32-year-old Mitch Brown carved out a successful golf career in Australasia and Asia, but the nomadic life was far from ideal with a young family. He is now delighted to be part of the team at Adam Sangster’s Victorian nursery.
“It’s really exciting and a very strong stallion roster this year. It’s probably the best for a long, long time and I’m extremely fortunate to be part of it all,” Brown said.
The Swettenham line-up features the Group 1 winners Akeed Mofeed (GB), Highland Reel (Ire), Sioux Nation (USA), Toronado (Ire), Trust In A Gust and the Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Puissance De Lune (Ire).
”I’ve found that I’m managing clients that I’ve got and a lot of them are just coming to us,” Brown said.
Mitch Brown
“With Sioux Nation we’ve got the Scat Daddy side of things covered and they’re winning everything at the moment and Highland Reel’s by Galileo. He won seven Group 1s and his race track record is probably superior to any stallion out there at the moment and his sire line and dam is unbelievable.
“The beauty of the roster Adam has put together is that it doesn’t matter what mare you’ve got, she’ll match to at least one of the stallions here.”
“The beauty of the roster Adam has put together is that it doesn’t matter what mare you’ve got, she’ll match to at least one of the stallions here.” – Mitch Brown.
Brown grew up in Sydney and when his sporting attention turned to golf it also fuelled his interest and love of the thoroughbred game.
“Dad was my greatest influence and I was very sporty when I was young,” he said. “I was playing football and cricket and he encouraged me to hone my focus and concentrate on golf.
“He wasn’t the greatest golfer himself, but he loved the sport. Having a love and passion for a sport is the most important thing and that’s how I feel about racing.
“When I was younger I was a member of the Bankstown Golf Club and it’s not too far from Warwick Farm so a lot of the racing people played there and I became friends with a lot of them.
Sioux Nation (USA), standing this season at Swettenham Stud
“I played professional golf for 10 years and travelled throughout Australasia and Asia. I won the New Zealand PGA in 2010 and was quite successful, but no superstar.
“I won the New Zealand PGA in 2010 and was quite successful, but no superstar.” – Mitch Brown.
“I did very well, but I pulled it back a bit. With two young kids it’s hard to travel so it was the right time to get into another role.”
“I was hardly ever at home and I was always studying the form and I was very much into the breeding side of things, that really interested me. I found I was studying it all the time and with social media it was easy to see what was going on.”
Brown has dabbled in pinhooking and breeding with a few friends in more recent times.
“We pooled our money and the mother of one of our mates owned a lot of mares that were racing and she didn’t want to go down the breeding path,” he said.
“So we got a few of her mares and I’m doing the pedigrees and we’ll obviously be using the Swettenham stallions.”
Toronado (Ire)
Helping hands
A family connection to a high-profile racing identity and an introduction to a bloodstock agent has also furthered Brown’s bloodstock experience.
“My father-in-law is best mates with Rupert Legh and he’s been very good to me and helped to promote me. He’s really pushed me along a lot,” Brown said.
“A good friend of mine knew Brad Spicer really well and I phoned him and asked if I could meet him and tag along at the sale with him,” Brown said.
“Brad said yes, absolutely, so he took me and showed me the ropes and introduced me to people. It’s been great, Brad and Rupert have been extremely helpful and influential.”
Brown spent time tagging along with Brad Spicer at the yearling sales
Brown is now continuing his progression at Swettenham and is taking every opportunity to further his experience under Sangster and Sales and Nominations Manager Sam Matthews.
“It’s a real honour. Adam knows all about horseflesh and you can learn more in one day beside Adam than you would in a year with most,” he said.
“It’s a pleasure to be able to work with such a strong and respected Victorian stud and an exciting and emerging stallion roster. I’m very lucky.”
