Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally

And the story behind Apache Chase is certainly an interesting one - and very Queensland, with the talented 4-year-old being not only his sire's first Group 1 winner but the first for his Ilfracombe-born trainer Desleigh Forster who was moved to tears by his success, telling the media that, "This horse means the world to me."

Purchased by thoroughbred enthusiast Michael Sherrin (developer and owner of a showcase pre-training and breeding property North-West of Noosa) for $50,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, Apache Chase was bred by Eureka Cambooya Thoroughbreds.

They came about booking their mare Silken Whisper (USA) (Diesis {GB}) to Better Than Ready in a novel way - by winning the nomination.

"For two years running the Better Than Ready syndicate sponsored the Listed Silk Stocking S. at the Gold Coast," Kruger said. "And both times we offered a nomination to the stallion to the owners of the first three home.

"Only one breeder took the offer up and that was Eureka. The mare slipped the first time but we offered them a free return and Apache Chase is the result of that mating."

A horse, it seems, who was meant to be.

"The criteria was that the mare sent had to be either stakes performed or the dam of a stakes horse," Eureka's Angus McAlpine recalled. "So we chose Silken Whisper who had produced the G2 Bill Stutt S. winner Churchill Downs."

Doing a good job producing Group winners 14 years apart, Silken Whisper - whose dam Yaguda (USA) (Green Dancer {USA}) won at Listed level in America - was retired after producing Apache Chase.

"She was a big, beautiful, strong mare with good bone and she passed that onto Apache Chase. At the yearling sales he was big, strong and leggy - he just didn't look like an early type of Better Than Ready."

Jeff Kruger agreed, inspecting the youngster at the sales and noting that, "He was a really nice horse who just looked like he'd need a bit of time and that has been the case."

Though Apache Chase did race three times as a late 2-year-old, in mid-July breaking his maiden at Eagle Farm and from there progressing through the grades to a G3 Vo Rogue S. victory at his seventh start.

Next time he won the Listed Daybreak Lover S., and on this weekend last year, the G3 Fred Best Classic. He was again in form over the spring, winning the Listed Weetwood H. and holding on gamely for a Golden Eagle S. fourth after facing the breeze.

Apache Chase is a horse who knows how to find the line, winning nine of his 22 starts and it was a good winning strike rate that first appealed to Jeff Kruger in regards to Better Than Ready - a horse who was successful at half of his 16 starts.

"To be honest I had not taken a lot of notice of him (Better Than Ready) when he was racing but Yarramalong Park's Richard Foster brought him to my attention, saying he wanted to get him - asking if we would stand him.

"The first thing I did was have look at his form and once I'd done that it was a no-brainer!"

Taken not only by his four Listed wins, Kruger was also impressed by Better Than Ready's interstate efforts including a more than handy G1 Newmarket H. fifth, a race in which he finished just ahead of, coincidentally, Eureka Stud's Spirit Of Boom (who is, of course a son of Lyndhurst's prolific winner-getter Sequalo by Rustic Amber {Ire}).

Kruger was confident from the get-go that Better Than Ready would do well but what surprised him (and continues to do so) is how early they run and win.

A horse who raced just the once at two, Better Than Ready is currently Australia's leading 2-year-old sire by winners (ahead of Snitzel, Spirit Of Boom and I Am Invincible) with 16 of his 54 juveniles to race this season between them winning 20 races.

Also appealing to Kruger is that Better Than Ready is still getting winners from his first couple of crops (including Aspen Chase), so not only do they get up and running early, they go on with it.

"He really is a terrific winner-getter," he said, happily adding that, "They are not hard to sell!"

Lyndhurst Stud boasts a proud history of standing stallions known for their ability to sire large numbers of winners. Smokey Eyes (Ire) was a leading sire of winners whilst the seven-time Champion Queensland Sire Celestial Dancer (Ire) in the 1995/96 season set a world record for the most number of individual winners in a year - a whopping 239!

And Sequalo did a great job with his 746 winners from 1062 starters - his legacy continuing via the deeds of his son Spirit Of Boom who sired two winners on Saturday, including the unbeaten Perth galloper Top Of The Pops.

Gallery: Some of the impressive stallions Lyndhurst has stood over the years

Sequalo also made his mark on the Eagle Farm meeting with his G1 QTC Sires' Produce S.-winning daughter Star Shiraz being the grandam of the G3 Fred Best S. winner Vilana (Hallowed Crown). Star Shiraz - who currently resides at Aquis Farm - is out of a mare by another Queensland legend, Eureka Stud's Semipalatinsk (USA) and her dam Starshine Express was sold by Lyndhurst in utero cheaply 'at a Sunday sale at Toowoomba!'

And one of Star Shiraz's co-breeders, the 94-year-old Tom Shelton (also Sequalo's biggest shareholder) was excited cheering on Apache Chase whilst recovering from a bout of COVID. He too is a part of the Better Than Ready syndicate - along with Yarramalong, Lyndhurst and most of those who raced the horse.

With such wide support it is little wonder this year's Kingsford-Smith Cup winner was welcomed back to scale with such notable applause!

Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally

Delighted with the way in which the 5-year-old had progressed from his first two runs this time in, William Johnson of William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) was of course wary of the odds-on favourite Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) but he could not have been happier with the way in which Huetor was presented.

"He was a picture of health - his coat was gleaming, I really thought he was one of the picks of the yard."

Living up to his looks, Huetor recorded the sixth win (in doing so firming into favouritism for The G2 Q22) of his 15-start career - his first at Group 1 level, in fact his first at stakes level having only once before contested a black-type race.

Kicking off his career from the Chantilly stables of Carlos Laffon-Parias, Huetor was in the market but safely held at his Saint-Cloud debut in November 2019. Given plenty of time, he was an improver next time in at his third start stylishly breaking his maiden at Longchamp.

Adding another Longchamp victory to his resume seven months later, Huetor was on the radar for Johnson who had approached the Snowden stable offering to source horses for them 'both domestically and internationally'.

Huetor's next run at Chantilly did not at first inspire confidence but he did not have the best of luck and time would tell a story in regards to formlines - the race in which he finished ninth won by Hopeful (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) who won last weekend's Listed Lord Mayor's Cup at Rosehill.

Spot on for Aus

Working with Snowdens' Racing and Bloodstock Manager Colum McCullagh and Meridian International's Ghislain Bozo, Johnson was confident that Huetor ticked all the boxes as a nice prospect for Australia.

"He matched our criteria well, he had what we thought would work here. His Timeform rating was 96 which got him into benchmark races, enabling him to come to Australia and work his way through the classes which is great fun for his connections.

"It is easy to find those horses with the proven stakes form," he noted. "But they are expensive and I think it is great to find those improving types."

Which Huetor has certainly proven to be, and one who acclimatised quickly; having his final French run in early June last year. He then flew to Australia and served his quarantine period in Melbourne from where he was pre-trained before heading to NSW where he saluted first-up at nice odds at Newcastle in November then winning his next two at Rosehill and Randwick.

So that's six Australian runs for four wins. And connections hope that there is more to come.

As does Johnson who said that the Doomben Cup win was, "So pleasing for the stable and the owners. And to beat a horse of Zaaki's calibre is such a thrill.

"It was a nice way to cap off an enjoyable couple of weeks up here," he noted, enjoying the celebrations (when TDN AusNZ spoke with him he was heading out to dinner with the trophy in tow) that came on the back of a busy time inspecting weanlings and broodmares at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Sale.

Strong pedigrees

Johnson boasts a great racing pedigree, the family from which he hails being inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2006. His great, great-grandfather being William Samuel Cox who in 1883 thought that some land in Moonee Ponds would be a good spot for a racetrack. Meanwhile his great-grandfather Walter bred Vain whilst his father Tim owned and ran Ealing Park.

Speaking of good families, Huetor is also from one of them.

A half-brother to the G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Villa Marina (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), he is out of the triple Listed winner Briviesca (GB) (Peintre Celebre {USA}) who was purchased by Huetor's trainer and breeder Carlos Laffon-Parias for just 10,000gns (AU$18,500).

Her lightly raced dam Kimono (Ire) (Machiavellian {USA}) was bred by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who purchased her dam Kilinski (GB) (Niniski {USA}) in utero from clients of Lanwades Stud.

That G3 Lingfield Oaks Trial winner did a good job at stud with her four winners including the German Listed winner Kiswahili (GB) (Selkirk {USA}) but after her initial stint with the Sheikh she had her issues and as luck would have it for Lanwades Stud's Kirsten Rausing, she was able to buy back into one of her favourite families.

Out of Kilinski she bred the two-time winner Robe Chinoise (GB) (Robellino {USA}) and out of that mare one her favourites, the G1 Ascot Champions Fillies and Mares' S. winner Madame Chiang (GB) (Archipenko {USA}) - in turn dam of the Listed winner Oriental Mystique (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

And whilst Huetor was not bred by Rausing, she is delighted by the many connections - his late sire Archipenko (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}) being a member of the Lanwades roster prior to his premature death in 2017, and his family is very Lanwades nurtured.

Rausing had a great soft spot for Archipenko, the high-class globe-trotter who was seen at his best winning the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin, saddened to lose him to something rarely seen in horses; leukemia.

"It happened so quickly, in just a matter of weeks he was gone - it was a terrible loss," she recalled. "He was such a tough, game horse, qualities he passed on to his progeny."

Rausing is very much a pedigree enthusiast and a particular fan of the great mare Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) to whom both Madame Chiang and Huetor are line-bred. The grandam of Archipenko is also Huetor's fifth dam and the same branch of this internationally prolific family produced the Lanwades-bred full brothers Time Warp (GB) and Glorious Forever (GB), Archipenko's G1 Hong Kong International Cup winners.

Archipenko was chosen to stand at Lanwades specifically because of the Special influence, Rausing noted that, "I had been line-breeding to her for years so I had a lovely group of mares who already had Special crosses ready to go to him. And I am very fortunate that I was able to hold on to a number of mares by Archipenko."

And so from her kitchen, logging onto Twitter to catch an early morning replay of the Doomben Cup, Rausing was excited to see the son of Archipenko win.

Though Huetor was not the main reason she was tuning in - Rausing is also the very proud breeder of the race's favourite and third-placed Zaaki with his sire Leroidesanimaux (Brz) a Lanwades resident.

Cover image courtesy of Inglis

Born and raised in Wagga Wagga, Comerford’s love for horses spawned from regular trips to the races with his grandfathers on both sides of the family.

When Comerford’s grandfather on his dad’s side began to dabble in breeding and training, the youngster’s passion for the sport and animal was enhanced.

“My grandfather went to a few broodmare sales in Sydney at the old Inglis complex and he purchased a couple of mares in foal, bred a couple of foals and ended up breaking them in himself and training them,” Comerford told TDN AusNZ.

“So, from that young age, spending school holidays and weekends out with him was where the real passion came from and it just went from there and at the end of my schooling I decided it was something I really liked and wanted to explore further.”

Comerford’s passion for the sport led to him completing a two-year Diploma of Equine Stud Management at the Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE in Wangaratta under the tutelage of Ian Horwood, who was previously the boss of Collingrove Stud.

While completing placement at Bassinghall Farm Comerford struck a professional and personal relationship with Tas Rielley, which would pave the way for future endevours.

His final placement at Darley Northwood Park resulted in a full-time job at the esteemed operation and after just six months as a stallion groom Comerford was afforded the opportunity to travel to Darley's international establishments in Japan and Ireland.

“They were fantastic experiences, I had never travelled overseas before I got into the industry and it was something I never expected to do,” Comerford said.

“To be able to go and work in three different continents and to learn off some of the world’s best horse people and the hands-on side of things in three different ways was brilliant and I had some great mentors along the way across all facets of the game.

“From the breaking in at (Darley) Kildangan, to the foaling unit, the stallions in Japan and everything in between was really fundamental to learning about the thoroughbred industry.”

Stud Manager Matt Hill, who is now at Arrowfield, along with Assistant Stud Manager David Collinson were key mentors of Comerford’s during his time at Darley Northwood.

“Those two gave me a really good grounding in the industry and taught me a lot. Matt instilled a lot of confidence in me and I hadn’t even been at Darley for six weeks before he asked if I would be interested in travelling to Japan to do a season,” Comerford said.

“He was really encouraging and both him and David taught me the work ethic required to do well in the industry.”

Working at Widden

The relationship built with Rielley while on placement at Bassinghall was the catalyst for Comerford to connect with Widden Stud’s Principal Antony Thompson and Ryan McEvoy, who was head of nominations and sales at the time.

After meeting Thompson and McEvoy it was clear to Comerford that joining Widden was the natural next step in his career.

“Having that foundation and understanding of all facets of the industry before transitioning held me in good stead and I was really lucky in having Derek Field, Ryan McEvoy and Antony Thompson to guide and nurture me into the role," Comerford said.

“So, it was quite a smooth transition having those three by my side and I haven’t looked back since.”

After 10 years at the famed Hunter Valley operation Comerford remains as motivated as ever, which he credits to the family environment and tightness of the team across all facets of the operation.

He described McEvoy, who is now the general manager at Rosemont Stud, and Thompson as mentors of his, while crediting Stud Manager David Merrick, Assistant Stud Manager Ben Walsh, Victorian Stud Manager Jason Robinson and head vet Raina Scott for the integral roles they play.

“I just love what I do; and a lot of people resonate with the fact that you have to really love what you do in this industry,” Comerford said. “It’s a really good family environment at Widden, I have my wife and 2-year-old with me on the farm and we all love it here.

“The long hours and work load isn’t something all people can handle but I love the horses, I love the people, I love the clients and the family environment here at Widden makes it easy to get out of bed and get to work.”

A career in the breeding industry was always the intention for Comerford, who said that the education of foals, pedigrees and matching mares with stallions appealed and resonated with him more than working in racing stables.

The breeding and racing industry's ability to showcase the rewarding career opportunities that are possible has improved tenfold in recent years, according to Comerford.

“Courses like Fast Track in the Hunter Valley are the most important thing going forward for young people who want to get into the industry and these types of initiatives gave me a great introduction to what the stud game is,” Comerford said.

“There has been a very big change of focus, I was in the second or third last year of the Goulburn Ovens TAFE course before it shut down, so I think we’ve put a lot more focus and precedence on the importance of educating young people through Marcus Oldham, Fast Track and Lindy Maurice’s Thoroughbred Industry Careers.

“Those sorts of organisations have probably increased a 1000 per cent in the last three or four year’s but there was certainly a lull in the five or so years prior to that.”

Comerford’s advice to young people starting out in the breeding industry is to work hard, ask questions and respectfully challenge the status quo.

“The advice I would give is that it’s important to work hard, it sounds like a simple thing, but also don’t be afraid to ask questions or challenge people that you feel might be mentoring you or in a senior position,” Comerford said.

“I was a confident enough young person that when I started out I’d ask questions and push the envelope a little bit without trying to go overboard.

“Working hard, asking questions and being willing to try anything and everything is really important, while it might be outside your wheelhouse you might learn a lot and turn that back around and use it in an area of your expertise down the track.”

A shining star

The loss of Northern Meteor at the age of eight in 2013 was a tragic loss for the entire Widden operation, however, his son Zoustar has continued the legacy and shone brighter than Comerford could have ever imagined.

He is excited by the prospects of Zoustar’s Group 2-winning, G1 Golden Rose S.-placed son Zousain, who will stand the upcoming breeding season at $22,000 (inc GST).

“Zoustar is an unbelievable stallion. We went through the highs and lows of having lost his sire Northern Meteor when I was there early days and to have that devastation you felt the real passion and love for the horses,” Comerford said.

Gallery: Some of the stallions standing at Widden Stud in 2022

“To have gone and secured Zoustar and to see him continue to go through the ranks as an elite stallion and to now have had a real breakout season with the top price weanling and yearling gives you a lot of enjoyment.”

Another addition to the Widden stallion roster is Deep Field’s Group 1-winning son Portland Sky, who will cover his first book this upcoming breeding season at $27,500 (inc GST).

Rebel Dane will join Portland Sky at Widden’s Hunter Valley base for the same service fee after a deal was brokered to stand the Laurel Oak Bloodstock-owned son of California Dane following Fireburn’s autumn heroics.

“Portland Sky is great value, he’s a beautiful individual, a speed horse and won a G1 Oakleigh Plate like Sniztel and Fastnet Rock previously did,” Comerford said.

“He profiles really well and while he’s not exactly that Zoustar line he goes back to Northern Meteor through Deep Field and is his only Group 1-winning son at stud.

“And breeders are really starting to take hold of him, which leaves us pretty bullish about his prospects going forward.”

On the Victorian front Widden will stand Dirty Work, Overshare and Gold Standard at its Riddell Creek property on behalf of Hesket Thoroughbreds after David Moodie and Ash Hardwick recently struck a deal to purchase Spendthrift Australia and its breeding and racing stock.

Gallery: New stallions to Widden Victoria's roster in 2022

“We couldn’t be more thankful of the relationship that we’re building with David (Moodie) and Ash (Hardwick) and the opportunity to stand Dirty Work, Overshare and Gold Standard with and on behalf of them,” Comerford said.

“Dirty Work, as you saw last week, had mares in foal to him make incredible results and he’s been afforded one of the best possible starts a young stallion at stud could have.

“Overshare is a son of I Am Invincible and despite having limited runners they’ve all shown a bit; Lady Laguna looks a really top-class filly going forward.”

Ramsey, who began his working career at Elders South Grafton in 1972, was successful in his early business endeavours with cattle and wool, which led to the creation of Ramsey Pastoral Pty Ltd in 1983.

He said the skills he learned while at Elders has held him in good stead for a career in the thoroughbred racing industry, saying the selling and marketing aspects are intertwined.

“I worked in the office at Elders, they had a very good system and it was a great experience,” Ramsey said.

“I then got transferred to Yass on October 16 and the next Saturday Gunsynd won the Cox Plate and become the highest money earner with $240,000.”

Ramsey’s passion and interest for the thoroughbred racing industry grew on the back of some success with cheap racehorses in the late 1970s and early 80s.

However, it wasn’t until a few years later that Ramsey, alongside friend John North of Bowness Stud, significantly increased his portfolio and chanced a hand at breeding and racing.

“John (North) and I went to the Inglis June Sale together and we bought two truck loads of horses, mares and foals and didn’t know what we were doing and that’s when we started in the thoroughbred business,” Ramsey said.

“We had a lot of luck with them too and had a bit of fun with a few of them.”

Ramsey recounts the careers of the Group 1 winners, who carried his green, yellow and white silks for Peter Moody, in Ancient Song (Canny Lad), Sky Cuddle (Snippets) and Cinque Cento (Nothin’ Leica Dane).

The win of Cinque Cento in the 2007 G1 Doomben Cup holds a special place in Ramsey’s heart, with his daughter sadly passing the week prior to the commanding triumph.

Gallery: Some of the Group 1 winners Stuart Ramsey had success with who carried his green, yellow and white silks, images courtesy of Sportpix

“I had seen this mare (Cinque Cento) win the Doomben Roses and she was a good staying mare out of a good family, we bought her and I was probably on my last bid of $252,000 and I knew Antony Thompson had probably gone to $250,000,” Ramsey said.

"Went and won the mile race in Adelaide (G2 Queen of the South S.) and Peter (Moody) said, 'We’ll run her in the Doomben Cup as she’s going well'. We flew her up and she won at 25-1 and it was only a week after we lost our daughter and the whole family were there so it was very good.

“She won and won easily and we also bred the Sires’ winner that day out of a $25,000 Danehill mare.”

Homebred heroics

Ramsey reflects fondly on homebred and subsequent 2015 Hong Kong Horse of the Year Able Friend (Shamardal {USA}), who they sold to George Moore Bloodstock at the 2011 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

“We always liked him, he was a big strong horse and had a head on him that only a mother would love,” Ramsey said. "All our paddocks are named after racecourses and when he got a bit of pesticides, I said, 'Put him out there on the grass and let him cut his own in the paddock'. We opened the gate and the paddock we put him in was Happy Valley.

“We went out to watch him at trackwork (in Hong Kong) and he stood there like Gunsynd in front of the stand for 10 minutes before he walked on the track he just owned it the week before he came out and killed them.”

Other Turangga homebreds that hold a special place in Ramsey’s heart are Karuta Queen (Not A Single Doubt), Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt) and Headway (Charge Forward).

"We sold Karuta Queen and got one bid of $30,000," Ramsey said. "A leading trainer came along and said he wanted to have a look at her, and when they got her head out the door this poor little girl was leading her first horse and he said, 'Put that away I don't want to look at it'.

"The Not A Single Doubts that were little chestnut fillies that no one wanted have all turned out the best ones."

Gallery: Some of the Turangga homebreds that hold a special place in Stuart Ramsey's heart

Ramsey outlines the ups and downs of the racing, breeding and ‘trading’ caper, referencing the decision to sell G1 Doomben 10,000 hero Mazu’s (Maurice {Jpn}) dam Chatelaine (Flying Spur) at a dispersal sale and the lack of luck he's had with Headway's progeny by Rubick and Russian Revolution so far.

“There’s no regret whatsoever. I think there was 10 mares that came out of that dispersal that we had, have all thrown stakes winners,” Ramsey said.

“It’s not all beer and skittles, it is very character building the racing business.”

Ramsey described the purchase of Turangga Farm as him fulfilling a lifelong dream.

“It had been a dream my whole life from when I was a kid (to buy a farm), we had a wonderful upbringing but we didn’t have a lot of money, so it had always been a lifelong dream,” Ramsey said.

“It’s wonderful land to run horses on and we don’t have to feed them heaps of grain and they develop, there’s plenty of limestone, it’s hilly and we’ve had plenty of luck there.

“But we do put a lot of effort into our matings and educating the young horses and yearlings as they come along.”