The trip from Mudgee to Muswellbrook is around 190km, but for Andrew Baddock and partner Natasha Ackland, the journey from Gooree to Edinglassie they will take in the coming weeks will be much more significant than just a two and a-half hour country drive.
Baddock has been the manager for the Cojuangco family's Australian breeding interests for 36 years and has shared a remarkable run of success from horses bred from its base near Mudgee, notably with Group 1 winners such as Desert War (Desert King {Ire}), Northern Meteor, Laser Hawk (Artie Schiller {USA}), Hallowed Crown, Your Song and Prized Icon.
The red and black colours of the Cojuangco family have featured and succeeded in Australia's greatest races over the past 30 years, with the likes of Northern Meteor, Hallowed Crown, Your Song and latterly Prized Icon, also leaving a legacy as stallions.
Eduardo Cojuangco was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of fame in 2015, but his death exactly 12 months ago corresponded with a change in strategy for Gooree Park Stud, which held a significant dispersal of broodmares, race fillies, racehorses and yearlings at the Magic Millions National Sales series last year.
Andrew Baddock and the late Eduardo Cojuangco
While Gooree, which last year opened its facilities to outside clients, is in the process of regenerating its stock, building for the next generation, Baddock was presented with an opportunity to team up with good friend Mick Talty and his wife Michelle at their much-respected Edinglassie operation.
It was far from an easy decision to leave behind all that he had helped build, but Baddock is approaching his new challenge with relish.
"I've loved every minute at Gooree and we have had a lot of success over the years, but it's such a good opportunity to team up with Mick and Michelle Talty, and it was a bit of a once-in-a-lifetime offer." - Andrew Baddock
"I've loved every minute at Gooree and we have had a lot of success over the years, but it's such a good opportunity to team up with Mick and Michelle Talty, and it was a bit of a once-in-a-lifetime offer. I weighed it all up and thought I would always kick myself if I didn't give it a good shot," Baddock said.
"I've been friends with Mick for a long time and they have got a great record of producing topline horses themselves. We can offer a lot of experience between us all."
Mick Talty with an Edinglassie yearling | Image courtesy of Edinglassie Stud
Too good an opportunity
Baddock confirmed that he and Ackland will form a partnership with the Taltys, looking to further the success of Edinglassie, which from its 500-acre base on the banks of the Hunter River has developed a reputation as a nursery of Group 1 winners such as The Mission, Shooting To Win, Nechita (Fastnet Rock), Bentley Biscuit (Peintre Celebre {USA}), God's Own (Redoute's Choice), Wonderful World and Nadeem.
"We'll work in partnership and it’s a very good business as it is. There is plenty to do and there are plenty of mares and foals to work with and plenty to offer the clients be it walk outs to all the major studs in the Hunter or things like that," he said.
"With the experience that will be there, I can't see why we can't grow the business a bit. It’s already a good, established business with good numbers and he has got a great record and is so well respected.
"I just want to work with them to maintain that and once we settle in, who knows there might be scope for growth there. It's an exciting challenge and I am really looking forward to it."
"It's an exciting challenge and I am really looking forward to it." - Andrew Baddock
One of the connections between Edinglassie and Gooree Park Stud is that two of the Muswellbrook-based farm's most highly credentialled graduates, now stallions and full brothers Shooting To Win and Deep Field, are both by ill-fated Gooree-bred stallion Northern Meteor.
"Mick's got a great record over there with some of his colts. He bred Deep Field and Shooting To Win, who are both ironically sons of Northern Meteor. In that way the move feels a bit like it is meant to be," Baddock said.
A terrible blow
Of all the success Gooree has had in Baddock's long-term involvement with the business, it is the story of G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Northern Meteor which has proven the greatest, as well as the most heartbreaking.
"We had a lot of highlights at Gooree, but one of the great highlights and memories was the creation of Northern Meteor as a homebred. He gave me one of the greatest highs and possibly one of the greatest lows," he said.
The late Northern Meteor when racing
"To get a well-bred colt to win a Group 1 and then become Champion First Season Sire, and then unbelievably passing away that same night at Widden was a terrible blow.
"At that time, I thought for Mr Cojuangco, who had ridden the highs and the lows of the game, that might finish him off in terms of his involvement, because of how much that horse meant to him.
"We all know how hard it is to make a stallion, to win a Group 1 race as a colt, then climb the mountain to become a leading first-season sire, and now a sire of sires, he has left a legacy, so I am very proud of that."
The late Northern Meteor
The success of the Gooree Park Stud-bred horses as stallions after successful careers on the track is also something Baddock takes pride in.
"We’ve produced some really good horses, and some really nice colts, the likes of Smart Missile, Your Song and Hallowed Crown and we have raced a lot of good, sound horses, like Desert War going back, so it's been a great breeding nursery. We have had some fantastic results, and some great experiences over the years. I wouldn't change any of it for a minute that is for sure," he said.
"We will miss the farm here. It’s a great farm to raise good, sound horses and the family have been terrific. It's sad to leave, but these sorts of opportunities don’t come along very often."
Gooree Stud is expected to confirm a new manager in the coming weeks.
A new chapter
For Baddock, the two and a-bit hour drive over the hills will also mean leaving behind Mudgee, a town which has become such an important part of the Gooree Park success story.
"Mudgee is a great town, but moving to Muswellbrook, it’s right in the middle of the Hunter. I know a lot of people over there and have a lot of friends so we shouldn't have too many problems settling in over there," he said.
Baddock is also taking confidence in the way in which the entire thoroughbred industry has been able to weather the recent economic shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the recent sales season seeing record levels of investment.
"It’s never been healthier really. It’s quite extraordinary. Mick has got such great clientele and I look forward to working with them," he said.
