaGut formula is designed to help keep horses in peak condition and is an ideal supplement to support the physical and mental stress of a sales preparation or the demands of racing.

Woodshield’s game-changer in equine fencing

TRUSTED TOOL: The Magic Breed monitoring system is a frontline tool in alerting

when a mare is due to foal.

A MAGIC MONITORING SYSTEM When it comes to foaling, on-time human intervention—if needed—is crucial to ensure a successful outcome. This also applies to horses after surgery or when detecting colic.

Magic Breed has earned the trust of breeders, stud farms and broodmare owners as a crucial frontline tool to accurately alert foalwatchers when a mare is readying to foal down and when monitoring for colic or after surgery.

The Magic Breed Plus system is a popular tool amongst veterinary surgeons for this very reason, as they will be alerted when the mare lays downs, which would indicate that assistance is required.

Designed to minimise long hours of supervision around foaling time, the non-invasive transmitter attaches to the mare’s halter and detects when the mare lies down. The addition of an LCD display on the Magic Breed Plus receiver provides a wealth of operator feedback. This includes signal strength and battery level, along with individual identification for up to eight transmitters.

The Magic Breed/Magic Breed Plus products were designed in Australia more than 40 years ago, have always been manufactured in Australia and continue to be produced at our base at the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

Magic Breed Plus’s operating system works on a 917MHz frequency, providing it with greatly improved immunity to interference and superior range—a range of 500 metres is no problem and in excess of one kilometre is even possible. Although this means that Magic Breed Plus won’t work with any of the 27MHz accessories of the original Magic Breed system, we guarantee that the performance is so good that an additional antenna won’t be necessary.

For information visit: magicbreedplus.com.au

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fortune can be spent on keeping your horses safe, and no more so than on replacing fencing.

There is nothing more costly than fixing rotting posts, posts eaten by your horses, munched by termites, and burnt by fire.

Woodshield has developed a fence post that is safe for animals, can’t be eaten, does not rot, does not need painting and has no splinters or cracks to worry about.

The Woodshield fence post ticks every box and has been around since 2004. It is a weather-proof, chemical-free timber post, fully encased in recycled plastic.

The product was designed to eliminate the issue of end-of-life with treated timber posts and utilise Agri-waste instead of dumping it in a landfill.

You can still attach standard clips, screws, nails, flexible fencing, electric tape, wire, and

other materials, and you can still use a hammer or a drill.

They are rammed/knocked in like a standard post, depending on the ground, and no gloves are required to handle them, making them safe and non-toxic.

The life span is 50-100 years, and at the end of life, they can be fully recycled.

The poly outer can be peeled off like a banana and returned to the recycling stream, while the timber can be mulched back into the earth or burned, as there are no chemicals to worry about.

These fence posts are used throughout the country in horse studs, vineyards, orchards, and even in the ocean for growing oysters.

Made in Australia, safe for animals, long-lasting and weather-resistant, visit woodshield.com.au PERFECT POST: Woodshield’s weatherproof, chemical-free timber post is fully encased in recycled plastic.

POLVIN FENCING/BARASTOC/JRA

FEEDING FOR TWO WITH BARASTOC

SAFE AND DURABLE: Polvin fencing not only looks

good and is durable, but it will also withstand Australia’s extreme weather conditions.

Polvin: The platinum standard in equine fencing

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hen it comes to fencing for horses and the thoroughbred racing industry, safety, durability, and presentation are nonnegotiable. Polvin Fencing Systems has set the benchmark with its Platinum Series PVC Post and Rail fencing, purpose-designed for the needs of racecourses, spelling paddocks, and equine properties across Australasia.

Unlike timber, which can splinter, rot or require constant maintenance, Polvin’s Australian-made PVC fencing offers a smooth, splinter-free finish that dramatically reduces the risk of injury to valuable horses. It’s engineered to flex on impact, providing both strength and safety, making it ideal for hightraffic areas like training tracks and stallion yards.

But Polvin fencing is more than just tough. Its clean, white aesthetic delivers a prestigious look synonymous with worldclass equine facilities. Whether lining a racetrack or framing a breeder’s stud, it enhances property value while reflecting the professionalism expected in the racing industry.

With the highest UV protection, impact resistance, and a 50-year warranty, Polvin Platinum Series fencing performs under the toughest New Zealand and Australian conditions, eliminating ongoing costs and ensuring peace of mind for stud managers, trainers, and breeders alike.

From champions in the making to seasoned stallions, every horse deserves a secure environment. Polvin’s Post and Rail fencing is not just a practical investment it’s a statement of care and commitment to excellence in equine management.

For those serious about horses, there’s no better choice. Choose Polvin, the fencing trusted by industry leaders.

Behind every healthy foal is a well-fed mare. From pre-conception through to weaning, your mare’s nutrition plays a vital role—not just in supporting a successful pregnancy, but in shaping the long-term wellbeing of both mare and foal. Whether you’re aiming for your next champion or simply ensuring a smooth breeding season, the right feeding strategy is essential.

Nutritional prep begins months before breeding. Aim for a body condition score (CS) of 3–4 out of 5. For dry mares on decent pasture, a concentrated ration like Barastoc Legend can fill nutritional gaps. Lactating mares that are being bred again require a higher-calorie option, such as Barastoc Breed N Grow.

Pregnancy is divided into three stages, with the third trimester being the most critical. Here, the foal doubles in weight. Your mare’s requirements soar— energy up 10–20 per cent, protein 20–30 per cent, calcium 70–80 per cent, and phosphorus 80–90 per cent.

Simply feeding more of a basic diet won’t cut it. Without the right nutrient profile, you risk poor foal growth and fertility issues.

Once your foal arrives, your mare becomes a milk-making machine— producing up to 20 litres/day. Her nutritional demands spike dramatically: energy 175 per cent, protein 220 per cent, calcium and phosphorus 270–280 per cent. Even with a top-tier diet, she’ll tap into her own reserves, so ensure she’s in solid condition before foaling.

From three months to weaning, the mare’s requirements remain elevated (energy 150 per cent, protein and minerals up to 160 per cent). Feeding wet and dry mares the same diet can shortchange both; separate groups allow for tailored nutrition.

Good feeding is an investment in your stud’s future. Work with an equine nutritionist to match feed to your mares’ stage, pasture, and performance goals.

Use Barastoc’s free tools at barastochorse.com.au to build the ideal ration.

NUTRITION IS VITAL: Barastoc offers breeders the opportunity to work with an equine nutritionist to match feed to your mares’ stage, pasture, and performance goals

Japan’s international race series

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he Japan Autumn International series will be held over four weekends between 16 November and 7 December, featuring the Japan Cup (30 November, Tokyo Racecourse, 2,400m) with a total prize money of JPY 1.09 billion (approximately AUD$12.1 million).

Japan Racing Association (JRA) offers an additional bonus system, which is up to USD3,000,000, to winners of designated Australian G1 races—the Tancred Stakes, the Caulfield Cup, the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup— for running in the Japan Cup. Other invited runners are also guaranteed incentives of USD$100,000.

JRA also provides air transportation between Japan and the point of embarkation/disembarkation for the horse and two attendants, return business-class air tickets for the owner, trainer, jockey, and their spouse/partner, and five nights’ accommodation for the owner, trainer, and jockey at the JRA Official Hotel.

Invited horses can enter the international stable at Tokyo Racecourse directly from the airport for quarantine and stay there until the race.

Each barn features a dedicated grass paddock, air conditioning, and a remote monitoring system for the horses. The pleasant setting, combined with brandnew facilities, will help ensure your horse settles quickly and smoothly in the new Tokyo environment. The JRA’s skilled professional team, including a veterinarian and farrier, will be on-site to support you during your stay.

There are three tracks (300m exercising Dirt track, Dirt course and Turf course*) which can be used for training depending on the progress of the quarantine and the availability of the courses. Schooling at the racecourse will be permitted. * The turf course will be available only after the import quarantine period has ended.

For more information, visit the website at japanracing.jp/en/ or contact Japan Racing Association Sydney Representative Office sydneyoffice@jra.go.jp

INSIDE BREEDING 55

HSP ADVANCED/KER

Fish oil boosts fertility With a short breeding season and many stallions having large books of mares, there is pressure to get the mare in foal on the first cover, and this leads to interest in nutritional supplements, which can aid fertility.

Recent research has shown benefits in supplementing sub-fertile stallions with long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil sources.

Several studies have concluded that stallions with poor sperm survival and motility can benefit from added long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, from fish oil.

Positive results have included increased progressive motility, an increased percentage of morphologically normal sperm, and even increased sperm output. It has been shown that supplementation with fish oil increases the levels of DHA and EPA in sperm cell membranes, which helps protect against cold shock.

Sub-fertile mares also benefit from feeding fish oil, too!

Research has shown that it can reduce prostaglandin secretion

in the uterus and suppress postbreeding inflammation and fluid accumulation, which may increase the conception rate or reduce early embryonic loss.

In a recent study at the University of Illinois, 46 thoroughbred mares were divided between a control group and a group fed 60ml fish oil. After 60 days, the mares had a significantly higher mean per-cycle pregnancy rate of 1.19 compared to the control group, at 1.59.

Other research has shown that mares fed long-chain omega-3 fatty acids have better endometrial biopsy scores, upregulation of important endometrial and embryonic genes, and faster uterine involution after foaling. Another application is for mares prone to or with placentitis, where fish oil supplementation is used to help moderate inflammation and support the mare in maintaining a viable pregnancy.

EO-3 is a stable, deodorised, and flavoured fish oil supplement that is research-proven to boost blood and tissue levels of EPA and DHA and

NOTHING FISHY: Recent research has shown benefits in supplementing sub-fertile stallions and mares with long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil sources.

increase anti-inflammatory activity in horses. Short-chain Omega-3 oils, such as those based on linseed oil, do not have the same ability to boost EPA and DHA levels, so remember that “Oils ain’t Oils”.

Advancing horse rehabilitation and fitness Following significant investment over the past five years, Horse Shepherd Park is now a multi-faceted equine destination including HSP Advanced Equine, HSP Obstacle Trail, HSP Rider Gym and Horse Shepherd Equine Sanctuary.

Horse Shepherd Park is situated on 80 hectares, nestled beside the Whipsticks State Forest in Gordon, near Ballarat, in Victoria.

It’s the brainchild of Anne Young, a retired banker with a passion for horses.

New Zealand-born young has dedicated the final years of her working life to building a sustainable Equine Rescue with an emphasis on horse rehabilitation, strengthening and fitness.

HSP Advanced Equine is a multifaceted equine destination where our ethos is all about improving the outcome for the horse through the horse’s fitness and conditioning, or by offering firstclass rehabilitation facilities under the management of Troy Best, a farrier by trade, and his dedicated staff.

Georgia Primerano oversees rehabilitation care. She is all about the horses; her affinity with the animals and her attention to detail mean that the

56 INSIDE BREEDING

horses get the very best of care.

The facilities for rehabilitation and strengthening include a chilled salt-water treadmill and solarium, active and long-term spelling, and hands-on rehabilitation, including post-operative care.

In the past 12 months, Living Legends horses Beauty Generation and Santa Ana Lane spent a 21-day program at Horse Shepherd Park preparing for life after racing.

Active spelling is popular with trainers looking to freshen a racehorse by combining spending time in a paddock with a three-weekly treadmill session.

The rehabilitation services are set out with consultation with your veterinary surgeon to achieve the best outcome.

They can include stable and medication, paddock rest and medication, treadmill, solarium and programs tailored by your veterinarian.

HSP Advance Equine offers a pick and delivery service with the use of a specially designed float that drops to ground level for easy access for injured horses.

HEAT LAMP: Rehabilitation services at HSP Advanced Equine include the extremes of solarium treatment (pictured) and a chilled salt-water treadmill.

THAT FEELING! NEW STALLIONS IN 2025 – COGBURN –

– SOUTHPORT TYCOON –

THE WORLD’S FASTEST HORSE

WRITTEN TYCOON’S SIRE SUCCESSION

STANDING AT WIDDEN IN 2025

STANDING AT WIDDEN VICTORIA IN 2025

SERVICE FEE – $27,500 inc. GST

SERVICE FEE – $38,500 inc. GST

– CALL TODAY TO BOOK A NOMINATION –

NSW 02 6549 9999 | WIDDEN.COM | VIC 03 5428 5168 Antony Thompson 0427 470 507 | Matt Comerford 0424 742 672 | Billy Primmer 0417 310 876 | Adam Henry 0428 036 472

SCHWARZ ZOUSTAR’S WFA SUPERSTAR INSIDE RACING SIRES SUPPLEMENT 2025

FIRST-SEASON SIRES Extensive profiles of the new stallions of 2025

SWETTENHAM’S WOODED Wowing them in France

MOONS ALIGN FOR SOUTHPORT TYCOON Following the footsteps of his champion sire

G.A