Cover image courtesy of the Australian Turf Club

"We thought, well we've come all this way - we want to see the race live," an excited Greg Perry told TDN AusNZ. And so the couple found themselves in the owners' stand, right across from the winning post, in prime position to witness the dash up the famed track's straight.

The problem being of course, that there were 24 runners and with Artorius settling back and amongst them, he was not always easy to pick out. But Perry had his eyes on his horse when it mattered - "I saw that flash of red and yellow... what a thrill!"

Delighted that his horse had run well (exceptionally well, in fact) Perry did however have to wait for the judge to split the Australian and the American - the game mare Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) going to the line locked together.

As is the case when waiting for a photo finish decision, time seemed to slow down - the wait not made easy by a change in weather; the previous day's sunny and warm conditions replaced by a definite chill in the air and that biting English wind.

"It was freezing cold out there!" Perry laughed. "So we headed inside to wait for the result - and we waited, and waited."

Close finishes can be quite stressful but one thing a photo finish does provide is a multi-levelled thrill - that one felt when a much-loved horse makes a strong run and another when the camera provides that much-wanted result.

And so it was the case for the Perrys who could not be prouder of the effort of Artorius, the 3-year-old on his first international adventure, a horse who had not raced since his strong-finishing and close-up sixth in the G1 Newmarket H. in mid-March.

Always confident that his horse - whose racing style lends itself to bad luck stories - would run a great race at Ascot, Perry was happy when he saw the colt he describes as "a cool, laid-back dude" show just that bit of white between his legs as he paraded.

"Sam (Freedman) said something to me that I hadn't heard before - that he likes to see Artorius just that little bit hot in the yard, because then he knows that it is game on!"

Not that Artorius in anyway gets over-excited and his temperament and attitude to racing places him in good stead not only for his racing career - but also for his future career as part of the high-quality Newgate Stud Farm roster.

And of course the Perrys will be amongst his supporters, excited to be there for that stage of his career as they have been for every step of his journey - and beyond.

Purchasing, via the late Steve Brem, the Group 1-placed Listed winner Grace And Power (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}) for US$700,000 (AU$1 million) at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Selected Mixed Sale, Perry started to dream.

Already a successful breeder with his Group 1 tally including big wins by the likes of Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock), Commanding Jewel (Commands) and this year's G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Marabi (I Am Invincible), Perry has a particular passion for well-related mares from whom he can establish a dynasty.

"I really love to develop families," he enthused.

And it all started very well with Grace And Power whose first foal - who was sold to C. Lai for $250,000 at the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale - showed outstanding ability; Delectation (Shamardal {USA}) winning five races including the G1 Darley Classic (beaten none other than Chautauqua {Encosta De Lago}) and the G2 Royal Sovereign S.

However, things did not go to plan with foal number two, Grace And Power's filly by Redoute's Choice arriving several weeks early with expectations low from the start - "she was never going to make it to the track," Perry rued.

But he did not lose total faith - "one day I was sitting watching a group of yearlings run across a paddock at Vinery and she was amongst them and I thought 'she may have those short legs but she can still run.'"

And so, whilst "a few experts suggested that she would not be worth spending much money on as a broodmare," Perry took a leap of faith and decided to breed with Gracie's Lass, noting that "she may not have had the conformation but she had the genetics."

Gracie's Lass' first foal Onemorechoice (Onemorenomore) is no world-beater but is a four-time winner whilst her second Mhaille (I Am Invincible) "has had a few issues." But from day one her third foal was something rather nice and Anthony Freedman thought enough of him to bid $120,000 to secure him at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

And fortunately for the Perrys (who breed and race under the name of Greenwich Stud), they were able to stay in for a share.

In a sign of things to come, Artorius settled back in the field when making his debut in a 2-year-old race at Geelong in January last year - swinging widest turning, racing greenly and striking a decent bump with 200 metres to go. But his second to the more than handy Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) was an eye-catcher.

And what excitement his next two starts provided his owners and breeders - Artorius second-up swamping his rivals before racing away to a stunning 4.5l victory at Sandown en route to another barnstorming win, this time in the G1 Blue Diamond S.

Whilst Artorius has not been in the winner's circle since that day, he has run some mighty good races with Perry particularly impressed by his G1 Coolmore Stud S. third behind Home Affairs (I Am Invincible).

"He was great to line that day," he recalled, "it was actually an extraordinary run."

Whilst still enjoying the racing career of Artorius (he and Lisa are to enjoy a trip to Scotland before heading back to the UK to cheer their boy on in the G1 July Cup), Perry is also excited about his stud prospects.

"He has some great genetic material to work with," said the pedigree enthusiast who does his research, admitting to a particular soft spot for the good race mares of the 1970s - one example being Princess Talaria (Dignitas {USA}), the high-class race mare who is the fourth dam of Marabi.

He also likes to see such mares in the pedigrees of American-bred horses with one of the attractions of Grace And Power's pedigree being the strength of her grandam Lady Lady's (USA) (Little Current {USA}), that mare being a three-quarter sister to the superstar mare Allez France (USA) (Seabird {Fr}).

And that mare in turn is a descendant of one of the great matriarchs in La Troienne (Fr) (Teddy {Fr}).

"Someone once told me that you can never have too much La Troienne in a pedigree and everywhere you go in the racing world, she is there."

Including Royal Ascot!

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Ahead of the current Australian racing season, if you had predicted the winning sires of the country’s five Group 1s for 2-year-olds would be Epaulette, Rebel Dane, Extreme Choice and Gold Standard, you probably wouldn’t have been taken seriously.

Of that quartet, only one – Extreme Choice – was on the list of Leading Australia 2-Year-Old Sires for the 2020/21 Season (Gold Standard did not have any runners, as his oldest progeny are 2-year-olds this season) and he also stands alone among a group of five stallions - the others being Flying Artie, Street Boss (USA), Capitalist and Frankel (GB) - that produced a 2-year-old Group 1 winner the previous season.

It comes as no surprise to see Extreme Choice feature this year, given he is the reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Sire and added the Champion First Season Sire title for good measure, after his progeny earned $3,392,085 last season, thanks largely to the deeds of Golden Slipper hero Stay Inside, who is now on the Newgate Farm roster.

The rest, however, well, they probably weren’t expected to figure, but that’s what makes the game so great.

Daumier dazzles in the Diamond

Epaulette, who stood at Darley Australia before transferring to Turkey, was the first sire of 2021/22 to notch a 2-year-old Group 1 winner, when the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained, Godolphin-owned Daumier took out the Blue Diamond S. at Caulfield on February 26.

Daumier finished ahead of Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution) and Jacquinot (Rubick).

It was the second time the Freedman stable has won the Blue Diamond for Godolphin, having done so with Lyre (Lonhro) in 2019.

A Godolphin homebred, the colt is the second winner from as many foals out of the unraced mare Illustrate (Street Cry {Ire}) and became Epaulette’s 17th stakes winner and first Australian Group 1 winner.

Daumier is from a family that includes Parables (Lonhro), a dual stakes winner, Group 1 victress Politeness (Street Sense {USA}), stakes winner Fairytales (Night Shift {USA}) and Group 1 heroine On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau).

Daumier’s Diamond triumph came at his third start, having won the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (Colts and Geldings) on January 26, before running third to Lofty Strike (Snitzel) in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) on February 12.

After a further two starts, where he finished fourth in both the G1 Golden Slipper and G1 Sires’ Produce S., Daumier’s juvenile campaign finished with two wins and a third from five starts, for earnings of $1,371,000.

Fabulous Fireburn helps herself to two Group 1s

The second Group 1 event for 2-year-olds was the time-honoured Golden Slipper, which has been won by some of the greats of the turf, including Todman (1957), Sky High (1960), Vain (1969), Baguette (1970), Luskin Star (1977), Manikato (Manihi) (1978), Sir Dapper (1983), Flying Spur (1995), Sebring (2008) and Pierro (2012).

Run at Rosehill on March 19 on a Heavy 9 track, Magic Millions 2YO Classic victress Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) was all the rage, but she had to settle for third, after the Gary Portelli-trained Fireburn (Rebel Dane) produced an unbelievable finish along the rail to score by 2.44l, with Snitzel colt Best Of Bordeaux home in second.

A homebred, Fireburn is a daughter of Laurel Oak’s dual Group 1 winner, Rebel Dane, and her Slipper success provided that sire with a maiden Group 1 triumph.

The filly is from So You Think (NZ) mare Mull Over, who was purchased for $22,000 by Laurel Oak from the Lime Country draft at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Mull Over is a half-sister to two-time Listed winner Galizani (Galileo {Ire}). And, Mull Over’s grandam, Danarani (Danehill {USA}), won the G1 Flight S. in 1994.

Fireburn went into the Slipper at her fifth start, and on the back of three consecutive victories, including the G2 Sweet Embrace S.

With the Slipper on the CV, Fireburn was given her chance to add further Group 1 glory in the Sires’ Produce S. at Randwick on April 2.

Sent out a $2.50 favourite, she again slashed home from the second half of the field, scoring by 1.43l from the heavily supported She’s Extreme (Extreme Choice), with Let’srollthedice (Dundeel {NZ}) a further 4l back in third.

Fireburn had overcome the so-called ‘Slipper curse’, becoming the first Golden Slipper winner to score another victory since the Portelli-trained She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain) in 2017. She also became the first juvenile since the Champion Pierro to complete the Slipper-Sires’ double, and first filly since Merlene (Danehill {USA}) to achieve the feat.

Following Fireburn’s Sires’ Produce victory, it was announced that, after five years in Victoria, Rebel Dane would relocate to Widden Stud in the Hunter Valley at a fee of $27,500 (inc GST). Rebel Dane stood his first two seasons at Swettenham Stud, where he produced 52 live foals, before moving to Glen Eden Stud. He covered 49 mares in 2021, his largest book of mares so far.

Cummings' filly proves She’s Extremely good

On April 16, Fireburn was given the chance to become the seventh horse and first filly since Burst (Marauding {NZ}) in 1992 to win the 2-year-old Triple Crown when she lined up in the G1 Champagne S. at Randwick. It wasn’t to be, however, with She’s Extreme vanquishing her rival, winning by 0.39l, with Williamsburg (Snitzel) a gap back in third.

Fireburn was sent for a well-earned spell after her Champagne defeat, completing her 2-year-old season with five wins from seven starts and a staggering $3,870,250 in prizemoney, and will doubtless be named Australia’s Champion 2-Year-Old.

She’s Extreme’s maiden Group 1 triumph capped a stunning campaign, which yielded two wins and two minor placings from six starts, and $715,600 in earnings.

Bred by Aquis Farm, the filly is out of the two-time winner Keysbrook (So Secret) and was a successful pinhook. Originally purchased by One Plus Investments for $32,500 via the Inglis June (Late) Online Sale in 2020. She was then bought by her trainer Anthony Cummings for a partnership that includes Dorrington Farm’s Robert Crabtree for $275,000 from the Willow Park Stud draft at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

She’s Extreme hails from the family of stakes winners Brasileira (Commands), Jorda (Exceed And Excel), Aichi (Strategic) and Detours (Ad Valorem {USA}).

In taking out the Champagne S., She’s Extreme became the second Group 1 winner for Extreme Choice, who took up residency at Newgate Farm in 2021. Incredibly, from just 40 starters, Extreme Choice is the sire of 27 winners (for a total of 48 wins), seven of which are stakes winners, resulting in a hugely impressive Stakes winners to runners rate of 17.5 per cent.

Owing to his incredible stats, the superstar sire will command a fee of $275,000 (inc GST), having stood for just $22,000 (inc GST) two years ago.

Sheeza Belter shows she's Gold Standard

The final elite-level juvenile race – the G1 JJ Atkins S. - took place in Brisbane on June 11, and it threw up yet another incredible story, with unheralded stallion Gold Standard becoming a Group 1-producing sire, thanks to his star filly Sheeza Belter.

The Perth filly put the writing on the wall with a brilliant victory in the G2 Sires’ Produce S. at Eagle Farm a fortnight earlier.

Sent off at $4.20, Sheeza Belter won the Group 1 feature by 0.4l, becoming the first filly to win the race since Linky Dink (NZ) (Keeper) in 2009. Regally bred colt Political Debate (So You Think {NZ}) was second, while Brosnan (Snitzel) placed third.

On the back of the filly’s Sires’ success, Widden Stud, who stand Gold Standard, increased the sire’s service fee from $8800 (inc GST) to $17,600 (inc GST). Widden, in partnership with Hesket Thoroughbreds, purchased Gold Standard when that operation acquired Spendthrift Australia last month, and he is the only freshman sire of his class to achieve a Group 1 from his first crop, and he had just 30 foals in that crop.

Sheeza Belter was bred by Craig Thompson’s Mount Hallowell Stud, who, incidentally, raced Gold Standard. Offered at last year’s Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale, the filly failed to make her $50,000 reserve, before being purchased by former WA-based trainer Justin Warwick.

Having commenced her career in WA with Luke Fernie, where she won two of three starts, including the R. Listed Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic, Sheeza Belter was transferred to Peter and Paul Snowden. She heads to the spelling paddock with four wins and two placings from seven starts, with earnings topping $1.4 million.

Sheeza Belter is the third winner from as many to race out of Saxabelle (Saxon), a winner of two races. The filly is a relative of dual Group 3 winner Special Reward (Demerit), Group 3 victress Showy Chloe (Alfred Nobel {Ire}) and Listed winner El Rijes (Eternity Range {USA}).

Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club

On May 1, 2016, champion Australian sprinter Chautauqua (Encosta De Lago) produced an in incredible last-to-first win in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize.

A good 10l off the leaders as they swung for home, ‘The Grey Flash’ stormed down the centre of the Sha Tin track under Tommy Berry to score a breathtaking victory.

Exactly two months later, at the same course, Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal {USA}) – a debutant from the Tony Cruz yard – recorded one of the greatest victories ever seen in Hong Kong.

Slow to begin, Pakistan Star was a mile off the lead at the 650-metre mark, prompting race caller Brett Davis to say, “Pakistan Star can’t go with them, he’s three lengths last of all”.

What happened next has to be seen to be believed.

Pakistan Star, under the urgings of Matthew Chadwick, sprouted wings to win the 1200-metre Griffin race (a contest for horses in their first season) and gained immediate cult hero status.

Fast forward six years and another horse made a similar impression to that of Chautauqua and Pakistan Star.

Beauty Joy (Sebring), who raced as Talladega in four unbeaten starts in Australia, conceded his rivals a huge start in Sunday’s G3 The Premier Cup (1400 metres), before displaying a dazzling turn of speed to triumph under Australian jockey Zac Purton.

“Once he got to the 1000 (-metre mark), he was okay – but I was that far off them, I thought the race was over. But he swept into it really nicely, he got there in plenty of time and then he had to fight for the win at the end,” Purton said post-race.

Interestingly, Beauty Joy is also trained by Cruz, who remarked: “Zac said, ‘Tony, the horse seemed very short in his stride, he wasn’t stretching out, but on the turn when I gave him a smack it literally ignited him and he came home 100 miles an hour’.”

Beauty Joy was bred by Impressive Racing and was not offered for sale. Trained by Darren McAuliffe. he raced for a syndicate of owners that included his breeders Impressive Racing, who also raced his mother, G3 WA Oaks heroine Impressive Jeuney (Jeune {GB}).

He is also related to dual Listed-winning mare Key Target (Serheed {USA}).

The highlight of his four wins in Australia was the Listed WATC JC Roberts S. in 2020. Following that performance, he was sold for $1.4 million to Hong Kong to Patrick Kwok, who has enjoyed success with the great Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock), among others.

Diamond sparkles in The Premier Plate

Another Australian-bred horse, who also raced in his country of birth before being exported to Hong Kong, took out the other Group 3 on Sunday’s Sha Tin card.

The Danny Shum-trained Tourbillon Diamond (Olympic Glory {Ire}), who raced in Australia as Eric The Eel, winning four races and running third in the G1 ATC Derby when in the care of trainer Stuart Kendrick, notched his seventh victory.

“The horse is talented, he’s very brave – he’s got a good heart – and he’s a fantastic racehorse. He deserved a win like that, carrying 132 (pounds), I think that’s very impressive,” winning jockey Alexis Badel said post-race.

Bred by the Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd and Jungle Pocket Pty Ltd, he was offered by Arrowfield Stud at the 2018 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, where he was bought by Neil Douglas for just $7000.

Following his great run in the Derby, he was sold for an undisclosed sum to clients of Shum in Hong Kong.

“We (Neil Douglas and I) were sitting at the sales and he came in and didn’t get a bid, so we bought him for $7000,” Kendrick said after selling to Hong Kong.

Tourbillon Diamond is one of 13 stakes winners for Olympic Glory (Ire), a son of Champion Sprinter Choisir. Champion sprinter-miler Olympic Glory shuttled to Arrowfield Stud for three seasons from 2015.

Tourbillon Diamond is related to stakes winners Vedodara (NZ) (Kreisler {Ire}), Bhandara (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Sharvasti (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}), Shastri (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) and Balmacara (NZ) (Bassenthwaite {GB}).

Meanwhile, Australian sires Manhattan Rain, Pride Of Dubai, Hinchinbrook (2), Rock ‘N’ Pop, Magnus and Elzaam were also represented by winners on Sunday at Sha Tin.

Star Turn dominates Singapore Group 3

Vinery Stud stallion Star Turn provided a feature-race quinella on Saturday, when Golden Monkey and Silent Is Gold ran 1-2 in Singapore Sprint (1200 metres) at Kranji.

Silent Is Gold was sent off favourite, but it was outsider Golden Monkey that landed the upset, winning by more than 3l under Oscar Chavez for trainer Timothy Fitzsimmons.

“He was fantastic. It was amazing,” Fitzsimmons said after the win.

“He’s a really exciting horse and ran an amazing time.”

Golden Monkey was a $54,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase for Research Bloodstock, from the Byerley Stud draft, who offered him on behalf of his breeder, Howard Blight of Bendaree Park Stud.

He was offered by Blake Ryan at the 2020 Inglis Ready2Race Sale, but was passed in. Golden Monkey is from dual winner Dixie’s Comet (Northern Meteor).

Silent Is Gold was bought via by the 2021 Inglis June (Late) Online Sale by Hajm & Vaicova Bloodstock for $50,000, after being passed in at the 2020 Magic Millions Yearling Sale when offered by Vinery Stud.

He is related to stakes winners Perignon (Snitzel) and Rubidium (Rubiton).

Golden Monkey is the fourth stakes winner for Star Turn, who stands at Vinery Stud for $27,500 (inc GST).

Meanwhile, Australian sires Not A Single Doubt, Star Witness (2), Unencumbered, I Am Invincible, Northern Meteor and Dissident also had a winner/s on Saturday at Kranji.

It comes as no surprise that Calder entered the sales and nominations game, with his father Gordon, one of the most experienced and respected local operators in the field, having worked at Evergreen Lodge and Windsor Park Stud before becoming Coolmore’s long-serving New Zealand representative.

While Calder didn’t initially have his sights set on following in his father’s footsteps he always had a keen interest in racing having spent countless hours watching the sport and attending race meets and yearling sales in his youth.

It wasn’t until Calder went to university to study a business degree that he realised a career in racing was a real possibility, and during this period he would also attain a hands-on understanding of the industry by working at Curraghmore Stud.

“I wanted to learn something about the hands-on side of horses so that if I didn’t pursue racing as a career and went off and got a job in a bank and was lucky enough to do well I could breed horses, as that’s always been my passion in the industry and what I love,” Calder told TDN AusNZ.

“So, I thought I should probably learn the difference between the nose and the tail and at least that way I could understand what farm managers were telling me in the future.”

Calder reflects fondly on the two breeding seasons he spent at Curraghmore, saying he was extremely fortunate to work closely with senior staff Tracy Simmons and Matthew Bell.

He said working at Curraghmore was a baptism of fire to begin with due to his limited experience with horses.

“I found it really full-on in the beginning, it was quite intense and there’s a lot going on during the breeding season and yearling prep,” Calder said.

“I was very conscious that I lacked the hands-on background that a lot of people had, I never rode growing up and as much as my dad had been in the industry a long time, he had a sales and marketing background and not a hands-on pathway into the industry.”

He described Curraghmore’s founder and owner Gordon Cunningham as a great mentor and still leans on the studmaster for advice to this very day.

“The more I’ve been able to travel and go to different places the more it has reinforced how fortunate I was to start out with Gordon (Cunningham),” Calder said.

“He’s always been really good about putting a lot of thought into what the right thing for me to do is; from teaching me how to lead a yearling, to a lot of the career decisions I’ve made in my life.

“He gave me such a great grounding in the industry and I still call him a mentor to this day, anytime I have changed careers or done different things I call my old man and Gordon Cunningham and get their thoughts.”

Off to a flyer

The trajectory of Calder’s career began to take further shape when he found out about the Godolphin Flying Start program during the early stages of his studies.

From there he would do everything in his power to ensure that he had the resume and skills to put himself in the box seat to secure a place on the course at the conclusion of his studies.

“When I finished university I had two job interviews, one with Godolphin Flying Start and one as a management consultant,” Calder said.

“After the Flying Start interview I thought I’d be one of 50 applicants, but when there was only a few in the room I thought if I don’t get them this year it’s something I can work towards.

“So, I had my heart set on sticking with the thoroughbreds from there.”

Calder’s thoughts on the Flying Start program are consistent with all of the previous Generation Next talents who completed the two-year course.

He described the time he spent travelling and learning as an ‘amazing experience’, saying he wishes he could do it all over again.

“It’s an amazing opportunity, I haven’t come across anything else in any other industry that gives you two years with that kind of worldwide exposure and access to people and the facilities Godolphin and Darley have,” Calder said.

“I count myself as being very lucky to have done it. If I’m perfectly honest, maybe I would have been better off having gone out and worked full-time before it.

“It’s such an amazing opportunity, you get access to so many great people and maybe if I had’ve had a bit more experience going in I would’ve grasped it a bit better.”

The Coolmore polish

The Flying Start program paved the way for Calder to join Coolmore Ireland in a marketing role.

He would spend 18 months there before joining Coolmore’s American base in Ashford Kentucky.

“Throughout Coolmore there is so many talented people across all facets and it’s no surprise that they’re so successful,” Calder said.

“And to be there on the periphery and see how they operate and the quality of horses is something that I still think about and it was a massive learning experience and opened the door for more opportunities down the line.”

While there were many people who helped Calder during his five years in Kentucky there were none more influential than Ashford’s Farm Manager Dermot Ryan.

He said the beauty of working for Coolmore is that they allow you to grow and develop in your role and are happy to tailor daily tasks in a way that allows you to showcase your strengths while still developing and building on areas which need improving.

“Tons of young people have gone through Ashford over the years and haven’t left because Dermot (Ryan) is an exceptionally good farm manager and is so good at fostering young talent,” Calder said.

“So, without a doubt he is someone that I greatly admire and has been a huge help to me and helping me improve myself throughout my time there.”

Returning home

In 2018, Calder was approached by Cambridge Stud’s newly appointed CEO Henry Plumptre about joining the esteemed operation which had just been taken over by Brendan and Jo Lindsay.

Calder had clearly left an impression on Plumptre in his Flying Start interview and during the time he had spent with the respected operator during the Australian phase of the course.

“Henry (Plumptre) rang up and enquired if I would be interested in coming home and at the time the answer was no because I was happily settled in America and my now wife is American,” Calder said.

“I wasn’t really planning on coming home but the more we thought about it for someone like myself who grew up in Cambridge, the opportunity to be involved with Cambridge Stud, particularly with the change of ownership was an amazing opportunity.

“If I was single I would’ve packed my bags and jumped on a plane straightaway, but thankfully my wife supported the big move to leave to Kentucky and come to New Zealand.”

Calder described his time at Cambridge so far as a ‘whirlwind experience’, saying the loss of Tavistock (NZ) in 2019, combined with its racetrack and stallion success in the past few seasons, highlights the highs and lows of our great game.

He considers himself lucky to be involved with the operation and is taken by what the Lindsays have done, and are continuing to do for the local industry.

“It has been a really unique experience. Having worked at Coolmore at such a massive juggernaut that has been so successful for a long time, it was a safe place to work as they had stallions all across the world; and while you had your ups and downs, you became immune to success because they were so dominant all over the place,” Calder said.

“Then I came back to New Zealand and Cambridge in a new environment where everything was changing, in a lot of ways it was really exciting because we were investing and growing but it was also daunting 'cause we were trying to make our mark on the industry.

“And while it wasn’t a new business, because Cambridge Stud has been so successful for so long, in some ways it was and it has been a really exciting time to be a part of that rebuild.”

Sky's the limit

The rise of Almanzor (Fr), who sired this year’s Karaka Million winner Dynastic (NZ) from his first crop, has helped fill the void of losing Tavistock, according to Calder.

“Almanzor and Probabeel have been a real shining light through the tough times for us, everyone in racing knows you have your ups and downs but having horses like them keeps a smile on your face,” Calder said.

“With Almanzor, he has just overachieved in every part of his career from the time his foals arrived, he’s been such a positive story for us so far, he has a beautiful temperament, he’s a beautiful-looking type and is an outcross pedigree so you can breed almost any mare to him.

“Also being the first stallion that Brendan and Jo launched has been really heartening to see that he’s had so much support and a lot of our clients have done well.”

Despite maintaining his personal passion for breeding, Calder has no ‘grand ambitions’ in the game saying he is settled in his current role and is fixated on doing everything he can to ensure Cambridge Stud continues to thrive and help shape the future of the local breeding and racing industries.

“My passion and heart has always been with being a breeder, so I would love to think that I can breed some nice horses and on a personal note my wife and I dabble in bloodstock,” Calder said.

“So, my personal ambitions would be to breed a nice horse and as far as what’s happening at Cambridge, after what we’ve achieved in the last four years, it’s exciting to think what we’ve got ahead of us.”

The next generation

The advice Calder has for the next generation of industry participants is to show initiative and enthusiasm.

He said it’s important to absorb and take in each and every experience along the way to ensure you are always learning and growing.

“If you work hard, are well-presented, show some initiative and are keen there’s always people watching and if you go out there and show a spark and enthusiasm there are so many people in the industry that will foster that,” Calder said.

“There will be days where you have to be on the end of a pitch fork and wake up early and finish late but they’re a learning experience in themselves.

“You don’t know where an opportunity is going to come from, even the most casual or innocuous things can lead to something.”

There is no simple solution to the staffing crisis that is rife across the Australasian racing and breeding industry, according to Calder.

He said the key is to try and harness the passion for the sport and animal in a way that it can be showcased to younger people who are becoming ‘further detached’ from farm life and are yet to ‘catch the racing bug’.

“There has been great strides made in recent years, but we can’t just do things the way we always have, whether that’s by restructuring the work demands to prevent burnout as a lot of great people that I have worked with have done their dash and gone onto other things,” Calder said.

“We need to consistently be looking at how we can adapt as an industry to keep them involved, because once you get them in it is such a great industry to be a part of.

“As we have something that other industries don’t and if you could bottle it and sell the passion and the buzz, the animal themselves it’s such a great drawcard.”