Yulong’s Segenhoe acquisition triggers Hunter Valley broodmare reshuffle

The impact of Yulong establishing a foothold in the Hunter Valley is being felt across the prized thoroughbred breeding region, with the movement of horses that once resided at Segenhoe now underway.

Prominent breeders John Camilleri and Sheikh Khalifa Al Maktoum have relocated their respective select broodmare bands to Coolmore, while Sledmere, Newgate Farm and Yarraman Park are also among the beneficiaries of Yulong’s acquisition of Segenoe Stud.

Kevin Maloney, who sold Segenhoe to Yulong last month in a deal brokered by Donovan & Co’s Clint Donovan and Magic Millions, valuing the property at more than $30 million, will also move his broodmare band to Sledmere Stud.

Segenhoe had been on the market for almost two years, with Maloney parting with the pristine property after almost 15 years as a member of his diverse Tulla Group of companies.

When the sale was confirmed in late April, it was expected that Segenhoe’s outside clients would be required to relocate their mares.

But Segenhoe will continue to house a small number of outside mares alongside those owned by Yulong, which has also opened a Hunter Valley stallion arm based at the stud.

Alabama Express, Lucky Vega and Tagaloa will all relocate from Yulong’s Victorian stud at Nagambie to stand in the Hunter Valley alongside Group 1-winning first-season sires Devil Night and Private Harry.

For Fairway Thoroughbreds’ Camilleri, who bred champion mare Winx, the transfer of his high-end broodmare band to Coolmore is a homecoming of sorts.

The successful businessman had previously agisted his mares and young stock at Coolmore but moved them to Segenhoe when Peter O’Brien was appointed general manager of the stud by Maloney in 2013.

Camilleri sold a Frankel colt for $2 million out of the Segenhoe draft at the Magic Millions sale in January, having also sold an I Am Invincible colt for $1.15 million at the Gold Coast 12 months earlier.

At this year’s Inglis Easter sale, another Camilleri-bred colt by top French sire Siyouni sold for $1.05 million and Sheikh Khalifa also achieved strong results at Riverside, with an Anamoe colt for $900,000.

Fairway Thoroughbreds’ mares and the 2025-born weanling crop have already moved to Coolmore at Jerrys Plains.

“On behalf of John and Deb Camilleri under their Fairway Thoroughbreds banner we have raised the likes of Winx and Vancouver at Coolmore,” Coolmore Australia principal Tom Magnier told The Straight. 

“With mares of the quality that they have in their system, we’re confident that they can continue to breed quality horses off Coolmore for many years to come. 

“To welcome back mares from families that we’re very familiar with, it’s great for the staff at Coolmore that have been there for a long time and looked after horses on their behalf.”

Sheikh Khalifa stands Group 1 winner Pride Of Dubai, the sire of elite mares Pride Of Jenni and Bella Nipotina, in partnership with Coolmore.

“We raised Pride Of Dubai on behalf of Sheikh Khalifa and we stand him in partnership to this day, so we’re delighted to welcome him back and we look forward to many prosperous years ahead,” Magnier said.

“We get a great thrill from following the careers of horses bred off Coolmore by our clients. 

“When you consider the success of the horses bred by the Ingham family with Fangirl, the Kepitis family who have bred Riff Rocket and Lindermann as well as Kate Nivison who has bred Group 1 winner Apocalyptic and Hidrix at Coolmore in recent years, to add broodmare bands of the quality of Fairway Thoroughbreds and Sheikh Khalifa to the mix, it’s a great honour for us at Coolmore. 

“Both myself and all our staff are delighted to be entrusted with stock of such significant quality.”

Maloney has had a professional relationship with Sledmere’s Royston Murphy, who runs the Hunter Valley farm with his wife Treen, having worked at Segenhoe for 18 years before O’Brien’s appointment.

He intends on agisting some of his mares and young stock at Sledmere while other mares who Maloney plans to mate with Yulong-based stallions are likely to continue to reside at Segenhoe.

Royston Murphy described Maloney’s decision to support Sledmere with a portion of his broodmare band as “a bit of a full circle moment”. 

“Obviously, I was involved with Segenhoe for a long time and when Kevin took over, Billy Mitchell and I went out and sourced some nice mares for him,” Murphy said.

“It’s great to see the success they’ve had over the last number of years and when the deal went through (to sell Segenhoe), I was talking to Kevin about what he might do with his mares. 

“We had space for a few more, so it’s great to have the team back together, and hopefully we can continue the success.”

Shillelagh, a multiple Group 1-winning daughter of Savabeel owned by New Zealand breeder Christopher Grace, has been moved to Yarraman Park.