Goodwood Farm

by Renée Geelen

Flying Artie epitomises the type of horse that buyers can expect when inspecting the Goodwood Farm draft. Fellow Gr.1 winner Rebel Dane was foaled down and raised at Goodwood Farm, although he didn’t go through a yearling sale.

This quality is apparent when you glance through Goodwood’s graduate lists. From small Magic Millions Gold Coast drafts every year, Murrurundi’s Goodwood Farm has produced graduates such as Gr.1 winners Flying Artie and Manawanui, Gr.3 winner Into the Red, Listed winners Saint Patricks Day, Riocetto, Calcatta, and stakes placed Speed Street, and Calculated.

Bluebloods spoke to Kerrie Tibbey about Goodwood’s draft for 2019.

What can buyers expect from your 2019 MMGC draft?

We have put together a quality draft of good sound horses for Magic Millions. They are all well reared, and haven’t had to be pushed for this sale because we’ve chosen the horses that fit what buyers are looking for at the Gold Coast.

Goodwood Farm will present six yearlings at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, led by two Zoustar colts. Stakes winner Vivid Vixen is the dam of Lot 275, and this colt should appeal to the Asian market, as he is closely related to Champion Stayer in Hong Kong, Super Kid, winner of four stakes races in Hong Kong, as well as multiple times Gr.1 placed in Hong Kong and Australia. This colt’s dam won eight races, a sure sign of soundness. The other Zoustar colt, Lot 124, is the first living foal of stakes placed winner She’s a Stalker, from the family of O’Deputy, Severiano, and Can’t Slow Down.

Another yearling that might appeal to the Hong Kong market is Lot 391, a colt by Nicconi, a half-brother to Prince Harmony, winner of four races, including one in Hong Kong in 2018. This colt is out of Commands mare, Bedizened who is a half-sister to stakes winner Quarterman.

The other three yearlings Goodwood Farm will present are each by sires whose oldest crop are two-year-olds in 2018/19. Deep Field had his first winner called Cosmic Force, in November 2018 and his yearling filly, Lot 426, is out of Bubbly Duchess, whose first foal to race is a dual winner. Bubbly Duchess is a half-sister to tough million dollar earner Extra Zero, group winner Operetta Lass, and stakes winner Johan’s Toy (dam of Toydini).

A Brazen Beau filly, Lot 1002, out of winning Exceed and Excel mare Iriomote is from the family of Gr.1 winner Delago Brom, and group winners Brom Felinity, Brompton Cross, Neo, and My Poppette. Five time Gr.1 winner Dissident is represented in this draft by a filly, Lot 993, from winning mare Harlem Shuffle. This is Harlem Shuffle’s first foal, and she is well-related with the likes of Gr.1 winner In Her Time, as well as stakes winners Harlem River, Hot as Hell, Flaming Hot, and Craig’s Dragon in her family.

EVERY HORSE HAS A STORY, AND GOODWOOD FARM’S FLYING ARTIE IS ONE OF THOSE NEARLY/ MAYBE HORSES. PASSED IN AT SALE, GOODWOOD FARM WERE ALMOST FORCED TO RETAIN THE GR.1 COOLMORE STUD STAKES WINNER, BUT FOR ONE OWNER PUTTING UP THEIR HAND TO BUY THE COLT AFTER THE SALE.

Which particular yearling in recent years gave you the most pleasant surprise with the sale price and what did you put it down to afterwards?

Last year at the Magic Millions Gold Coast sale, we sold a nice colt by Dundeel from Vivid Vixen (a half-brother to Lot 275) for $200,000. I was very happy with both the price and the purchaser for this horse, as his way of training will really suit the horse.

Your biggest giveaway that proved to be a topliner later?

Years ago, we sold Dance Hero who basically won everything – the two year-old triple crown (Golden Slipper, Sires’ Produce, and Champagne Stakes), as well as the Gr.1 Salinger as a five-year-old. Gai Waterhouse bought him for $90,000 in 2003 (he won $3.9million), making him clearly the biggest value horse we’ve ever sold. When he finished racing, he came back to Goodwood Farm to retire, and he’s still here.

When you’re not working how do you like to spend your time?

I have a ritual on Sundays, where I go to lunch with two good friends, Alison Hodges, and Lauris Farquahar, which we all look forward to. I love theatre and try to get to Sydney to the Belvoir as often as possible.

What’s the first career you dreamed of having as a kid?

I think I’ve done what I wanted to. I tried a few things when I was young, and I truly think you need to do that because you end up with the well rounded life. I grew up on a dairy farm, and my great adventure was to move to Randwick. My first job was working for the Department of Motor Transport, and while living in Randwick, I also worked in racing stables. Later, I was a jillaroo.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? Your first instinct is the right one. Just get up and do it.

Kerrie Tibbey 0408 646 644 Hunter Valley, NSW