Fernrigg Farm

by Kristen Manning

A year on from presenting her first Magic Millions draft (purchased by the likes of Darren Weir, John Thompson and the Hawkes family), Fernrigg Farm’s Rae-Louise Farmer is looking forward to again rising to the challenge with an impressive selection of 12 well related youngsters.

“We feel we have a boutique draft of precocious yearlings to meet the market. Last year we were thrilled to achieve a 100% clearance rate and the feedback was extremely positive. It was very satisfying to hear that they were so well educated and broke in quickly without any issue. This year our draft is even stronger with better pedigrees and stronger physical specimens.”

Lot 324 - br/gr.c by Zoustar from Adorabubble (by Ferocity): first foal for a multiple city winner. Grandam is a half-sister to the Listed winning VRC Derby-Gr.1 runner up Sir Midas from the same branch of the prolific La Troienne family as Hula Chief, Herculian Prince, Racing To Win, Love Dance and Hula Drum. Boasts crosses of the terrific mares Natalma, Best In Show and Lalun. “A very precocious colt with an unbelievable action. He is a gorgeous dark colour with a very handsome head.”

Lot 445 - bay colt by Star Witness from Centafaith (by Keep The Faith): half-brother to the Listed winning Thousand Guineas-Gr.1 runner-up Fundamentalist out of a two times winning daughter of the Listed winner Centaleigh. “A strong, good moving colt with a serious motor! He has a fantastic attitude and relishes his work each day.”

Lot 460 - bay/brown colt by Zoustar from Cinderellas Secret (by Danzero): his city placed dam’s first to race is the two times metropolitan winner Pegapus. Grandam is the Group One mare She’s A Meanie, dam of triple Group winning stallion Love Conquers All and the Listed winner She’s Meaner, dam of this year’s dual Group Two winner Lean Mean Machine. “An athletic colt who is very light on his feet. He is one that has certainly thrived from his preparation which is always great to see.”

Lot 483 - bay filly by Epaulette from Crimson Lady (by Volksraad): dam is a two times Group placed half-sister to the New Zealand Group One winner The Party Stand from a prolific black type family whose members include the Group One winners Mr Murphy, Kenvain and Charming City. “A strong imposing filly with a very professional attitude. We are proud to say she was the first foal to be born for Fernrigg Farm and will be the first ever yearling to carry our brand through the sales ring!”

Lot 496 - bay colt by I Am Invincible from Dance With Her (by Al Maher): son of a dual stakes winning half-sister to the Group Two galloper Son Of Maher. Grandam is the two times Listed winner Dance Hit whose Group One winning grandam Peg’s Gift is also the second dam of the two times Group One winner Sound Action. “A beautifully balanced, athletic colt. He has fantastic scope, good length of rein and stands over plenty of ground.”

Lot 545 - bay colt by Vancouver from Ella Supero (by Exceed And Excel): member of the Sadler’s Wells sire line and hails from the same female line as that great stallion. Dam is a placed 3/4 sister to the New Zealand Derby-Gr.1 winner Redoute’s Dancer and to the dam of the dual Group One winner Yankee Rose, born and bred on the property formally known as Wexford Farm. Family has also produced big race winners in Japan (Biko Pegasus), England (Tout Seul) and Ireland (Allangrange). “A compact, early looking colt with great bone and a faultless attitude. He has thrown back to his dam’s side and is a total powerhouse.”

Lot 637 - bay filly by Dundeel from Gullible (by Shamardal): out of a triple city winning half-sister to the five times Group winner Rain Affair. Her city winning grandam I Believe is a half-sister to the stakes winner Walk Alone from the family of stakes winners Nan Tien, Crying Storm, Rainbean, Been There, Deltona, Centaine and Wicked Smile. Carries a 3fx4m cross of Zabeel. “She is a very fluent moving filly with plenty scope and strength.”

Lot 881 - chestnut filly by Pride of Dubai from Orchestrator (by Bernstein): dam is an imported Group Three placed three times winner whose dam is a half-sister to the dual Group winner Beau’s Town and to the dam of the four times Listed winner Afleet Willy. This filly’s five times stakes winning third dam Delice is the grandam of Group One mare Diplomat Lady. “An attractive filly who is well grown and very nicely put together. She has a beautifully balanced stride and a great attitude.”

Lot 884 - brown colt by Exosphere from Ouija (by Viscount): bred on a 4mx5f cross of Eight Carat, he is a 3/4 brother to the city winner Witches out of a metropolitan placed four times winning half-sister to the Group Two winners Renaissance and Sessions who are both by Exosphere’s sire Lonhro. His stakes winning grandam Seances is a half-sister to the Group One winner Unworldly. “An attractive colt with all the moves. He has a great hindquarter, deep girth and a very balanced action.”

A YEAR ON FROM PRESENTING HER FIRST MAGIC MILLIONS DRAFT, FERNRIGG FARM’S RAE-LOUISE FARMER IS LOOKING FORWARD TO AGAIN RISING TO THE CHALLENGE WITH AN IMPRESSIVE SELECTION OF 12 WELL RELATED YOUNGSTERS...

Lot 927 - br/blk filly by No Nay Never from Call Me Cute (by Astronomer Royal): boasts an interesting pedigree being bred on a 7mx5f cross of her own fifth dam South Ocean, dam of Storm Bird. Dam is a half-sister to the stakes winners Born To Rock and Prettyhappyaboutit from a strong international family whose members include the big race winners Green Tune, Pas de Response, Northernette and Storm Trooper. “An attractive black filly with good length and a strong hip.”

Lot 1064 - bay filly by Sepoy from Radiator (by Mossman): daughter of a city placed three times winner whose dual stakes winning grandam Sister Canny is a sister to the Group One gallopers Canny Lad and Canny Lass. Her third dam Jesmond Lass is also the third dam of Sepoy, allowing for a 4fx4f cross of Jesmond Lass noting that Sepoy has sired the Group Three winner Marcel From Madrid and four stakes placed winners line-bred to her. “A strong, scopey, big striding filly.”

Lot 1120 - chestnut colt by Magnus from Yarra Bank (by Bianconi): brother to the promising Kemalpasa out of a winning half-sister to the tough Listed winner Honest Politician and the stakes placed winners Ipioga (third in the Australasian Oaks-Gr.1), Pacino (five times Group placed) and It’s You (in turn dam of the Listed winner Yourein). “An eye-catching, racy looking colt with a strong hip and shoulder.”

After discussing her yearlings, Bluebloods had a Q&A session with Farmer... How has technology and IT affected and influenced your business?

Luckily, being a new business, we embraced technology and IT from the very beginning. We still believe skilled horsemanship and attention to detail comes first and foremost to achieve such high standards and attain the optimum results. We use information technology daily to process and store information relating to the farm and the horses under our care and to communicate with our clients by sending updates, photographs and other relevant information. We also take full advantage of social media. It is such a powerful tool worldwide and enables us to give people an insight into the workings of Fernrigg Farm.

Apart from the yearling sale, what do you like most about the Gold Coast?

The Gold Coast is where I met my fiancé Padraig so we always look forward to celebrating our anniversary at our favourite restaurant each year. It’s probably the only night we can relax after the yearlings have arrived safe and sound and are settled in. Half the battle is over! We also bring our wolves (huskies) with us each year and enjoy evening strolls along the beaches with them. There are some beautiful walks around the Gold Coast.

If you could spend a day in someone else’s shoes,whose would they be and why?

This maybe an unorthodox answer but I would love to slip in to Winx’s shoes; it would be simply amazing to experience that rush of adrenaline and burst of passion she gets as she turns for home and hits the front to the roar of the crowd.

What’s the first concert you attended? Ermmmm I believe it was Westlife. I have always been a sucker for the Irish!

What energises you and brings you excitement?

Being around such amazing animals energises me. I love waking up each morning and heading off on the feed run. Everyday you learn something new about a mare, foal or yearling that you never realised before. They each have their own individual personalities and quirks and I feel very fortunate to be involved in an industry which I am so passionate about.

What is a dream you have that you’ve yet to achieve?

I just started getting involved in a few race horses with various trainers and it would be a dream come true to be involved in a Group One winner especially if it came from of our own draft carrying the Fernrigg brand. I also hope we can breed some high class fillies who will retire after their successful racing careers and continue the Fernrigg life cycle. l

www.fernriggfarm.com Rae-Louise Farmer: 0452 531 561 rae-louise@fernriggfarm.com Denman, NSW