In today's instalment of 2022 Rapid Round, we feature a quick-fire round with Suzanne Philcox who recently celebrated 35 years at Warwick Farm’s Crown Lodge: 22 years for Ingham Bloodstock and 13 years for Godolphin.
TDN AusNZ: What was your first role in the industry and how did you get into the industry?
Suzanne Philcox: Office administration for Tristan Antico Thoroughbreds (1984-86) at their Sydney office, then at Baramul Stud in the Widden Valley when they purchased the property. Having returned to Sydney, I was looking for a secretarial job and when I saw their ad, I liked the idea of working with animals, despite not being 'hands-on'.
TDN AusNZ: How did you start with Godolphin and has your role changed through the years?
SP: Darley Australia purchased the Ingham Bloodstock/Woodlands operation in May 2008. I administered the breeding side of Woodlands, but Darley switched me over to the racing side. At that time, Darley had horses with five trainers around Australia and I had to keep track of what those horses were doing. January 2016 Sheikh Mohammed merged his racing and breeding operations under the Godolphin banner.
Godolphin Australia's Woodlands Stud | Image courtesy of Godolphin
TDN AusNZ: What does a typical day look like? What is a part of your job people wouldn’t expect?
SP: First job in the mornings is to find the nominations and declarations for Godolphin horses in NSW and Victoria, the bulk being with James Cummings and a few with Anthony and Sam Freedman. These have to be entered in the Godolphin network with correct race names and Group ratings where necessary. During the day I compile the daily Horses In Training (HIT) report which is distributed worldwide within the Godolphin operation. Chase up pre-race comments from the trainers/foremen, watch every Godolphin horse race and write a brief summary of their performance, add on the jockey’s comments post-race.
TDN AusNZ: How many Godolphin yearlings would you name per year on average and how do you come up with them?
SP: For Godolphin, I name about 115-120 yearlings per year, with input from other people within the organisation. For example, our Champion 3-Year-Old colt Anamoe was named by Joe Osborne, the CEO of Godolphin Ireland. For Ingham Bloodstock, I usually named around 350-400 yearlings each year.
TDN AusNZ: Which horse name is your favourite so far, and why?
SP: Octagonal, his dam was Eight Carat. He is also my all-time favourite horse, such a gentle nature for a stallion when racing.
Octagonal (NZ)
TDN AusNZ: What is the best part of your job?
SP: Seeing horses every day, especially the progeny from mares I have named in previous years, with some I am now naming great-grandchildren of a number of mares.
TDN AusNZ: Do you follow horses from the racetrack to the breeding barn?
SP: Yes, because I get to find names for their progeny.
TDN AusNZ: Which first-season sire are you most looking forward to seeing the progeny of?
SP: Harry Angel. He had a great race record and looks a lovely type. As his dam is Beatrix Potter, gives me a new range for naming his progeny from the Beatrix Potter books.
Harry Angel (Ire) | Standing at Darley
TDN AusNZ: What are you passionate about within the industry?
SP: The re-homing of retired racehorses to a safe and secure property where they will always be cared for.
TDN AusNZ: Do you have a bucket list of industry events you would like to tick off?
SP: I would like to attend the Dubai World Cup in person, plus the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby again. I saw Nijinsky win the 1970 Epsom Derby, he was a lovely big horse, but that was purely a social event for me at that time, I wasn’t involved in the horse industry and had no idea of how influential Nijinsky would be.
TDN AusNZ: What kept you occupied during last year’s lockdowns, aside from work?
SP: Not much apart from reading, I began working from home (which is at Crown Lodge) and am still working from home.
