David Redvers - Tweenhills
TDN AusNZ: Where are you from and what is your earliest racing memory?
DR: Watching Dawn Run (GB) (Deep Run {Ire}) win the Gold Cup as a 16-year-old at school. I knew nothing about racing but loved the idea of the little mare beating all the big boys. My first flat memory was Shahrastani (USA) (Njinsky {Can}) beating Dancing Brave (USA) (Lyphard {USA}) in the same year’s Derby.
TDN AusNZ: Which is your favourite racehorse of all time? Why?
DR: Pretty obvious this one; Roaring Lion (USA). Anyone who saw him in the paddock for the QIPCO Irish Champions S. will know why. He was imperious.
TDN AusNZ: Do you have a favourite day on a racecourse? Why?
DR: QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot. It’s the best day racing anyway and I’m immensely proud of our role in helping make it so. The next generation absolutely get it and I always come away full of hope for the future.
David Redvers | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
TDN AusNZ: Could you tell us how you got into this industry, about your job now and what you love most about it?
DR: I was on my gap year in Australia working my way around and ended up working at Rockleer Stud in Bathurst for a fearsome lady called Deidre Stein who had trained Rising Prince (Round Top {USA}) to win the Cox Plate, many years before lady trainers became the norm. She was as tough as nails but gave me great advice and I remember coming home after 18 months and telling my parents that I was no longer following a career in the Household Cavalry as had decided I was going to become a stud hand. As you can imagine it was a difficult conversation!
Every day throws up challenges but I am never happier than walking the farm checking the stock and watching them thrive.
TDN AusNZ: Who do you believe to be a value sire for the upcoming breeding season? Why?
DR: Zoustar stands at $110,000 in Australia and has broken nearly every record down there, covered an excellent book last year at Tweenhills and has produced stunning foals this season. It’s all going one way for him and that’s up.
David Redvers and Zoustar | Standing at Widden Stud
TDN AusNZ: Is there a stallion that you consider to be under the radar?, and why?
DR: Havana Gold (Ire) has a huge crop of class yearlings this year (off £15,000 fee (AU$24,964)) and those that have been sensible enough to use him and wait for the upside will be well rewarded.
TDN AusNZ: Which stallion, ever, do you think was the best type?
DR: Galileo (Ire) in his youth took some beating. I also remember being particularly struck by In The Wings (GB) and Singspiel’s (Ire) wonderful balance.
TDN AusNZ: Which first-season sire (other than your own) do you believe is most exciting?
DR: This year is particularly tough as I didn’t feel there was a clear standout at the yearling sales so it’s between Shalaa (Ire) and Territories (Ire) with a sneaky respect for Pearl Secret (GB).
TDN AusNZ: What was your favourite weanling, yearling or mare purchase this year?
DR: I bought a relatively inexpensive weanling filly by Bated Breath (GB) at Goffs who really fills the eye. The Galileo x Terror (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) filly now named Terrify with David Simcock is class, and the smart mare Really Lovely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) bought privately from the Rooneys and has produced a stunning Roaring Lion colt.
TDN AusNZ: Who do you think is a rising star within the industry? (Person not horse).
DR: The very young stud master Harry Vigors is taking Twitter by storm and in Ireland, Kacey-Lou Carberry looks a phenomenon in the saddle. With their pedigrees they’re sure to make a mark on the business!
I have the utmost respect for anyone prepared to raise and put in their own money and learn through trading. The WH Bloodstock girls are a great and enthusiastic team, Hamish Macauley and Harry Dutfield have also been giving pinhooking a good go and are doing it very well. Our industry has a wealth of young talent at the moment and it’s great to see.
TDN AusNZ: What positive change would you like to see in the industry?
DR: I would like to see a stronger representation from the horsemen on the BHA board. That would help for starters.
David's cricket skills are coming on in isolation
TDN AusNZ: If you weren’t in this industry what would you do?
DR: My father is a, now retired, portrait painter and I have always been fascinated by fine art. I suspect I would have tried to deal in 18-19th Century European fine art and probably ended up a down and out Lovejoy!
TDN AusNZ: How are you keeping busy in isolation?
DR: By doing what I love, without the travel. Working on my farm surrounded by proper horses and a pretty cool team of people too. Also my cricket is coming on a bundle too as my 12-year-old son is working me hard in the garden!
