After a lengthy and highly entertaining battle with Coolmore Stud’s headline stallion So You Think (NZ), Yarraman Park resident I Am Invincible officially claimed a maiden Champion Australian Sire title, on Sunday, after the final race of the season was run and won.

Meanwhile, across the ditch, Waikato Stud’s Savabeel was crowned New Zealand’s Champion Sire for an eighth consecutive season.

Not only was it a first for ‘Vinnie’, it was new ground for Yarraman Park’s Mitchell family and a richly deserved reward after five decades in the industry.

Having finished second the previous four seasons (behind Snitzel in 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/2020, then Written Tycoon in 2020/21), I Am Invincible finally went one better.

In 2021/22, from 359 runners, he had 185 individual winners (the most by any sire) combine for 314 wins (also the most of all sires). His progeny amassed $19,860,096 in prizemoney, which is $546,341 more than second-placed So You Think, with his star performer being Home Affairs, who took out the G1 Black Caviar Lightning H. and G1 Coolmore Stud S. He finished with 17 stakes winners and 25 stakes wins, and Lombardo and Marabi joined Home Affairs as elite-level winners in Australia.

By comparison, in 2020/21, I Am Invincible had 358 runners, with 208 winners tallying 335 wins. He had 12 stakes winners and 17 stakes wins (the same as Premiership winner Written Tycoon), with Libertini his best-performed progeny; she amassed $944,000 of Vinnie’s season’s earnings, which was $15,741,201.

So You Think had 298 runners in Australia, with his 250 wins coming from 149 individual winners. He had 12 stakes winners and 18 stakes wins. Think It Over was his best performer, with the Queen Elizabeth S. winner bringing in $5,615,000 of the stallion’s $19,313,755.

Arrowfield Stud’s multiple Champion Sire Snitzel had another outstanding season, finishing with 324 runners, 163 winners, 237 wins, 18 stakes winners and 26 stakes wins (both season-high marks), and $17,898,452 in earnings. G1 Moir S. hero Wild Ruler contributed $1,083,400.

If there was any doubt Savabeel was an all-time great of the breeding industry, surely that argument has been put to bed. Savabeel enjoyed another phenomenal season. In addition to his eighth-straight New Zealand crown, the now 21-year-old finished 10th in the Australian Sires’ Premiership.

In New Zealand, Savabeel had 118 runners, 48 winners, 74 wins, eight stakes winners and 12 stakes wins, for earnings of NZ$3,392,269. Noverre (NZ) was his star performer, with the 2000 Guineas winner earning NZ$347,500.

Savabeel also had the most Group 1 winners in Australasia last season, with Mo’unga (NZ), Probabeel (NZ), The Perfect Pink (NZ), Noverre (NZ), The Chosen One (NZ) and Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) all scoring in top company.

Gallery: Savabeel's Group 1 winners for the 2021/22 season

The ill-fated Tavistock (NZ) finished second, NZ$549,109 behind Savabeel, while third-placed Burgundy (NZ) was NZ$1,386,169 adrift of the champion.

Redoute’s and O’Reilly deliver yet again

The legendary Redoute’s Choice claimed another Champion Broodmare Sire gong, his third from the past four seasons. The superstar tallied $29,491,158, knocking off his arch-rival Encosta De Lago by $2,880,989. Incredibly, that duo has run the quinella in this category the past five seasons.

The great Zabeel (NZ) ($21,440,697) rounded out the top three.

In New Zealand, O’Reilly (NZ) captured the title for a third time, having won it in 2016/17 and 2018/19. He finished with NZ$4,029,761 in prizemoney, with Volksraad (GB) second with $2,476,393 and Pins third with NZ$2,186,806.

Another crown for Vinnie, Tavistock comes from the clouds

I Am Invincible was also crowned Champion 3-Year-Old Sire in Australia, after his progeny, led by crack colt Home Affairs who amassed $7,601,947. That proved too good for Snitzel, whose offspring tallied $7,171,054, which was just $29,969 superior to third-placed Maurice (Jpn).

Interestingly, I Am Invincible becomes the fifth different sire to win this category over the past five seasons. The Premiership winner in 2017/18 was Snitzel, followed by Zoustar, Rubick and Written Tycoon.

Gallery: Previous winners of the Champion Three-Year-Old Sires’ Premiership in Australia

New Zealand’s Champion 3-Year-Old Sire is Tavistock, which is fascinating, given the most recent year he had finished in the top 10 in that category was 2014/15. Furthermore, Tavistock finished 18th in 2020/21 and was 17th the season prior.

Tavistock has New Zealand Derby hero Asterix (NZ) to thank, with the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained gelding netting NZ$607,200 this past season.

Burgundy finished second on the table and Savabeel third, with both topping the NZ$1 million mark.

Rebel Dane and Almanzor capture juvenile honours

On the back of Fireburn’s stellar season, Rebel Dane was a surprise winner of Australia’s Champion 2-Year-Old Sire category. Golden Slipper heroine Fireburn is in the conversation at the country’s premier juvenile, having also taken out the G1 Sires’ Produce S. she amassed $3,870,250 of Rebel Dane’s $3,912,250 earnings.

Rebel Dane’s breakout season has seen him move to Widden Stud in New South Wales, where he will stand for $27,500 (inc GST).

Snitzel finished a close second on $3,615,720, thanks largely to dual stakes winner Best Of Bordeaux, while Written Tycoon was third with $2,544,525; his star performer was Magic Millions 2YO Classic heroine Coolangatta ($1,794,000).

The New Zealand winner was also somewhat of a surprise, with Cambridge Stud’s first-season sire Almanzor (Fr) upstaging the usual suspects. Almanzor’s progeny accrued NZ$701,935, with Karaka Million victor Dynastic (NZ) (NZ$612,125) leading the charge.

Tivaci (NZ$386,655) came home in second, while the ever-reliable Burgundy (NZ$280,275) was third. Cambridge Stud’s Turn Me Loose (NZ) also had a strong season, finishing fourth, with two stakes winners (the most of any sire) and two stakes wins

Russian Revolution, Almanzor the freshman kings

Newgate Farm’s Russian Revolution kept churning out the winners in 2021/22, and his consistency was rewarded with the Leading Australia First Season Sire title.

From 47 runners, Russian Revolution had 15 winners and 18 wins, with earnings of $1,840,685. Two-time winner Russian Conquest contributed $582,850 to that figure.

Gold Standard, who will call Widden Stud in Victoria home, finished runner-up to Russian Revolution, predominantly due to the exploits of star filly Sheeza Belter. She won the lion’s share of her sire’s earnings of $1,539,565.

Aquis Farm resident The Mission rounded out the top three with $887,645 in prizemoney.

In New Zealand, Almanzor made it a seasonal double, claiming the title with NZ$701,935. He held a comfortable edge over runner-up, Little Avondale Stud’s Time Test (GB) and Derryn, who resides at Grangewilliam Stud.

An international flavour amongst Champion Second Season Sires

Arrowfield Stud resident Maurice capped his fine season by being crowned Australia’s Champion Second Season Sire. His 41 winners tallied 70 wins and it was star colt Hitotsu that flew the flag for his old man. The three-time Group 1 winner banked $3,171,250 of Maurice’s $7,444,575.

Capitalist had another strong year and he finished second with $5,784,580, while Rebel Dane ($4,405,745) was third. Capitalist had four stakes winners, two more than Maurice.

Rich Hill Stud’s Vadamos (Fr) got the job done in the same category in New Zealand. His progeny, headed by G2 Avondale Guineas victress La Crique (NZ), collected NZ$652,560.

Belardo (Ire), who stands at Haunui Farm, claimed second, with Turn Me Loose third.

Pike, Waller reign supreme

Western Australian hoop William Pike, who relocated to the eastern seaboard during the season, won the Australian Jockeys’ title with 189 wins. Clint Johnston-Porter (184) was second and Chris Parnham (162) third. Two jockeys surpassed 100 metro wins - James McDonald (131) and Chris Parnham (108).

Chris Waller was once again the pre-eminent trainer in the land, his 352 winners earning him another National Trainers’ Premiership. Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace ran second with 321 wins, while Kris Lees placed third with 172.5.

Waller’s 270 metro victories earned him honours in that category, with Maher/Eustace (129) once again having to settle for second.

McNab notches maiden title, Richards signs off in style

Michael McNab secured his first New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership, ending the season with 144 wins. Lisa Allpress tallied 112 to finish second, while Craig Grylls had 91 to finish third.

In the trainers’ ranks, Jamie Richards’ 117 wins earned him another title, quite the achievement considering he missed the last four months of the season. Richards has been granted a license in Hong Kong with effect from start of the 2022/23 season. Stephen Marsh (104) finished second, with Tony Pike (63) third.

Mark Chittick – Principal at the famed Matamata-based Waikato Stud on New Zealand’s North Island – believes the possibility of Savabeel becoming the country’s most prolific sire (by premierships) – is very real.

Savabeel just recently won his eighth consecutive Grosvenor Award as New Zealand’s champion stallion to draw level with Volksraad (GB) and within three of Foxbridge (GB), who won 11 titles in succession and dominated during the 1940s.

Chittick told TDN AusNZ that Savabeel, who officially turns 21 on September 23, is a happy, healthy horse, and, while that remains the case, he will stay active.

“With him, we haven't really had to shorten his book as he's aged. Obviously, we’re conscious of it,” Chittick said.

“You never do know, but certainly at this stage he’s not showing any signs of an ageing stallion.”

Chittick said Savabeel will serve between 120-130 mares this season, which is similar to last season, where he covered 134 mares and got 120 in foal.

Savabeel ended the season with his progeny earning NZ$3,392,269. From 118 runners he had 48 winners and a total of 74 wins. He was the only sire in New Zealand to finish the year with in excess of 10 stakes wins (he had 12) and eight of his progeny chalked up a stakes win.

The Cox Plate hero also picked up his seventh Centaine Award for worldwide progeny earnings and sixth Dewar Award for combined Australian and New Zealand progeny earnings.

“There’s absolutely no doubt he’s an all-time great. He’s one of the best that we’ve ever been involved with and he’s one of the best that the country’s ever had,” Chittick remarked.

“You look at his versatility; from 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, older horses, fillies, colts, milers through to middle-distance horses, he’s just an incredible stallion. He’s incredibly consistent.

“He’s a great horse to work with and leaves good, strong types.

“At the end of the day he just makes our life very easy and very enjoyable.”

Chittick added that Savabeel sits comfortably alongside Waikato Stud’s distinguished former stallions O’Reilly (NZ) (a three-time Grosvenor Award winner and Champion Hong Kong Sire) and Pins (also a Hong Kong Premiership-winning sire and dual Centaine Award winner).

“They become such good mates when you’re working with them everyday. I’ve been very privileged throughout my career to have been able to be involved with many top stallions, but certainly those three hold a very special place in my heart because they were characters, they had different personalities, they were just real blokes and they were good blokes,” said Chittick.

Savabeel was the pre-eminent stallion in Australasia in terms of Group 1 winners last season, with six of his progeny - Mo’unga (NZ), Probabeel (NZ), The Perfect Pink (NZ), Noverre (NZ), The Chosen One (NZ) and Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) - all chalking up victories at the highest level.

“That was probably the highlight for us, those quality Group 1 winners, especially in Australia (Mo’unga and Probabeel),” Chittick commented.

Gallery: Savabeel's Australian Group 1 winners of the 2021/22 season

“Noverre’s victory in the 2000 Guineas was amazing, it was an incredible effort for him to win, given he was last on the rail on the turn. To have him back at stud now… he was born and bred on the farm, is a son of Savabeel, was the top-priced yearling of his year… it’s pretty cool.”

Other award winners

A host of awards were presented at the function, which was hosted by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (NZTBA) Waikato Branch at the Sir Don Rowlands Event Centre at Karapiro, near Cambridge, on Saturday.

There was further success for Waikato Stud, with O’Reilly winning the Champion Broodmare Sire title, and they celebrated their ninth Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan Breeder of the Year Award.

“It is another season that we are extremely proud of and to get the Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan Breeder of the Year Award again – Garry and I and Mary and Pip and the big Waikato Stud family – it means so much to us,” Chittick said.

Waikato Stud’s season was highlighted by 13 homebred stakes winners, including five at Group 1 level and 17 black-type-placed horses. Its elite-level winners comprised of Mo’unga (Winx S.), Probabeel (Might And Power S.), Noverre (New Zealand 2000 Guineas), Never Been Kissed (NZ) (Flight S.) and Tiptronic (NZ) (Zabeel Classic).

And the farm’s Bloodstock Manager, Jaimee Gowler, was the recipient of the Mary Lynne Ryan Young Achiever Award.

“It was a great night. It was the first time in a long time that we were able to get together like that and it was the first time that they combined the Group 1 awards with the breeding awards; I thought that was really nice. It was in a good setting and everybody was in good form,” said Chittick.

Not surprisingly, the Seton Otway Horse of the Year was Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), with her octogenarian breeder Don Goodwin named New Zealand Small Breeder of the Year – NZTBA.

Verry Elleegant’s dam, Opulence, (NZ) (Danroad) shared the honours for Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year with Galileo (Ire) mare Baggy Green, who is the dam of Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) and Benaud (Reliable Man {GB}).

Haunui Farm Managing Director, Mark Chitty, was named NZTBA Personality of the Year.

Rich Hill Stud – a 320-acre property located in the famed Central Waikato Region in New Zealand - has made quite the impression during its 28 years of operation.

Founded by John Thompson and his wife Colleen, along with business partner Alan Galbraith QC and John’s parents– respected equine veterinarian Colin Thompson and mother Irene, Rich Hill Stud has bred and raised some stars of the turf.

The honour roll includes Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance (NZ) (Pentire {GB}); dual Group 1 winner Xtravagant (NZ), who has made a great start to his career as a stallion; Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) – a winner of 10 Group 1s; and two-time Group 1 heroine Zarita (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).

John Thompson believes Mufhasa, who raced as King Mufhasa in Australia, is the best horse they have bred. Sold by Rich Hill Stud for NZ$50,000 at the 2006 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Select Sale, he won 13 stakes races, including the Futurity H. and Toorak H. at Caulfield and the Telegraph H. at Trentham on two occasions.

“To win 10 Group 1s, two in Australia… he was an amazing horse. Even as a patched-up 8-year-old, he nearly beat Pierro in a George Ryder,” Thompson said.

“Prince Of Penzance would be the horse with the highest profile.”

One of the best broodmares they have had is What Can I Say (NZ) (Khozaam {USA}). A Group 2 winner, she produced two stakes winners – Gibraltar Campion (NZ) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and Only Words (End Sweep {USA}).

“We sold about three yearlings for half-a-million dollars out of her over the years,” Thompson said.

“She had two fillies, then six colts in a row. She finally had another filly, by Tavistock, called Tellmeaboutit. I haven’t decided who she will be served by, but her first foal was the top-priced yearling by Ace High last year, she made NZ$160,000 at Karaka Book 1,” Thompson explained.

There’s also an 8-year-old mare by the name of Quella Finale (NZ). She will go down in history as being the last mare to be covered by one of the all-time greats - Zabeel (NZ).

Quella Finale means ‘The Final One’ in Italian.

She is related to Group 1 heroine Zepherin (NZ) (Zephyr Bay) and Group 3 winner Groundless Threats (NZ) (Clay Hero). Quella Finale - one 50-odd broodmares at Rich Hill Stud - was winless in her short career.

Quella Finale’s first foal is a 2-year-old filly by Rich Hill Stud resident Proisir called Contagious (NZ). Trained By Roger James and Robert Wellwood, she placed in Listed grade in May.

“She was foaled in 2013 and Zabeel was an older stallion then. My parents were shareholders in Zabeel and he had missed 13 mares in a row prompting Sir Patrick Hogan to ring the shareholders to tell them the horse is likely done. I asked him if I could have one last crack and the rest is history,” Thompson said.

The mare has since had two fillies by Proisir’s barnmate, Ace High, who she is in foal to at present, and will be covered by Vadamos (Fr), another stallion residing at Rich Hill Stud.

“With Ace High, that High Chaparral-Zabeel cross is phenomenal, when you think of Dundeel, Think It Over, etc. And Ace High being by High Chaparral out of a Redoute’s Choice mare, that’s worked so well with Zabeel, too,” said Thompson.

“So, it’s a good mating, but there’s a sense of history behind it.”

Repeating The Dose

Another broodmare that will return to a stallion that has already covered her is Temolie (Star Witness). She is currently in foal to Proisir – the sire of dual Group 1 winner Levante (NZ) – and will visit him again during spring.

Winless in her brief career, Temolie is related to stakes winners Extreme Flight (Extreme Choice), Invincibella (I Am Invincible), Secret Blaze (Sizzling), Taciturn (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}), The Hind (NZ) (McGinty {NZ)) and Oregon Star (NZ) (Oregon {USA}).

Thompson purchased Temolie, in foal to Castelvecchio, for $200,000 at last year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

“She’ll go back to Proisir, mainly because the bloodlines really suit him. He’s got line-breeding to Special. And Zabeel and Sadler’s Wells click so well with Danehill Dancer,” Thompson said.

“Proisir is going very well; everything he’s done is off NZ$7000 mares. He’s come up with the likes of Levante, (six-time winner) Yonce, (Group 2 winner) Dark Destroyer and various others. People don’t understand how he’s upgraded those mares.

“We’re buying mares like Temolie, whose Russian Revolution half-sister made $850,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale earlier this year. We’re trying to buy mares that suit on pedigree for Proisir and are more commercial, hoping that as a result his profile with go even higher, which I’m sure it will, because there’s better numbers and better-bred mares coming through over the next few years,” Added Thompson.

Thompson said the Castelvecchio filly will probably go through Book 1 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale next year.

Unraced broodmare Evaline (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}) is also going back to a sire that has covered her – Vadamos (Fr). Hardly surprising given their filly made NZ$260,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 1) earlier this year. She was bought by Mick Price Racing / Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ).

“The full sister we sold this year was a beautiful filly. So, the mating works on type,” Thompson commented.

“Evaline is from a good family and you’ve got Halo and Northern Dancer in there, which has worked extremely well with Monsun.”

Evaline is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Gallic (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), from the same family as multiple Group 1 winner Solveig (NZ) (Imposing) and her Group-winning progeny Greig (NZ) and Lady Solvil (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}). She is also related to G1 ATC Australian Derby hero Jon Snow (NZ).

She has also produced a G3 Wellinton Cup winner – Soleseifei (NZ) (Shocking) – who was bred by Rich Hill Stud.

Cup winner to cover Passchendaele

Montjeu (Ire) mare Passchendaele (NZ) put together a successful career on the track, notching five wins, including the G2 Waikato Gold Cup in 2009. She also placed twice at Group 1 level.

Among others, Passchendaele has thrown Group 1 placegetter Masetto (NZ) (Cape Blanco {Ire}).

Thompson has decided for her to go to 2009 Melbourne Cup hero and Group 1-producing sire Shocking, who stands at Rich Hill Stud.

“She was a good race mare, she won the Waikato Cup and a few other races, and she’s thrown a Group 1 performer,” Thompson said.

“Basically, the Shocking cross… Street Cry with Sadler’s Wells has been great, and Nerve Not Verve, one of Shocking’s Group winners this year is out of a Montjeu mare, so that’s the reasoning behind that mating.

“Being a Montjeu mare, she’s a little bit lighter-framed and leggy, and Shocking just puts that natural strength into them.”

Passchendaele has a 3-year-old filly by Vadamos, named Roesalare (NZ). Trained by Darryn Weatherley, she ran second at Matamata in June.

The mare has a Satono Aladdin (Jpn) yearling colt and a Proisir weanling filly. She is empty at the moment, so she will be covered early in the season.

Akela’s Charm booked to “exciting horse” Satono Aladdin

Rich Hill Stud's superbly bred stallion Satono Aladdin (Jpn) – a son of the great Deep Impact (Jpn) - has created a big impression during his fledging career. He finished fourth in the New Zealand First Season Sires’ Premiership and 11th in the New Zealand 2-Year-Old Sires’ category. His star performer in New Zealand has been the stakes-placed Sacred Satono (NZ), while in Australia, he has had two winners (both victorious on debut).

Thompson will send Akela’s Charm (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) to Satono Aladdin. The 5-year-old – a half-sister to multiple stakes victress Lady Kipling (NZ) (Savabeel) – only retired from racing last year.

“He (Satono Aladdin) is such an exciting horse at the moment. He’s obviously a beautifully bred horse. He’s from such a fantastic American family, which includes Fappiano, who is the damsire of Northern Meteor. He looks as though he’s going to succeed in Australasia,” remarked Thompson.

“We bought her at this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale (for $190,000) to go to him. We wanted Danzig-line mares that work really well with Deep Impact.

“Physically, she is very suited to him. He is 16.3hh. He is a very tall, elegant horse. This mare, she’s probably 15.3hh and very strong, so we just felt it was a good match.”

Table: Some of the matings Rich Hill 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

Smith, like the vast majority of our previous Generation Next talents, doesn’t come from a ‘racing family’, however, an innate love of the horse was prevalent at a young age.

It was the American cutting and performance horse scene where Smith would acquire the interdisciplinary skills that have held him in good stead since heading down the racing route.

“I was a kid who had a fascination with horses, I bugged my parents to get me riding lessons and then I bugged them again until they got me my first horse,” Smith told TDN AusNZ.

"And after that they never had to put any more money into purchasing horses for me, as I would train them, trade them up and do that with a lot of young horses.”

In 2011, after completing an agribusiness and marketing degree at the California Polytechnic State University, Smith would venture to Australia on a one-way ticket.

And, in 2013, his ‘entrée into racing’ came by the way of an employment opportunity at Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm.

“It was a very interesting formative experience due to the number of horses they had, when I started they had 200 yearlings and four of us to look after them initially, so I got to do everything and a lot of it,” Smith said.

“I was young, enthusiastic and all the managers there were very good to me, and then when the time came for me to take my next step they were very helpful in assisting me in getting there.”

After completing a season of yearling prep at Patinack Farm, Smith felt as though he required international experience if he was to gain a position on the Irish National Stud course, which led to him emailing Haras d’Etreham.

Smith was afforded a position at the esteemed French stud and would partake in the preparation of yearlings, weanlings and mares over a six-month period, which began in July 2014.

"Haras d’Etreham was a fantastic experience, and I have to give a lot of credit to Stud Director Ludivine Marchand-Morin,” Smith said.

“She was someone that not only encouraged me to do the Irish National Stud course but to also apply for the Godolphin Flying Start, she really gave me the push to broaden what I thought was possible.”

The building blocks

In 2015 Smith managed to achieve what he set out to do by securing a position on the ‘invaluable’ six-month National Stud course.

“The National Stud course was incredible, it is a first-class grounding and there is so much goodwill in Ireland surrounding the course, when you’re on it everybody has so much time for you and are willing to help you in anyway they can,” Smith said.

“While you’re there you are working as the backbone of the stud, but every night you’re doing lectures on nutrition, veterinary, conformation and have guest speakers come in that are the who’s who of the European racing and breeding industry.

“So, I would say that it was an invaluable experience.”

The next step in Smith’s journey was the Flying Start program, which he completed from 2015 – 2017.

Sally Carroll, the National Stud’s student liaison officer at the time, played an important role in assisting Smith with his application process.

Smith returned to America for the first leg of the Flying Start and during this period he completed his work placement with Saratoga-based syndicator West Point Thoroughbreds.

“I got to learn about racing on the East Coast and a lot about how their business operates, from client management, selecting horses and partnerships in general,” Smith said.

Smith’s Australian externship with Newgate Farm proved an important part of the journey, with the Henry Field-owned operation having a close relationship with his current employer - China Horse Club.

During this period Smith would work closely with Newgate’s Director of Bloodstock Bruce Slade.

“They’re an amazing operation, they’re so dynamic and forward-thinking with a great attention to detail,” Smith said.

“It was a really interesting time and that was my introduction to China Horse Club.”

He was also afforded the opportunity to shadow Paul Moroney during the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.

In Europe, Smith worked with trainer Nicolas Clement and while in Dubai he got to pick the brain of Champion South African horseman Mike de Kock.

All of the astute operators that Smith was ‘fortunate’ enough to spend time with during his two years on the Flying Start have played an important role in his growth – which makes it hard for him to describe one as the most influential.

“They all had so much time for me, I can’t thank them enough. I could call any of them today with a question and they would all pick up the phone and help me any way they could,” Smith said.

“I’d like to think when I was at each one of those places that I did as good a job for them as I could, and there was a mutual respect.”

Joining the Club

After graduating from the Flying Start at the top of his class Smith planned on reuniting with de Kock in South Africa, however, the vacant bloodstock assistant role at China Horse Club was too great of an opportunity not to apply for.

“The bloodstock assistant position at China Horse Club was my dream role and all encompassing, there’s few other bloodstock operations that are more global, so when the job came up I raised my hand,” Smith said.

“When I started I wasn’t the senior guy, so I was the beneficiary of being surrounded by people with a lot of experience in our own team and among our partners and vendors.

“You learn how they think and how they do things, which has been a great opportunity to grow before now being entrusted with the large responsibility of the entire Australasian operation.”

The success China Horse Club has achieved since its first top-flight victory in 2013 is second to none, with the Teo Ah Khing-led organisation staking claim to a cumulative 44 Group 1 victories in six separate countries.

And as a result Smith is left spoilt for choice when trying to pinpoint a highlight, saying it would be like picking a favourite child.

"China Horse Club has been able to achieve globally what few have, winning an Epsom Derby with Australia in the UK, a Triple Crown with Justify in America and a Golden Slipper with Stay Inside Down Under,” Smith said.

“There’s nothing like the taste of success to motivate you and to strive to do better.

“But you’re only as good as your last winner, which is why the challenge of trying to continually raise the bar is what drives me.”

China Horse Club’s rise to the forefront of the global bloodstock and racing scene is a testament to the way in which Teo Ah Khing has been able to turn his vision into a reality, according to Smith.

“He’s (Teo Ah Khing) the visionary behind China Horse Club, it’s his vision that drives it, he’s got an amazing energy and an amazing mind for what can be,” Smith said.

“Teo is the one that is always pushing us to be better, and it has been a great learning experience and a pleasure for me to get to work for him over the last five years.”

The next generation

While Smith is proud of his achievements to date, he believes he has been a beneficiary of being in the right place at the right time.

“I think I’m very lucky to have fallen in with the right people, and all the way along they have been willing to help and give me a chance, which is why I’m so passionate about racing,” Smith said.

“And that is what’s great about the thoroughbred industry, there is always someone that is willing to help you get to the next step and better yourself.”

Smith’s advice to the next generation of industry participants is to knuckle down and work hard.

“Work hard, show up and don’t be afraid to ask questions as it doesn’t go unnoticed,” Smith said.

“Racing is amazing, if you can muck out a box and lead a horse you can travel around the world.”