In an extensive chat with host Angus Roland, Fairgray reflects on his formative days in New Zealand and what led him into the thoroughbred industry and working with superstar stallions.
"After spending a week with Mark and Denny Baker at Hallmark Stud, it cemented what I wanted to do," Fairgray said. "I went and stayed with them for a week and loved it from day one of the week I was there."
He then headed to work under Peter Keating at Ra Ora Stud, which proved the perfect education for an aspiring thoroughbred professional. In 2000, Fairgray made the move to Arrowfield Stud and he talks of what drove him to make the move to Australia permanently.
Kris and John Messara | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"I went out for dinner with John Messara, and his wife Kris, and Peter Orton, and we chatted about lots of things. John had recently acquired Redoute's Choice and we talked about him and that led on to me joining Arrowfield," he said.
The experience of working with Messara proved career-shaping and he talks on the greatest assets of the long-serving Arrowfield chairman.
He also reflects on the horse that meant more to him than any other in his Arrowfield days, Miss Finland (Redoute's Choice).
Miss Finland with her 2012 Street Cry (Ire) filly, Stay With Me | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"She's probably my all-time favourite racehorse, to be there when she was born and to take her through to the sales," Fairgray said. "To go through and win a Golden Slipper and Oaks and be an outstanding filly she was, is quite amazing."
Fairgray discusses his decision to join Inglis in 2014, after a long-time working with Arrowfield.
"I could have stayed at Arrowfield for the rest of my life and I thought, 'no I want to get out and try something different and do something further'," he said.
"I could have stayed at Arrowfield for the rest of my life and I thought, 'no I want to get out and try something different and do something further'." - Sam Fairgray
"I was given that opportunity to go and work with Inglis and it was fantastic because you are looking at things from the other side of the fence."
A year later, he joined burgeoning outfit Newgate, as the Henry Field-led outfit plotted its precipitous rise in 2015.
"It was a young and progressive farm when I joined it. I was able to offer Newgate those experiences of horse conformation, nutrition, staff management and dealing with a bigger volume of horses," he said.
"They had Foxwedge standing there and then Dissident, Deep Field and Wandjina and the numbers were growing and Henry wanted someone who could come in and handle that growth."
The Yulong venture
He speaks extensively on the importance of people in any business and building a team, something he took on from scratch when joining Yulong in 2018.
Sam Fairgray and Mr Zhang Yuesheng | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"I was excited by the opportunity and Mr Zhang's passion and the vision he had. I thought it was a great opportunity," he said.
"He's very much a hands-on sort of person, he loves getting out on the farm. He will be out slashing paddocks and fixing irrigators and so forth. He is across every aspect of the business."
"He's (Mr Zhang) very much a hands-on sort of person, he loves getting out on the farm. He will be out slashing paddocks and fixing irrigators and so forth. He is across every aspect of the business." - Sam Fairgray
Fairgray also shares his strategies for growing and nurturing yearlings, and the joy he gets from their development.
"It's part of what I love, walking around paddocks and observing the horse and seeing each one's development," he said.
"In our industry, observation is the biggest factor that you can have. If you can observe change, and make the changes required you'll end up having a positive result," he said.
Sam Fairgray (third right) showing Bruce Slade the Yulong yearling draft | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"Getting around and being around the horses a lot, you get to understand them and see their growth and development and you can pass that information on to the relevant parties."
He also speaks on the Yulong stallion roster and the balance that he and Mr Zhang have looked to build, including the addition of Australia's Champion stallion Written Tycoon in 2021.
"I think for a young farm to have a stallion like Written Tycoon is a huge asset for a growing business. The exposure that it will vie Yulong Stud worldwide having a champion stallion is very significant."
