Image courtesy of Inglis
Riverrock will have a maiden draft of four to go under the hammer at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 20 before attention focuses back to their 12-strong consignment for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on November 18 and 19.
Ormsby, 31, has successfully played a number of roles within the thoroughbred industry and was a Group-1 winning jockey before he joined Moroney’s father Michael in a training partnership at Matamata in 2012.
They sent out 119 winners, with six at Group or Listed level, before Ormsby relinquished his position in 2016 to concentrate on the development of Riverrock Farm.
The Waikato business has expanded into a successful breaking-in, re-education and Ready to Run Sales preparation farm and last year added a racing arm and a further 20 acres near Cambridge.
The Karapiro farm is used for the education of the youngsters until they graduate and are ready for a busier environment when they relocate to the new property, which is home to the racing team.
“We have anywhere between six and 12 horses, most of them we own and a few for clients,” Ormsby said. “We break in thoroughbreds and sport horses as well.”
Chad Ormsby and Aliesha Moroney | Image courtesy of Riverrock Farm
Moroney’s juggling act
Ormsby’s partner Moroney juggles work commitments with the couple’s two young children Lincoln, three, and one and a half year-old Macey.
“My main role is overseeing the business side of the operation and I help out at the stables when I can. Luckily, the two kids seem to be horse crazy,” she said.
“I’ve had my own business in staff consultancy for the last two years and I’m changing the direction of that at the moment. I enjoy doing some stuff outside of racing.”
She has also thought outside of the square in terms of marketing Riverrock’s draft in the current times.
“We’ve tried a few new things with our marketing this year, what we’ve called 'back stories' for each of the horses we’re selling and how they’ve done in the early stages of breaking-in and their preparations,” said Moroney, who has also worked as a Project Manager for New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.
“We’ve talked to the people that may have bred them, put them through sales or own them and got a different perspective around the horses to give buyers in-depth information.
“It can be seen on our Facebook page. We’re trying a different approach with the videos and we’ve had quite a few inquiries about the horses.
“We’re showcasing what we feel are our best drafts and doing our best to present them in a different and interesting way.”
“We’re showcasing what we feel are our best drafts and doing our best to present them in a different and interesting way.” – Aliesha Moroney
A former New Zealand junior dressage champion and graduate of Waikato University's business management course, Moroney has also worked for Deloitte as a business strategist, as her father’s business and public relations manager at Ballymore Stables in Matamata and as a Project Manager for New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.
Riverrock’s Sydney-bound quartet breezed-up well at Taupo recently with an Ocean Park (NZ) colt, Lot 4, and a son of Rageese, Lot 47, both clocking 10.31s. The draft also includes a Mongolian Khan colt, Lot 75, and a daughter of No Nay Never (USA), Lot 209.
“I’m pretty happy with all of them and when they land in Sydney in a couple of weeks they will be in the care of Davali Thoroughbreds, friends of friends basically,” Ormsby said.
“We own three of them and Windsor Park Stud owns the Rageese. The No Nay Never filly is probably the superior horse of our lot, she’s definitely got the x-factor. They are doing everything right and they're good, sound horses.”
Ormsby purchased the daughter of No Nay Never out of Maluka Thoroughbreds’ draft at the Inlglis Premier Sale for $80,000.
Lot 209 - No Nay Never (USA) x Danalicious (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Her dam Danalicious (Zabeel {NZ}) is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Northwest Passage (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}) and the family of the G2 Phar Lap S. winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Shania Dane (Danehill {USA}).
Ormsby is also more than happy with the Karaka consignment, although there is an understandable air of caution due to the effect of COVID-19.
“We are in difficult times, but there’s some real stand-outs in that draft too and a colt by Shooting To Win has impressed all the way along and he definitely looks like an early runner,” he said.
Pinhook prospect
The youngster, Lot 57, was a NZ$60,000 purchase out of Windsor Park’s New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale draft and is out of a half-sister to the South African black-type winner Khateer (Green Desert {USA}).
It is the family of Group 1 winners Alverta (Flying Spur), Music Note (USA) (A.P. Indy {USA}), Musical Chimes (USA) (In Excess {USA}) and sire Storming Home (GB).
Riverrock will also offer sons of Vanburgh (Lot 47), Savabeel (Lot 68), Charm Spirit (Ire) (Lot 108 and Lot 287), Redwood (GB) (Lot 110), Showcasing (GB) (Lot 195), Niagara (Lot 277) and Belardo (Ire) (Lot 289) and daughters of Reliable Man (GB) (Lot 27) and Tivaci (Lot 181 and Lot 192).
“Things have to go right to get a result and everyone knows what it’s like not to get one, but you’ve got to take those on the chin,” Ormsby said. “We have had some good results at Karaka over the last five years with a few stand-outs.”
With more than 300 wins to his credit with 13 at Group or Listed level, Ormsby returned to race-riding this season, although the Riverrock operation remains his top priority.
