It has been a busy year for Bhima Thoroughbreds as Mike and Kate Fleming continue the farm's tradition of rearing and producing exceptional yearlings.
Manager Mike Fleming says the Bhima property, and its fine reputation dating back to 1953, is what excited he and Kate to purchase the property six years ago. It's a rich history they embarked on learning more about in 2021.
Mike Fleming | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Bhima is a historically significant name in the local Hunter region and has used the inspiration of that rich success archive to pave the path to an exciting future.
Insights were sourced from the Upper Hunter Historical Society and David Bath, son of Vivien Bath, who, whilst imprisoned in Changi POW camp conceived his dream of a horse stud.
"The story goes that Bath returned to Australia and purchased land then known as ‘Cliftlands’ in 1953 and Bhima Stud was born," said Mike Fleming. "The great Biscay, sire of Bletchingly whose progeny include the champion Kingston Town, Emancipation and Canny Lad, retired to stud at Bhima in 1969."
"The great Biscay, sire of Bletchingly whose progeny include the champion Kingston Town, Emancipation and Canny Lad, retired to stud at Bhima in 1969." - Mike Fleming
“It was a great experience to go through discovering some of the old photographs and stories of Bhima. They've stayed close to us as we embarked on redeveloping sections of the property this year."
That quest for excellence on farm, and COVID-imposed complications, has Bhima heading to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in a way they’ve not done before, with no on-farm parades being available for buyers ahead of next month’s Sale.
“We’ve been installing a new yearling complex on the farm and delays have pushed that out this year. As a result, and with COVID another issue, we’ve had no feedback on the yearlings at this stage as we’ve had no one on-farm,’’ Fleming said.
“We’ve been installing a new yearling complex on the farm and delays have pushed that out this year. As a result, and with COVID another issue, we’ve had no feedback on the yearlings at this stage as we’ve had no one on-farm.’’ - Mike Fleming
“We have a very good team here and we’ve done just what we’ve always done and I am very happy with the draft (Magic Millions Gold Coast) we’re putting forward.
“But it’s a bit unique to have had no eyes on them. Usually we’d have 40 or 50 or more (inspections). I’m somewhere in the middle of being excited and anxious about that.’’
Setting the scene
Fleming says he has a good feel for the Bhima draft of 22 lots and says they always are very conscious of setting the scene for a strong year of sales with a good start on the Gold Coast.
“Magic Millions Gold Coast (Yearling Sale) really sets the tone for the year. It has really built an exceptional reputation and strong sales there really has a very good effect for your year,’’ he said.
Prague, 2017 Magic Millions Bhima Thoroughbreds graduate
“Of course, it’s not just the Sale anymore… it’s a carnival. Everyone loves getting there.
“We’re always very conscious of those points when selecting a draft for the Magic Millions Gold Coast. You want to start your year well.’’
So how does Fleming and his Bhima operation determine what ‘starting well’ looks like?
At the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the Sale was topped by Prague (Redoute’s Choice), bred by GSA Bloodstock and sold to Phoenix Thoroughbreds and Aquis Farm for $1.6 million as part of Bhima Thoroughbreds’ draft.
Prague as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
At this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Bhima sold 22 yearlings at a clearance rate of 92 per cent and a strong average of $317,500 – more than $95,000 above the entire Sale average. The total gross for Bhima at the Sale closed at $6,985,000.
The consistently high clearance rate is a variable that is particularly rewarding for Fleming, and one that he credits a large amount of success to the Kick Sales Platform technology that Bhima pioneered. Every horse has two x-ray and scope reports, in addition to comprehensive detail on that yearling's health history, background and ownership, listed on the site.
"Setting the benchmark for consignment disclosure and transparency has been a big part of our brand in recent years, and we're proud to lift that standard for buyers to gain confidence from.
"Setting the benchmark for consignment disclosure and transparency has been a big part of our brand in recent years, and we're proud to lift that standard for buyers to gain confidence from.’’ - Mike Fleming
"Easy access to full-disclosed information is an area the bloodstock industry has been particularly unsophisticated in developing, especially compared to other investment industries. The Kick Sales Platform gives us the chance to offer a high level of detail on each horse to the market. A few other Kick clients have joined us in using the technology, and it's probably no surprise that they're also those renowned for producing quality horses that buyers trust."
A draft of depth
Fleming is confident the draft to go to the Sale next month on the Gold Coast has yearlings that would stand up and perform exceptionally well at any Australasian sale.
"All through the draft, we have some very proven sires in the likes of Lonhro, Snitzel, Written Tycoon and Fastnet Rock and we have some new sires, there will be plenty of interest in,’’ Fleming said.
James Harron inspecting a yearling from Bhima at Magic Millions | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“There’s a very good cross section of the old and the new.
“From the proven sires within our draft, there’s some exceptional quality.’’
Fleming points to Lot 437, a filly by Not A Single Doubt 'a total speed machine', out of Rina Bettina (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).
“She’s really strong and muscled up… a muscle-bound speed machine very much in the mould of throwing to the sire,’’ he says.
“She’s (Lot 437) really strong and muscled up… a muscle-bound speed machine very much in the mould of throwing to the sire (Not A Single Doubt).’’ - Mike Fleming
And the Lonhro colt early off the mark in Lot 5.
“He’s a good black-coloured horse. He just moves so well and is a very natural horse,’’ Fleming says of the colt out of Elegant D’Oro (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
“Being that he is Lot 5, and knowing what the sales can be like, he could be a good buy for someone.’’
It's interesting to note that when Prague was sold by Bhima for $1.6 million 2019, he was Lot 34, selling inside the first 90 minutes of the Sale.
The Almanzor effect
Almanzor (Fr) lots set the scene for Bhima at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast with a first-crop colt knocked down for $800,000 and another at $380,000.
Almanzor (Fr) x Lazumba (colt), Bhima's top lot at this year's Magic Millions Sale | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
With Lot 12 and Lot 368 by the exciting Cambridge Stud shuttler, they are ones to watch, particularly given some trial results in Rotorua this week.
Dynastic and an unnamed filly by Almanzor trialled over 800 metres on Monday, both showing speed for success in their heats, impressing trainer Jamie Richards. Both of Almanzor’s Australasian runners to date have placed, with Andalus (NZ) third on debut in Saturday’s G2 Wakefield Challenge S. at Te Rapa while Gibraltar Rising (NZ) was a runner-up finish and a third from three appearances.
“They (Almanzor yearlings) are very good and easy horses to prep,’’ Fleming said.
“He’s just had a couple of jump-out winners. If he comes out early next year and gets a couple of 2-year-old winners, well now is the time to be buying them.
“He’s (Almanzor) just had a couple of jump-out winners. If he comes out early next year and gets a couple of 2-year-old winners, well now is the time to be buying them.’’ - Mike Fleming
“He ended up making $800,000 last year. We certainly always are hoping for two or three like that at any sale.
“We were lucky with him last year. His yearlings copped it very well.
“From a vendor’s point of view, when you’ve got (horses) on a float for 10 hours and they go into that humidity, they’re in and out of boxes over and over. The horses that cop it and keep their head and thrive in that environment, they’re the ones that then thrive in the environment of the racetrack.’’
Almanzor (Fr) | Standing at Cambridge Stud
Lot 625 is a Fastnet Rock colt out of Galileo (Ire) mare Tiberias (Fr) that Fleming says should command attention and get a very good result, while Lot 659 buyers will be looking at a filly by superstar and five-time Group 1 winner The Autumn Sun out of Valley Girl (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).
“He (The Autumn Sun) was obviously an exceptional racehorse. It’s always the way they go… everyone’s trying to get a line on them,’’ he said.
“We’ve probably proved that last year with Almanzor. A lot of people are conscious of that now.
“They (Magic Millions Gold Coast) have a very good buying bench. You have full confidence that whatever you’re taking there, someone’s going to be putting their hand up."
