It’s a long-term project that’s increasingly bearing fruits at the top level, which is no surprise when you hear about the studiousness of its founder.
Laurel Oak Bloodstock is the brainchild of Louis Mihalyka, who runs the operation with his wife Jill, supported by a small team. As a former accountant, Mihalyka approached the bloodstock world after moving away from that game with an attention to detail and work ethic which is now paying rich dividends.
Diving into all the available material, he read books from all the classic breeders of the last century. From this, there was one theme that stuck with him as common amongst the famous influencers of the breed.
“There are many different pedigree analysts and the basis behind all their logic is some form of inbreeding or reinforcement within the pedigree,” Mihalyka explained. “No matter where you go – whether it’s Ken McLean or (Leon) Rasmussen with his female lines, or (Federico) Tesio – it all comes back to reinforcement and duplication.”
Louis Mihalyka | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
However, building a picture of what he likes to see in a pedigree wasn’t enough for Mihalyka, who manages the bloodstock interests of a number of clients both within his racing and breeding syndicates and externally as a consultant.
His logical and formulaic approach to pedigrees led him to adopting and representing a proprietary pedigree analysis system which was pioneered by Patrick Brain in England.
“Since about 1991 we were invited to become the Australasian agents for Brain Pedigree Analysis. That was incredibly popular and consistent, it helped a lot of breeders over the years.”
“Since about 1991 we were invited to become the Australasian agents for Brain Pedigree Analysis. That was incredibly popular and consistent, it helped a lot of breeders over the years.” - Louis Mihalyka
In 2015 Patrick died and his son Will continued the company, having worked for his father for a number of years. In 2019, due to personal circumstances, Will became unavailable. Unsure as to whether the system would become available again, and having found great results in using it, Mihalyka took the plunge and they developed their own system.
Building their own system
As a result, Laurel Oak Pedigree Analysis (LOPA) was born.
“We had a knowledge of pedigrees accumulated over 20 years and we devised our own system, which was a very embryonic version of LOPA in 2019,” Mihalyka recalled. However, he admitted that the results produced by the first version were often far from satisfactory.
“We had a knowledge of pedigrees accumulated over 20 years and we devised our own system, which was a very embryonic version of LOPA in 2019." - Louis Mihalyka
A turning point came when he realised that a change of focus was required. Instead of trying to emulate the system he had been using, he decided instead to focus the new system on producing the kinds of matings he’d like to see himself.
“My epiphany out walking one day, between versions two and three, was that ‘I have no idea of the mechanics of how the scores (from the Brain system) came about and I’ve been fumbling around in the dark for two years. What I’ve got to focus on is just making this a system that will give me the sort of matings that I’d like to do for myself.’”
Since then, the system has undergone numerous changes as Mihalyka has sought to bring the results it produces closer in line with his vision for pedigrees. It has been an iterative process, as changes gradually became more and more subtle, and the system improved over time.
Team Laurel Oak
“We keep monitoring results and checking pedigrees,” Mihalyka added. “If one rates better than I really want it to… you might be able to tweak that in the calculations. Because we control that, we’re now much better able to get those desired outcomes.”
A comprehensive service
The LOPA system provides the backdrop to the daily running of Laurel Oak Bloodstock and the ethos behind its inner workings gives an insight into the success of the operation. By aiming to breed what they would like to race, Laurel Oak is able to support its clients at every avenue of involvement.
“Because we’re bloodstock agents and we like racing horses, we try to breed so that the Laurel Oak mares are those that I’d happily race the offspring of,” Mihalyka explained. “That’s an advantage to our breeder clients because… as long as the horse passes fundamental x-ray checks we’ll happily take that horse on, or, if it goes to the sales, we’re potential buyers.”
This also means that if the market turns against them on a mating choice by the time the yearling sales come around, they have another option. Mihalyka used the example of Fireburn’s younger brother, rising 2-year-old Kintyre (Hallowed Crown), whose sire has lately been less commercial than they’d hoped.
Kintyre with a small part of his ownership group
Instead of accepting a reduced price at the sales, Laurel Oak have retained the colt to race, with the vast majority of the breeding syndicate remaining in the ownership. The results of this approach have been excellent, evidenced by their ever-increasing popularity despite a complete lack of advertising.
“It’s all totally word-of-mouth referrals,” said Mihalyka. “We have a number of clients who’ve had incredible success over time.”
The Laurel Oak mares
With around 25 mares under their direction, Laurel Oak have a smaller but select group producing for them. They have a long connection with Silverdale Farm, where many of their mares are kept, plenty in shared ownership with Silverdale's owner, Steve Grant.
One such mare, and an advert for Laurel Oak’s overall approach, is Lipizzan (Sebring). Her dam, Absolutely Flying (Commands), was bought by Laurel Oak at the 2009 Inglis Easter Sale for $140,000 but suffered from a terrible foot abscess during her racing career.
Lipizzan as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
“…so we bred from her,” explained Mihalyka. “Lipizzan (her first foal) is an example of a reserve going on her, $120,000, when the farm expected $190,000 so we ended up buying her.”
Lipizzan finished her career as a stakes-placed dual city winner. Laurel Oak purchased her first foal, Vaderzan (Invader), at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in 2021, and he has shown promise as a 2-year-old this year.
Her second foal, a filly by Deep Field, was also purchased by Laurel Oak, this time for $300,000 at the Inglis Premier Sale. She is in training with Lindsay Park, and Mihalyka said she also looks promising.
Owned in conjunction with Silverdale, Sense Of Hite (NZ) (Street Sense {USA}) was bought for $165,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2015, but she hasn’t been the most simple to manage.
“She’s been an enigma in a way, in that she’s had four live foals and she’s been at stud for 12 years,” revealed Mihalyka. “She’s had terrible trouble retaining foals and she had issues in between.”
The difficulties haven’t been endured without reward though, as her first foal, Quintessa (Pierro) sold to James Harron for $480,000 at the 2018 Inglis Easter Sale and subsequently placed in the G1 ATC Australasian Oaks. Underbidder on that filly was none other than Laurel Oak Bloodstock.
Sense Of Hite produced a Dissident foal the following year, which sold for $180,000 at the 2019 version of the same Sale, which became Acrophobic who was fourth in a Group 2.
After missing the next two years, 2020 saw the arrival of a Snitzel colt which sold at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $850,000, making Sense Of Hite the most commercial of Laurel Oak’s mares.
A filly by Snitzel out of Sense Of Hite sold at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale for $850,000 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“…she produces such good types, very well prepared by Silverdale, that the market appreciates, she has an I Am Invincible filly coming up as a yearling next year,” Mihalyka said. She is currently in foal to Snitzel and has a mating planned with Zoustar next, so the next few years may well see more big sale results.
Another mare owned in conjunction with Silverdale is Rotator (Not A Single Doubt), who is well-related being a half-sister to Group 2 winner Positive Peace (Stratum). She had issues with her knees which ultimately brought on a premature retirement, though she is a winner with a stakes placing to her name.
“Eagle Farm was at its firmest when she won,” recalled Mihalyka. “(We had) the thought of racing on for another year because she was so talented, but that Eagle Farm track sorted her knees out, so she was retired.”
She is in foal to Zoustar, with a return to Widden’s resident planned for this year.
Last but not least is Mull Over (So You Think {NZ}), dam of Laurel Oak’s latest flagbearer, Fireburn. She was purchased by Laurel Oak for just $22,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Owners visiting Fireburn during a spell
“Mull Over is our pride and joy. We bought her especially to go to Rebel Dane, we were looking for certain matings and breeds to go to him. The only flaw in our logic is that… we didn’t send her back in his (Rebel Dane’s) third season.”
With Kintyre in training alongside his older sister with Gary Portelli, Mull Over is currently in foal to Pierata, having missed last year. Unsurprisingly, she is booked to visit Rebel Dane this year, following the incredible success of that mating with her first foal.
| Sense Of Hite | Street Sense | Zoustar | Snitzel | I Am Invincible | Snitzel |
| Rotator | Not A Single Doubt | Zoustar | Zoustar | - | - |
| Lipizzan | Sebring | Captivant | Deep Field | - | Deep Field |
| Kentucky Diva | Fastnet Rock | St Mark's Basilica | Capitalist | So You Think | - |
| Exoplanet | Snitzel | St Mark's Basilica | Pierro | Saxon Warrior | - |
| Mull Over | So You Think | Rebel Dane | Pierata | - | Hallowed Crown |
Table: Some of the matings Laurel Oak Bloodstock is planning for the 2022 season
Whether you're breeding to race or breeding to sell, we'd love to hear from you! Over the coming weeks we'll be featuring a selection of mating plans for 2022; to be featured reach out to Lydia at lydia@tdnausnz.com.au
