A glorious family tradition: Swettenham Stud

Images courtesy Swettenham Stud

When Adam Sangster’s family celebrated their first Epsom Derby success through his father Robert’s horse The Minstrel (Can), the younger Sangster wasn’t able to watch it.

In 1977, the Derby was still in its old cherished timeslot of the first Wednesday in June, and 11-year-old old Adam was at school, although at least he was playing cricket.

But soon after Lester Piggott steered the son of Northern Dancer (Can) to one of the most coveted prizes in world racing, it was a most apt messenger who told Adam the news.

“I was batting, and Lord Derby’s son came running out to tell me: ‘You’ve just won the Derby!’” Adam recalls.

“I remember it very well. Oh it was a huge thrill.”

Sangster’s “mate” was a descendant of the original 12th Earl of Derby, who gave the Classic its name – and the many versions that copy it worldwide - for its first running in 1780, eight years before the First Fleet arrived in Australia.

The school was Harrow, which had produced the likes of Winston Churchill, Gordon Lord Byron (the poet, not the horse), and with a special mention to the late great English racing pundit, John McCririck.

And that day brought the first of two Epsom Derby winners for Adam’s father Robert, whose massive empire was built by his father, soccer pools baron Vernon Sangster. The champion Golden Fleece (USA) won it 1982, another of the more than 100 Group 1 races won worldwide by Robert Sangster, whose famous colours - green, blue sleeves and a white cap with green spots - were also carried to victory in three Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Group 1 features, and by Beldale Ball (USA) (Nashua {USA}) in the 1980 Melbourne Cup.

Now 53, Adam Sangster, the third son among his father’s six offspring, is far removed from that old world, in certain respects.

He lives in Australia, in the bush of central Victoria, and rather than the old spires of Harrow and Eton he’s amongst some ancient rolling hills on the banks of the Goulburn River.

But there are still centuries-old family lines at play, and blueblood pedigrees to consider, as Sangster continues his family’s rich tradition as principal of Swettenham Stud, the farm near Nagambie that boasts Puissance de Lune (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) and Toronado (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and others.

The farm had been run and owned as Collingrove Stud for a decade by the pair who’d orchestrated Beldale Ball’s Cup success, Robert Sangster and his Australian trainer Colin Hayes. They passed away in 2004 and 1999 respectively, having enjoyed success through the farm including breeding Blackfriars (Danehill {USA}), a VRC Derby winner and now the sire of Black Heart Bart, and more.

Amid those two men’s advancing years, Adam had taken an active role at the stud in conjunction with his friend and another racing family scion, Colin’s trainer son Peter. And after Peter was taken in a 2001 small plane crash – leaving brother David to continue that family’s training succession – Adam soon began to take over the farm.

He bought it out, and in 2006 changed its name, calling it after his father’s racing empire which had drawn its title from a village near the family’s old home in Cheshire - Swettenham.

Sangster had quickly blended smoothly into Australian life. Despite a rather posh background, it might have been in the blood.

“Dad always loved Australia, same as me,” Adam says. “He was a great man. He was as happy sitting on an upturned beer crate and having a drink and a laugh as he would have been anywhere.”

That’s not to say there weren’t adjustments for assimilation’s sake.

“I remember getting a bollocking from him at Randwick one day,” Adam says with a laugh. “He’d sent me to get some champagne to celebrate something or other. I came back with a bottle of Moet or Veuve and Dad just about hit the roof. He said, ‘Adam! When I’m in Australia I drink Australian champagne!’ I had to go back and get some Great Western.”

Watch: Seattle Dancer (USA) when sold for US$13.1 million at Keeneland

Boarding school put some distance between father and son, but Adam was there for some seminal moments. One was when Robert and his associates paid a world record US$13.1 million at Keeneland in 1985 for the yearling who would become Seattle Dancer (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}), and who alas would fall short of justifying the price tag on the track or at stud.

“Later on, when Dad would come to Australia for spring carnival time and for the sales, we got to spend a good bit of quality time together, which was nice,” Adam says. “We were pals, and he was a mentor, and a good man to be around.”

As each generation must, the younger Sangster has forged his own path. There’s been success and other memorable moments, such as putting the final touches on the young Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) before she went to the yearling sales in Swettenham’s draft in 2008. But now the Sangster farm is on the cusp of major success.

The stud is sandwiched between two wineries, one of them the Mitchelton Estate of Gerry Ryan (Americain (USA) (Dynaformer {USA}) and many more). Sangster believes there’s correlation in the ground needed to grow good vines and good horses, and Swettenham boasts a high class roster of six mostly young stallions he hopes can thrive amid this terroir.

Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won seven Group 1s for Aidan O’Brien, is in his second season of shuttling to Victoria, at $15,000 per service. Like that 7-year-old, 4-year-old Sioux Nation (USA) ($16,000), a Curragh Group 1-winner at 2-years-old, has begun shuttling thanks largely to Sangster’s connections with the Coolmore Magniers, and offers the blood of the deceased speed siring sensation Scat Daddy (USA).

Former outstanding Hong Kong galloper Akeed Mofeed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is in his first season after transferring to Swettenham, and stands for $15,000. Sangster and his owner Pan Sutong buoyed by his recent buoyant yearling sales results, while dual Caulfield Group 1-winner Trust In A Gust (Keep The Faith) represents value at $6000.

But two other stallions are creating the most excitement.

Puissance de Lune only had six runners in his first season last year, but is now threatening to boom in a big way.

The 12-year-old, who retired at 7-years-old, has still only had 12 3-year-old runners, but five have been winners for the grey, whose service fee might not be $8000 for much longer. With his name translating to Power of the Moon, these appropriately include a stakes winner in Moonlight Maid, who took the G2 Edward Manifold S. (1600 metres) at her fourth start and is pushing for favouritism for the VRC Oaks. And there’s Southern Moon, runner-up in the Listed Geelong Classic, who’s in the top five in betting for the VRC Derby.

Both are prepared by emerging trainer Mitchell Freedman. Sangster, who says he “loves having a grey at stud” for a bit of variety, is cheering Freedman’s success.

“Mitchell’s really been a strong advocate of this breed,” Sangster says of Puissance, who won four black type races from 1400 metres to 2600 metres, and was second-favourite in Shamus Award’s 2014 Cox Plate, his chances going awry on raceday due to a painful ingrown hair under the saddle.


“Full credit to Mitchell. He’s backed himself and this stallion, and long may they both prosper.

“Puissance was a top racehorse, and we’re pretty excited about him as a sire. He gives a great opportunity for Shamardal blood. In fact, all of our sires suit different pockets of bloodlines.”

Representing High Chaparral (Ire) is Swettenham’s fee-topper, Toronado (Ire), at $25,000.

The magnificent 9-year-old bay ranked sixth among first season sires last term, with the Matt Laurie-trained Prince Of Sussex leading the way by winning the inaugural $1 million VOBIS Showdown at Caulfield. His 3-year-olds have now included seven winners this season from 33 starters.


“I think he’ll be in for a very big autumn at the sales, and on the racetrack,” Sangster says. “The breeders have voted with their feet for him this season, and the trainers who’ve got his offspring are very effusive about them.”