Seven days in … breeding and bloodstock – Tasmania becoming a cautionary tale
In this edition:
- Rowe On Monday – A Japanese Everest shot, Bobbin’s UK plans on hold for Duke, and Godolphin’s new era starts well
- Run The Numbers – Banking a book to start your stud career
- The Netflix effect – Fasig-Tipton stampede continues global bloodstock surge
- Aquis’ base among proposed housing development plans
- Virtual Star – Olentia makes $2.6 million at Magic Millions sale
- Maranoa Charlie an Arqana success story for Australian Peter Maher
David Whishaw opened the gates to the family’s Armidale Stud in northern Tasmania on Saturday, giving breeders and interested onlookers a glimpse of the farm’s new stallion Bodyguard.
It kicked off what is a busy few weeks for studs around Australia and New Zealand who will showcase their old and new brigade, hoping to entice breeders to send their mares to one of their sires with the help of some hospitality and merriment.
As attendees enjoyed a complementary James Boags or local sparkling and some wise words from Whishaw and New Zealand media personality Jayne Ivil about I Am Invincible’s Group 3-winning juvenile Bodyguard, there was little indication that the rug was about to be pulled from under the state’s greyhound racing industry.
Tasracing chief executive Andrew Jenkins was on site, as was Tasmania’s deputy premier Guy Barnett, but they provided no inkling that they were even aware of what was to come hours later.
No sooner had The Straight’s Bren O’Brien left Armidale’s front gate, news leaked that Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff has sounded a death knell for the state’s greyhound racing industry just weeks after providing it with his full support in a desperate attempt to cling to power.
As they say, always back self-interest because at least you know it’s trying.
Putting aside for a moment the ramifications of the political decision to effectively kill off the state’s greyhound industry, it is crystal clear that Rockliff and his minority government must commit to a long-term funding deed for the thoroughbred (and harness) code, and one which provides genuine reason for owners, trainers and breeders to invest in Tasmania.
Regardless of where you are, funding certainty is crucial for investment in long-term assets like thoroughbreds. The first crop of Bodyguards won’t be sold until the yearling sales of 2028 and they will still be yet to turn three by the time the current 20-year funding deed expires in mid-2029.
The state’s thoroughbred owners and trainers desperately require an incentive to keep fronting up and acquiring new stock.
While it certainly won’t be the panacea, it is anticipated that there could be a sliver of hope provided through a range of initiatives aimed at boosting the local thoroughbred industry to be announced in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, in contrast, politics is seemingly having a positive impact on the American bloodstock industry.
One of the elements of President Donald Trump’s all-encompassing Big Bill is the immediate 100 per cent tax write-off on the purchase of thoroughbred yearlings, and the impact of the passing of that legislation was on full display at Fasig-Tipton’s season-opening Saratoga Sale.
It was a record result, with 25 million-dollar lots sold and more than US$100 million spent as wealthy US citizens took advantage of the tax concessions.
A Netflix docuseries Race for the Crown, which detailed the lead-up to and the aftermath of the 2024 Kentucky Derby, also played a role in attracting new investors into the American yearling market.
The annual stallion parades across Australia and New Zealand will gather pace, with many of Victoria’s major farms playing host this weekend, before it reaches its crescendo in the Hunter Valley a week later.
As with Bodyguard, Rosemont Stud’s Schwarz and shuttler Henry Longfellow, Widden Victoria’s Southport Tycoon and Woodside Park’s Celestial Legend, among others, the first season sires command the most intrigue from breeders hoping to latch onto the next commercial and racetrack super sire before it becomes obvious.
Darley’s Broadsiding and Coolmore’s Switzerland could lead the pack of the Hunter Valley-based freshman sires in 2025.
How many mares each of the more than 20 first-season Australian sires covers this season won’t be known until Australian Stud Book figures are finalised early next year.
This week’s Run The Numbers asks, what is the ideal book of mares for a new stallion?
In Japan on Sunday, Australian-bred sprinter Invincible Papa won his first race on turf, and it’s a victory that puts the Inglis Easter graduate firmly on the radar of Everest slot holders who are yet to commit to a runner for this year’s $20 million race.
Trainer Andrew Bobbin also confirmed to Rowe On Monday that his star jumper Duke Of Bedford won’t entertain a UK sojourn in 2026 despite appealing invitations.
Rowe On Monday
A Japanese Everest shot, Bobbin’s UK plans on hold for Duke, and Godolphin’s new era starts well
In other breeding industry news over the past seven days, the Fung family’s Aquis Farm on the Gold Coast hinterland could be redeveloped and Star Thoroughbreds’ Group 1-placed Zoustar mare Olentia sold for $2.6 million to Wathnan Racing.
Looking ahead, the Arqana August Yearling Sale takes place this weekend in the French seaside town of Deauville, a location where Australian owners Peter Maher and Matthew Sandblom have achieved sales and racing success.
Regards
Tim Rowe
Senior Journalist
The Straight
Author
