THE Upper Hunter Valley became a frenzy of more than 1000 enthusiastic breeders – including myself – criss-crossing its winding roads and lanes attending its celebrated stallion parades late last month.
While the stallions themselves were undoubtedly the highlights, many also enjoy the stud’s finest array of refreshments from memorable Portuguese tarts, to magnificent sit-down lunches accompanied with the finest wines and champagne.
Aquis Stud (formerly Emirates Park) Murrurundi; Arrowfield Stud, Scone; Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains; Godolphin Stud, Aberdeen; Kitchwin Hills, Gundy; Newgate Farm, Aberdeen; Vinery Stud, Scone; Widden Stud, Widden Valley; and Yarraman Park, Scone, opened their doors to display some of the best bloodstock in the world.
This year Widden is celebrating 150 years of operation, and has been continuously owned by the same Thompson family, a world rarity for Thoroughbred breeding.
While Widden’s magnificent stallions paraded beautifully, along with the first foals of Exceed and Excel sire, Outreach, their guest and Melbourne Cup winning part-owner, Wendy Green (of Rogan Josh fame), stole the show with her wonderful recollections during lunch.
The crowd laughed hard from her stories of how it took three days to get to Melbourne for the Cup, and about four months to get home after (to Darwin at the time).
This year the Darley stallions at Godolphin were displayed differently with visitors given a map for their own “stallion safari” around its stallions’ yards, to where to find the proven sires of choice.
This was followed by the “parade of rising stars”, which included Godolphin’s three new sires, with Australian-bred Medaglia d’Oro bay, Astern, stunning.
While principal, Henry Field, has been “gathering” new people and new sires for the fast developing state-of-the-art set-up of Newgate Farm, Aberdeen (where they now offer 13 stallions), on the Gundy side of the Upper Hunter is small boutique property, Kitchwin Hills.
They provided a camp-fire and live music into the evening, with the three stallions - the evergreen Dane Shadow, and new boys Counterattack and Sooboog, looking brilliant when paraded in a spotlight.
The Mitchell family’s Yarraman Park have a mid-afternoon session. They are in an enviable position of standing I Am Invincible and Hinchinbrook, both being champion Australian first season sires.
Vinery stud’s brigade of stars shimmered in the morning, but their “old” boys – 20 year-old champion, More Than Ready, and effervescent Testa Rossa, at 21, bounced around, eager for their next assignment.
The crowd laughed hard from her stories of how it took three days to get to Melbourne for the Cup...
Champion Redoute’s Choice and his sire sons are a major component at Arrowfield Stud, however, Mikki Isle, Australian performed Real Impact (both by Deep Impact) and Maurice (Screen Hero) add a new Japanese flavour.
Always last on the schedule is Coolmore Stud, which welcomed the latest Kentucky Derby winner, American Pharoah, to our shores, who commands a $66,000 fee.
This is the highest for a first season sire.
A dozen sires paraded, as well as 24-year-old champion, Encosta de Lago, now in retirement.
Snitzel takes the majors at Coolmore presentation
Coolmore’s Tom Magnier accepted the trophy for champion Australian first-season sire for resident stallion, Pierro, at the 2016-17 National Breeding Awards, presented in front of the throng of breeders attending the stud’s stallion parade at Jerry’s Plains.
Hosted by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, the presentation saw the champion Australian sire awarded to Arrowfield Stud’s Snitzel, who established a new Australian record for progeny earnings, exceeding $16 million.
A son of Danehill’s champion sire, Redoute’s Choice (and another at Arrowfield stud), Snitzel also was crowned champion sire of two-year-olds.
Jacqueline Stewart, keeper of the Australian Stud Book, now known as the manager of owner and breeder services, presented Segenhoe Stud’s Peter O’Brien (on behalf of owners John and Deborah Camilleri) with the Australian Broodmare of the Year Award for Vegas Showgirl, the dam of champion, Winx.
NSW champion broodmare went to South African-bred National Colour, while the late Enrique Cojuangco-bred Rapper Dragon took the Aushorse breeder of the Australian-bred exported racehorse.
Rob Manwaring – breeder of Capitalist and Grande Rosso – was honoured with the President’s Award for the outstanding achievement.
