Ellie Giles sat back on a leased South-West property and contemplated for a few years on whether she would again take the plunge and purchase land to establish another Korilya Stud.
Ellie’s passion for thoroughbred racing and breeding runs deep in her veins, inherited from her grandfather Tom Reynolds, who won the 1938 Bunbury Guineas with True Gleam and the 1941 WA Derby with Kimra (Agrion {NZ}).
Ellie Giles | Image courtesy of Racing and Wagering Western Australia
Ellie’s mother Edith took over her father’s two broodmares Miss Swain (Agrion {NZ}) and England Lady, who became the foundation broodmares to Korilya Stud some 60 years ago.
Dick and Edith established their historic Korilya Stud at Busselton, standing stallions such as Karrakatta Plate and WA Sires’ winner Little Roderick in the early years, followed by imports Fissigh (GB) and Son Of The Wind (USA) – a half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner Swaps (USA).
Ellie stood stallions Surtee, Lomond Bay (NZ), Star Pak, Swift Ho, Sarab (Ire), Twig Ruler, Ridgeway and Proart and in the latter part of his career Jevington.
The late Jevington
Ellie scaled back her Korilya operations around 2015, working for Peter Walsh’s Amelia Park Racing and Breeding preparing their yearlings for sale. She felt the time was right to transition to a life as a boutique breeder and culled her broodmare herd to a handful of mares.
A new look in Boyanup
Ellie sold the top seller at the 2020 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale in Aitchdeetee (War Chant {USA} x Brocky's Ace {Surtee}), who was bought by Attunga Stud and Clarke Bloodstock for $240,000. She then put the proceeds from that sale into purchasing her new Korilya Stud at Boyanup, some two hours drive south of Perth.
Aitchdeetee as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I got sick of renting and decided to buy a property,” Ellie said. “I have been here for 12 months next week. It was not an established horse property and I had to wait for about four months before moving in because the paddocks needed to be built.
“It is a fair bit established now with a lot of money spent. It is only 36 acres, but I have 10 broodmares here and a few other horses.
“It is a lovely piece of land with rich red loam soil and close to the town of Boyanup.”
“It is a fair bit established now with a lot of money spent. It is only 36 acres, but I have 10 broodmares here and a few other horses." - Ellie Giles
Aitchdeetee’s half-brother Red Can Man (Gingerbread Man) joined a host of interstate winners from Korilya, when winning the G3 Monash S. (1100 metres) for trainer David Brideoake last July.
Ellie’s other interstate winners include, Roadsong (Haulpak), Wink At Me (Jungle Boy), Penny Banger (Zedrich), Scenic Assault (Scenic {Ire}), Mt Henry (Jevington), Silent Sedition (War Chant {USA}) and Aitchdeetee’s half-sister Quilista (Scandal Keeper {USA}).
Quilista, who was a $10,000 yearling at the Magic Millions Perth Sale, sold for $950,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2019 and fetched $1 million, in foal to Pierata, knocked down to Cressfield Stud at the same Sale, in May.
Quilista | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Silent Sedition is the standout having provided Ellie’s only Group 1, winning the 2017 William Reid S. at Moonee Valley.
The Red Can Man can
Red Can Man, who was bought by Commercial Bloodstock for $50,000 in Perth in 2018, is back in the stables of Steve Wolfe and will run as one of the leading fancies in Saturday’s $1 million Crown Perth Winterbottom S. (1200 metres).
Wolfe expects Red Can Man to improve sharply on his first-up fourth to Winterbottom favourite Elite Street (Street Boss {USA}) in the Colonel Reeves S. (1100 metres) at Ascot on November 13.
Red Man Can | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Wolfe set Red Can Man an arduous task last year, when after running fourth to Inspirational Girl (Reliable Man {GB}) in the Railway S. (1600 metres), he backed him up in the Winterbottom a week later, where he ran a solid sixth to Elite Street.
Wolfe has specifically targeted the Winterbottom this time around.
“He had a rough trip to Melbourne and a rough trip back home,” Ellie said. "He had a bit against him last start and he should be fitter for Saturday.
“I am told he is a very big eater, which does not surprise me knowing his mother. I thought his win in the Monash was good and he ran a couple of nice placings (Melbourne). He beat home Superstorm (fourth) when he ran third in the Lawrence S. and that form has been franked with Superstorm winning the Cantala S. at Flemington.
"He (Red Can Man) beat home Superstorm (fourth) when he ran third in the Lawrence S. and that form has been franked with Superstorm winning the Cantala S. at Flemington." - Ellie Giles
“Elite Street looks hard to beat, but if he turns up in top order he has to be a good chance.”
Brocky’s Ace (Surtee) holds elder statesmanship at Korilya, being rugged each day throughout winter.
The 18–year-old mare has a colt by War Chant (USA) to go to the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale next February and dropped a full-brother to Red Can Man on Melbourne Cup Day.
War Chant (USA) | Standing at Yarradale Stud
Ellie named the Gingerbread Man colt “Macattack” in celebration of top jockey James McDonald’s win on Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) in the Melbourne Cup.
“He is about 10 metres from me at this minute,” Ellie said. "He was born on the morning of the Melbourne Cup.
“I didn’t want to call him 'JayMac' in case he was slow so I decided on 'Macattack'. He is quite a good size and has a good attitude.
“I didn’t want to call him (Gingerbread Man x Brocky's Ace) 'JayMac' in case he was slow so I decided on 'Macattack'. He is quite a good size and has a good attitude." - Ellie Giles
“The vets will check Brocky’s Ace to see if she can be served before the end of the season. I looked after her through the winter keeping her rugged. She would stand at the gate whinnying out to me to come out and rug her whenever there was a bit of rain about.
“She is looking pretty good for an 18-year-old mare. Getting any more foals out of her I will need luck. I never count my chickens before they hatch. I am not sure where to send her at this stage. Whether to go to Gingerbread Man, Playing God or Maschino.
“I already have three mares in foal to Gingerbread Man.”
Gingerbread Man | Standing at Yarradale Stud
The War Chant x Brocky’s Ace colt will head eight yearlings Ellie plans to sell at next year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
Jaime O’Bree, of Ruby Racing and Breeding, will prepare Ellie’s sale’s draft.
O’Bree, who runs her business with her brother Daniel and with the support of their parents Rod and Bridie, celebrated a stakes double with their broodmare Sambar (More Than Ready {USA}), when Tiger Of Malay (Extreme Choice) won the G3 Up And Coming S. at Kembla Grange and Samizdat (Not A Single Doubt) won the Listed Newmarket H. at Belmont Park on August 14.
“Toning up yearlings for sale is a younger person’s job, I think,” Ellie, 70, said. "They will go to Jaime within the next 10 days.”
Maschino to shine
Alwyn Park sire Maschino has a strong hand in the Winterbottom through $3.30 second-favourite Wilchino and $21 chance Cup Night, who runs first-up off three barrier trials.
Maschino | Standing at Alwyn Park Stud
Wilchno is a strong second-string, with an unbroken seven straight wins, to trainer Dan Morton’s $2.65 favourite Elite Street. Elite Street is seeking to become the first horse since Hardrada (Marooned {GB}) in 2002/03 to claim successive Winterbottoms.
Wilchino is a member of the 2016/17 crop produce by Maschino, who stands at a fee of $6600 (inc GST) at Andrew and his wife Sandra’s Serpentine stud.
It is truly an outstanding crop with 10 foals to race from 13 foals for a remarkable eight individual winners of 37 races, earning prizemoney of $1,824,680.
It (Maschino) is truly an outstanding crop with 10 foals to race from 13 foals for a remarkable eight individual winners of 37 races, earning prizemoney of $1,824,680.
Morton purchased Wilchino as a yearling at the 2018 Magic Millions Perth Sale for $55,000.
Wilchino’s connections have been rewarded for their patience. They spelled the mare for 10 months after she pulled up lame in the near foreleg, following a first-up third in a 3-year-old Maiden at Northam on September 5, 2019.
The 5-year-old has rallied to record eight wins from her past nine starts.
Wilchino | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Her sole blimp was when she ran 13th down the straight 1000 metres at Pinjarra in June. She returned with an elevated heart-rate and was slow to recover. Top jockey Chris Parnham has ridden her to seven of those eight wins and sticks to the front-running mare in the Winterbottom.
Wild by name, Wild by nature
Alwyn Park owner John Andrew bred Wilchino from his mare Wild Park (Bletchley Park {Ire}).
“I take my hat off to her owners for being so patient,” Andrew said. "She won a trial by nearly 8l and then went amiss first-up. I believe she had a knee problem and they (owners) took their time with her so they deserve credit for that.”
Andrew recalled his first meeting with Wild Park was not cordial.
“Wild Park was in a paddock when I went to have a look at her,” Andrew said. “I was thinking of buying her, but she attacked me. I had patted her on the forehead, but she swung around and gave me both barrels.
“I was thinking of buying her (Wild Park), but she attacked me. I had patted her on the forehead, but she swung around and gave me both barrels." - John Andrew
“She took off down the paddock. I was still walking in the paddock when she came back and had another shot at me. I had to duck under the fence to get away. I found out she was an orphan. I think that was why she thought she could get away with that behaviour.
“Gino Poletti (trainer) recommended I buy her and I bought her for $10,000 even though she attacked me twice in the paddock.
“Wilchino was her last foal. She was in foal to Trade Fair (the next year) and was only days away from giving birth. I moved her up into the birth paddock with another mare. She walked into the paddock about 100 metres and laid down. I thought she was going to foal and by the time I got there she was dead.”
Andrew had a daughter of Wild Park - Wild Memories (Patronize) covered by Maschino this season.
Wild Memories when racing | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“I would dearly love to see Wilchino win,” Andrew said. "Ironically three horses in the Winterbottom were bred within a five kilometre circumference of our farm. The other two are Bernie Miller’s Cup Night and Robert Anderson’s Elite Street.”
Patience is a virtue
John Andrew will present a draft of 24 yearlings at February’s Magic Millions Perth Sale in the Swan Valley, including four colts and two fillies by Maschino.
John Andrew | Image courtesy of Alwyn Park Stud
A full brother to Cup Night will be among other stock on offer by Maschino. The full brother will be part of the draft presented by Ruby Racing and Breeding.
“I rate Maschino as an absolute gentleman,” Andrew said. "He is throwing his temperament into his stock. I know he has produced 2-year-old winners, but I believe they need time.
“I think you are better off waiting. One of the reasons he has not been supported in the past was because his race record was in WA. He was a $240,000 colt and a half-sister sold for $850,000.
"He (Maschino) is throwing his temperament into his stock. I know he has produced 2-year-old winners, but I believe they need time." - John Andrew
“The average price of Tahni Girl’s six yearlings sold was $378,000, thus he has a very good pedigree.”
Maschino has over 100 mares booked to him this season.
Wilchino will be the first horse Andrew has bred to run in the Winterbottom.
“They reckon rewards come to those who wait,” Andrew said. "Next year will be my 48th year of presenting yearlings at the Perth Sale. So I have waited a long time.”
