Cover image courtesy of Inglis
Connolly spent five years as Assistant Manager at Segenhoe Stud before he realised the dream of running his own farm with Valiant Stud continuing to grow in stature in the Hunter Valley.
The 200-acre boutique operation is nestled between Darley and Newgate and offers a full range of services - yearling agistment and preparation, sales preparation and consignment, broodmare agistment, walk outs, racehorse spelling, weaning and weanling preparations.
“I established Valiant in May, 2018 and prior to that had been at Segenhoe working under the tutelage of Royston Murphy and Peter O’Brien for the Maloney family and I was very grateful to them,” Connolly said.
"I had been waiting for the right opportunity and when this property became available it was just the perfect fit. I thought there was a niche in the market for a sale consignment and sale preparation farm, which specialised in a full hands-on approach and attention to detail.
“I thought it would be a good time, especially in Australia where there is such a lucrative sales market and huge prizemoney on offer.
“I thought it would be a good time, especially in Australia where there is such a lucrative sales market and huge prizemoney on offer.” - Fergal Connolly
“I have diversified over two properties now with the property on the Upper Dartbrook dedicated to the mares and foals. It makes sense when we have yearling colts on the Rouchel Rd farm to keep the mares separate.
“I do miss the camaraderie with past co-workers, but I’ve had never any regrets about going out on my own and every day throws up a new challenge and we have great staff here at Valiant.
“It’s just brilliant working for yourself and the pride you see in owners when their horses are presented is a joy. I just love seeing happy owners.”
Connolly sold his first Inglis Ready2Race draft in 2018 and the results from that initial consignment have been satisfying.
“I offered a nice bunch of colts, including Halcyon House who is a multiple winner in the Upper Hunter area for Cody Morgan,” he said.
“We had a graduate from that sale go to Hong Kong and he’s now called G Unit, who’s now a well-performed son of Danerich and then we had a lovely Spirit Of Boom.
“He’s known as Boom Shakalaka in Singapore with Shane Baertschiger so it was a great start and I couldn’t have asked for any better and the owners were super happy, as are the people that bought the horses.”
Quality draft
Connolly is equally happy with the draft he will present at this month’s sale at Riverside Stables.
“They are a lovely bunch of colts and a lot of them look like they could go early. If they hold a nomination for any of the early 2-year-old races they could nearly get in,” Connolly said.
“We have juveniles by good sires as well – Star Turn, Odyssey Moon, Better Than Ready, Sooboog and a Written Tycoon coming off the back of a very good Group-winning 2-year-old in Enthaar. I am very happy with what we have.”
Lot 79 - Written Tycoon x Play For Time (colt)
The son of Written Tycoon, Lot 79, is out of a half-sister to the champion South African sprinter and multiple Group 1 winner Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}).
“He’s quite laid back and takes his time and thinks about things and then gets on and does a great job with his work,” Connolly said.
Lot 128 is a Better Than Ready colt out of a three-quarter sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Alinghi (Encosta De Lago).
“The Better Than Ready is a forward colt and came from Mark Mason and he was super well-educated and breezed up effortlessly,” Connolly said.
“He looked very comfortable in his work and has got a good mind, he’ll make a good racehorse.”
Lot 128 - Better Than Ready x Sophia Lago (colt)
Precocious colt
The Sooboog colt, Lot 121, is a grandson of the stakes winner and multiple Group placegetter Princess Marizza (Scenic {Ire}) and she’s a half-sister to the G2 Royal S. winner Buckle My Shoe (Rory’s Jester).
“I think he will go super early and I like him a lot, he’s a ball of muscle and loves to get on with his work,” Connolly said.
“I’ve been very happy as well with the Star Turn colt out of In The Moment and he’s a powerful fellow, very strong and forward and breezed up accordingly.”
He is Lot 23 and his dam was successful on three occasions and is a half-sister to the dual Group 3 winner Autumn Jeuney (Jeune {GB}).
“The Star Turn out of Private Kiss seems like a horse that’s ready to go to the races. He’s enjoyed his prep and easy to deal with and loves to get on with his work,” Connolly said.
“The Star Turn out of Private Kiss seems like a horse that’s ready to go to the races.” – Fergal Connolly
“He’s a super professional racehorse and enjoys his work and getting back to his stable for a feed.”
The colt is Lot 87 and his dam is a sister to the two-time stakes winner Paprika (General Nediym) with the G3 DC McKay S. winner Streetcar Magic (Blevic) and the Listed Creswick Series Final winner Lord Von Costa (Von Costa De Hero) on his pedigree page.
Completing the consignment is a son of Odyssey Moon, Lot 193, and he is a half-brother to a brace of winners, including the G2 Queensland Guineas runner-up Volpino (Foxwedge).
“The Odyssey Moon colt is another very good type and he’s been a pleasure to deal with. He breezed up really well and I am expecting him to go on with it.”
