Still ‘punching away’ – Bob Hannon has Millions of reasons to keep breeding racehorses

Ascot Park, the thoroughbred nursery owned by prominent breeder Bob Hannon might have halved in size with the sale of 50 per cent but the octogenarian’s influence shows no signs of diminishing through Magic Millions week.

As part of a minor downsizing of his bloodstock interests, Hannon is selling off the 75-acre property on the northwestern edge of the Sydney basin.

But the 83-year-old remains as invested as ever in an industry that has been part of his life for half a century as an owner and a breeder with a knack for finding a horse good enough to keep pace with the commercial realities of the racing business.

Hannon earned national recognition as the breeder of the 2013 Cox Plate winner Shamus Award, but his gravitas in breeding circles stretches far beyond that, a reward for cultivating families that have produced countless winners.

In more recent times, success stories include Cosmic Force, a Group 1 winner who occupies a place in the Newgate Stud stallion roster and Olentia, sold to Star Thoroughbreds as a yearling for $310,000 before making $2.6 million as a breeding proposition.

He has been part of the Magic Millions week on the Gold Coast as the seller of a small draft of yearlings consigned under Brian Nutt’s Attunga Stud.

And while he won’t be trackside for the Magic Millions raceday on Saturday, Hannon will still have an impact as the breeder of two runners in a race that has been a source of frustration.

Hannon bred the 2021 Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Shaquero and Damien and Torque To Be Sure will be trying to complete an important breeding double for him in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

Their presence is a reminder that Magic Millions week isn’t always about the multinational breeding empires that dominate the sales complex.

“We have sold half of Ascot Park … there’s half to go. It’s been pretty slow, but it’ll happen one day, I suppose,” Hannon told The Straight.

Ascot Park is situated in the Hawkesbury region, a historically important pocket to the racing industry as the setting for famed Hobartville Stud, Tyreel Stud as well as modern-day training set-ups for the Ingham and Godolphin operations.

Before switching his mares to the Hunter Valley, Hannon kept up the region’s reputation for producing quality bloodstock.

“I’ve reduced my numbers (of horses) a bit, but I’ve still got some nice mares, a few runners, and they’re doing alright.”

Doing “alright” is one way of putting it. 

The Guineas runners represent a continuation of a breeding record that has quietly endured for more than four decades.

The three-year-old feature eluded Hannon as a breeder-owner in 2002 when Empire was beaten into second place by Ha Ha, the champion two and three-year-old of her generation.

“You’ve got to be patient,” Hannon says. “Some of them have the ability but take longer to put it together. If they can do that, they’ll win a good race.”

That philosophy has underpinned Hannon’s entire approach. He has never chased volume, rarely keeping more than 15 broodmares at a peak, and now closer to 10. 

Instead, he has focused on curating thoroughbred lines for longevity.

“I’ve had a bit of luck over the years,” Hannon says, though history suggests it has been far more than luck.

That theme has continued this week at the Magic Millions sale, where Hannon’s draft of yearlings went through the ring on the opening days with a $475,000 Home Affairs filly sold to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and international bloodstock agent David Redvers a standout return.

The filly is a half-sister to Shaquero as the 10th foal from the Not A Single Doubt mare Fimatino.

Hannon also sold a Cosmic Force filly for $180,000, continuing a profitable association with a family that traces to his first venture into breeding with the Luskin Star mare Great Temptation.

Great Temptation is the great granddam of Cosmic Force, as well as stakes winners Onmorezeeta and Razeta.

Cosmic Force also holds added significance for Hannon as a shareholder.

“I bred him, so I support him,” he said.

Breeding has never been Hannon’s primary source of income.

Away from the track and the sale ring, he built a substantial business in Papua New Guinea’s coffee industry, establishing a large-scale operation exporting green beans to roasters around the world. 

The business, now run by his son, helped bankroll his racing interests and provided the financial resilience needed to survive the lean years that inevitably come with breeding.

“It’s a tough game,” Hannon says. “Service fees keep going up. If you’re not getting winners, it gets hard very quickly.”

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have good mares and they’ve been winning. If they keep winning, you keep in the game. If they’re not paying their way, you’re going to get sick of it. 

“It’s getting tougher and harder every year. But anyhow, we’re still here, still punching away. 

“Horses have been part of my life all the way through. You’ve got to love the horse to be in breeding. If you don’t, you won’t last.”