Five minutes with... Sam Fairgray

Sam Fairgray - Yulong Stud

TDNAusNZ: Where are you from and what is your earliest racing memory?

SF: I'm from Auckland, New Zealand.

My earliest racing memory is from my parents who started racing horses when I was about 10 years old. I would go to Ellerslie with them and my interest and passion grew from there.

They purchased and raced a filly named Eminent Lady (NZ) (Liqourice Stick), she won at her second start at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, from then on I was hooked.

TDNAusNZ: Which is your favourite racehorse of all time? Why?

SF: Miss Finland (Redoute's Choice).

I was at the farm when she was born, myself and the team at Arrowfield reared her and presented her for sale. She was always a great type and John Messara bought his partners out at the yearling sales and of course she went on to win the Golden Slipper, VRC Oaks and Australia Guineas.

She was a super horse in every sense, type, temperament, character and ability.

TDNAusNZ: Do you have a favourite day on a racecourse? Why?

SF: My favourite day is Derby Day at Flemington. It's grand final day for many of the horses and with a huge crowd and the best race horses, the atmosphere is fantastic.

TDNAusNZ: Could you tell us how you got into this industry, about your job now and what you love most about it?

SF: When I was 15 years old, I spent a week at Mark/Denny Baker's Hallmark Stud in New Zealand. Both are great horseman and they showed me what the industry is all about.

I was later employed by Peter Keating at Ra Ora Stud (NZ) before relocating to Arrowfield Stud in 2000, where I worked for 14 years.

I started with Yulong in January 2018 as Chief Operating Officer. My role to-date has been to set a structure for which to build Yulong’s business into a worldly recognised commercial operation. To be involved in the growth and development of Yulong and to breed, rear and sell horses of the highest quality makes for an exciting job, that offers great rewards.

TDNAusNZ: Who do you believe to be a value sire for the upcoming breeding season? Why?

SF: It would have to be, Grunt (NZ).

We have set his service fee at a very attractive level for breeders. He is a multiple Group 1 winner by a Champion sire.

Breeders will be able to make a good return should they choose to breed to him. He is also a great type!

TDNAusNZ: Is there a stallion that you consider to be 'under the radar', and why?

SF: Pariah. Physically I think he is a nice type and pedigree wise he will work well with the broodmare population in Australia.

TDNAusNZ: Which stallion, ever, do you think was the best type?

SF: It's hard to go past Flying Spur, he had real presence about him.

TDNAusNZ: Which first season sire (other than your own) do you believe is most exciting?

SF: The Autumn Sun. He is by a sire of sires, out of a Galileo mare from a great family.

TDNAusNZ: What was your favourite weanling, yearling or mare purchase this year?

SF: The I am Invincible x Rose Of Choice filly Mr Zhang purchased at Magic Millions. She is my pick of the yearlings we purchased. Out of the mares, Erato (Street Cry {Ire}). Purchasing a mare of this quality from a family that is deep with stakes performers. Erato herself produced a Group 1 winner from her second foal... Lyre (Lonhro).

TDNAusNZ: Who do you think is a rising star within the industry? (person not horse).

SF: If I could employee three people in this industry they would be; Sebastian Hutch (Breeding), Vicky Leonard (Marketing) and David Eustace (Trainer).

I believe all three will be leaders in the thoroughbred industry.

TDNAusNZ: If you were an Everest slotholder, who would you pick?

SF: Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

TDNAusNZ: What positive change would you like to see in the industry?

SF: I believe race programming can be much better. All states need to work together to present the best racing across all states, to make racing great for the spectators.

TDNAusNZ: If you weren’t in this industry what would you do?

SF: I would be a Psychiatrist or Councillor!