Adrian Hancock - Magic Millions

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

Adrian Hancock: I was born and bred in South Australia and grew up on a 1610 acre mixed farming property 30km north of Clare. Very good reliable country.

Fiery Land was a terrific pacer bred by my Grandpa and I saw him race as an older horse with great success which ignited my interest. I also remember how Dad was excited when Yangtze (Ping Ching {Ire}) won the Caulfield Cup in 1964 as we had a family connection to his breeders, the Youngs of Glenrae Stud, so I followed his career.

TDN AusNZ: Which is your favourite racehorse of all time? Why?

AH: My favourite horse is Paint (Raami {GB}). I co-bred and raced him. He won the 1996 Blue Diamond S and was an unlucky second in the Golden Slipper S. He changed my family’s life.

TDN AusNZ: Do you have a favourite day on a racecourse? Why?

AH: 1996 Blue Diamond Day (at Flemington). It was truly once in a lifetime. He (Paint) had it won 300 metres out.

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

AH: My grandfather and parents and uncle were successful standardbred breeders. I loved pedigrees from a very young age. I used to know the Stud book inside out.

On leaving school I managed to secure a job in the thoroughbred pedigree department of Coles Bloodstock Agency in Adelaide in 1973. John Foote was in charge. We did pedigrees manually all year round, keeping racing records and broodmare cards up to date so it was a wonderful discipline and learning curve.

I have worked with some marvellous people along the way, too many to mention in case I leave someone out.

David Coles and Reg Angel were the Managers. Legends.

Since 2000 I have conducted my own Bloodstock Agency, Hancock Quality Bloodstock with good success and satisfaction. Have some fantastic long- term clients like David and Jenny Moodie and Harry Perks who I thoroughly enjoy working with and assisting them with their breeding programs etc. Peter and Serena Watson have also been great supporters and Chris and Sian are now taking Mill Park to another level. I enjoy all their success as much as they do.

I am so very lucky to “work” in such a vibrant industry that can affect peoples lives like no other in so many good ways. It comprises 99.9 per cent great people that work hard to achieve success. The industry is unique in that everyone appreciates and applauds someone else’s success knowing how hard it is to achieve. I like that.

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

AH: It's a bit early to call not knowing all the service fees but if you do your homework there is value to be had depending on your circumstances. In saying that, it’s getting much harder for breeders to make money these days with all the other associated costs as well as x-rays and scoping to get through as well.

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

AH: Ambidexter and Barbados are two local stallions that achieve terrific results from very limited opportunities in both quantity and quality.

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

AH: I saw Zephyr Bay at the old Waikato Stud in the mid-eighties and he left a lasting impression on me. What a physical specimen he was.

Without Fear taught me exactly what quality was when referring to an individual. He exemplified it. His name still regularly features in winning pedigrees today.

Gallery: Without Fear exemplified quality | Images taken by Adrian Hancock in 1976

TDN AusNZ: Which first season-sire do you believe is most exciting?

AH: There are plenty of outstanding options available. We are so very lucky that Australia is spoilt for choice. I have too many friends in the industry to start choosing one here, and besides I want to get the best price for my clients.

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

AH: I haven’t bought a lot in recent times but I purchased a well-bred and athletic Mikki Isle (Jpn) filly at this years’ Adelaide Yearling Sale for long time clients David and Jenny Moodie. I’m a huge fan of the Japanese breed and particularly like the prospects of Mikki Isle so was delighted to purchase her on their behalf.

TDN AusNZ: Who do you think is a rising star within the industry? (Person not horse).

AH: I’m declaring my allegiance here as I consult to Magic Millions these days, but I very much admire the young and vibrant team at Magic Millions who work extremely hard at making the Magic Millions Sales the successes they are. They don’t just happen.

It’s not a huge number of staff for the work involved but there are some brilliant young people working in the organisation that will go a long way in the industry, and are led very well by good, sound management.

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

AH: I would like to see the prizemoney amount for maiden races become a priority and the minimum amount increased. It would be a huge benefit to the industry as owners pay up for sometimes 2 – 3 years or longer to win their first race and the winning cheque needs to be enough to encourage them to keep on and willing to re-invest.

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

AH: I would have been on the farm but instead of cropping and shearing and calving I would have been breeding horses and stud Herefords.

TDN AusNZ: How are you keeping busy in isolation?

AH: Assisting Cornerstone Stud put together their online Reduction Sale with Magic Millions, plus researching pedigrees and data and realising how old I am seeing fourth and sometimes fifth dams who I had something to do with.

Also watching the spate of James Bond movies that were made 40 to 50 years ago. Scary. How time flies.