In today's instalment of 2021/2022 Rapid Reflections, we feature a quickfire round with Caroline Searcy.
TDN AusNZ: Favourite racing moment of 2021?
Caroline Searcy: Good Idea winning the Adelaide Cup. Having seen his sire and dam So You Think and Faint Perfume throughout their lives, for their boy to win my hometown Cup was thrilling!
TDN AusNZ: And favourite non-racing moment?
CS: Getting to Adelaide the day the borders opened in November.
Good Idea, winner of the 2021 G2 Adelaide Cup
TDN AusNZ: What are you most looking forward to in the new year?
CS: A new home.
TDN AusNZ: Whose progeny have impressed you so far on your Magic Millions inspections?
CS: Not applicable - but my favourite first-season sire to watch is The Autumn Sun. He was a champion on the track in the mould of his breed-shaping sire Redoute's Choice. And from a Galileo mare from a great family. Would love to buy a filly by him.
TDN AusNZ: Which first-season sire to stud did you send mares to this season, and why?
CS: I am involved in a leased mare who we sent to So You Think's speedy son Peltzer at Twin Hills Stud. He reminds me of Tivaci being a speedy-type from the High Chaparral-line. He could throw anything.
Peltzer | Standing at Twin Hills Stud
TDN AusNZ: If you could be someone else in the industry for a day who would it be, and why?
CS: The Queen. I'd love to have her knowledge, memories and stock to look through for a day.
TDN AusNZ: Who is your favourite racehorse of 2021?
CS: I really enjoyed Probabeel racing this year (2021). I filmed her as a beautiful yearling at Waikato Stud and followed her career from being bought by Te Akau's David and Karyn Ellis, and owned by Cambridge Stud's Brendan and Jo Lindsay, achieving so much success in Australia including this year's Futurity S. I was there for her Karaka 2 and 3YO Million successes at Ellerslie and saw her spelling at Lime Country last year, she is such a lovely mare.
TDN AusNZ: Who is your favourite stallion, and why?
CS: So You Think.. I was lucky to be part of his journey from when I also filmed him as a yearling in New Zealand for my New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale Preview and was involved in his racing and stud career from the outset. I love tickling his nose and making him yawn at Coolmore these days and as well as being such a stunning animal, he has a really great personality. He is easily the most popular thing I ever post about on social media.
So You Think (NZ) | Standing at Coolmore Stud
TDN AusNZ: Who is the most underrated stallion in Australasia?
CS: I would say Choisir who's done it year in, year out at the elite level. But of the live stallions, I'd say Flying Artie. He tends to be overshadowed by his barnmates Capitalist and Extreme Choice, but he already has a Blue Diamond winner and I think he will get lots of 3-year-olds who will train-on too.
TDN AusNZ: Which stallion do you believe is the best physical type?
CS: So You Think, his action is all High Chaparral from the great Sadler's Wells line of Derby winners, most of whom have that same fluid, stretchy action and you couldn't beat him for the wow factor in the flesh.
TDN AusNZ: Favourite binge-worthy television show?
CS: Succession.
Caroline Searcy | Image courtesy of Inglis
TDN AusNZ: What's the best book you read in 2021?
CS: Loving having time this past week to read "Apples Never Fall" by Liane Moriarty. Her writing is contemporary and so relatable. Steve Irwin's "Contention" series is exceptional - very funny in parts, but containing so much background to the horse industry they are a great read too.
TDN AusNZ: Name an emerging human talent in the industry, and why?
CS: I love seeing the new generation of kids coming through who have all worked in their family businesses going through school. Willa Mitchell at Yarraman Park, Amy Thompson at Widden Stud. And George, Harry and Charlotte Chittick at Waikato Stud in New Zealand as well as in particular James Nolan from Raheen who is passionate about helping grandad Basil on the farm and at the sales! Their enthusiasm for the business and willingness to work is great for the future of the breeding industry.
TDN AusNZ: Who do you think will take out the 2022 first-season sire honours?
CS: Russian Revolution - a dual Group 1-winning son of Snitzel from a strong female-line. With 157 live foals he will get every chance.
Russian Revolution | Standing at Newgate Farm
TDN AusNZ: What do you consider the greatest sporting moment this year? (not solely racing related)
CS: Ash Barty winning Wimbledon.
TDN AusNZ: What's the first overseas trip you will be taking for fun post-COVID?
CS: The UK.
TDN AusNZ: What kept you occupied during this year's lockdowns, aside from work?
CS: Walking my kelpie Willoughby. It's the one thing that's a daily constant and finding a decent dog park in Sydney makes for some beautiful early morning and afternoon time out of the house.
TDN AusNZ: What positive change would you like to see in the industry in 2022?
CS: More understanding from racing people about what it takes to breed a horse and find success on the track or the sales' ring. And for our administrators to at least consider others' ideas about equine care away from the racetrack. It's fine to have different models but everyone can learn from what has and hasn't worked elsewhere.
TDN AusNZ: What's your 2022 New Year's resolution?
CS: A tidier house!
