Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

From his South Australia home, Peacock told TDN AusNZ how a simple thought led him to exploit several Northern Hemisphere stallions to great success, and how the latest smart prospect from a beautiful family nearly didn’t make it into his trainer’s hands at all.

Berkeley Square’s winning margin in Saturday’s BM70 H. at Flemington was 1.75l, but, whilst that is a hardly sensational distance, it is the detail surrounding his victory that gives the horse such promise.

Under Craig Williams, he took a more prominent position than in his first two outings to sit on the girths of the leader, Palaggio (Caravaggio {USA}). Williams built up a run with 400 metres to go and he never looked in trouble, winning comfortably, albeit without streaking away.

The nature of his performance befits his pedigree, and he looks open to any amount of improvement as he steps up in the trip. He is out of the Teofilo (Ire) mare Bahamas, a winner who had multiple black-type placings including a third in the G1 SAJC Oaks.

Although his sire, Territories (Ire), was seen to best effect over a mile in Europe, Berkeley Square may well exceed over even further given his strong Classic pedigree – especially if the exploits of his most famous sibling are anything to go by; Senor Toba, who is also by an excellent European miler in Toronado (Ire), is a winner of the G3 Frank Packer Plate (2000 metres) in Australia, plus the G3 HKJC Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400 metres) in Hong Kong.

Then there is his size; In Saturday’s race he stood out as markedly bigger than his contemporaries. A fact which trainer Dan O’Sullivan said ties in with a still-maturing horse.

“He’s a big horse, physically it’s surprising he’s doing what he’s doing because he’s probably 17.1hh, just turned three and very much a little baby in himself,” O’Sullivan said. “He’s got a very relaxed attitude so he can get away with a lot of things too.”

Better luck with breeding

Bahamas, despite her high-profile placing, never achieved as much as she might have on the track owing to injury curtailing her career.

“She won one race, it was a maiden… but she broke down,” David Peacock recalled. “We tried to get her back, but she broke down a second time, so I had to make a decision; did I breed from her?”

With Toronado an unknown prospect in Australia at the time, Peacock deliberated over the decision. In the end, the answer was yes, and success followed immediately.

“That first mating produced a fellow called Senor Toba… So that was a lovely start wasn’t it?”

As is his nature, Peacock reflected on the decision as though serendipity played a large part. However, the logic behind this and future matings to Bahamas is evidence of an astute breeder at work.

Exploiting European bloodlines

“I have a very good friend called Alastair Pulford. He’s a lovely friend of mine… We’ve kept up a great relationship,” explained Peacock, in reference to Darley’s Head of Stallions.

“I thought a lot of the English and European stallions were incredibly well bred, very usefully trained to win Group races, but most importantly they’re owned by Arab men who seem to have put a great deal of money into racing, and I thought: ‘Maybe I can grab onto their coat tails.’”

And grab on he did. That association with Pulford and Darley has seen Bahamas visit Frosted (USA), Harry Angel (Ire) and Blue Point (Ire) respectively in the years since Berkeley Square was born.

Gallery: Darley stallions Bahamas has been mated to

“… and then she’s going to Too Darn Hot this season,” Peacock revealed. “The Harry Angel we’ve got is a pretty big chap too. He’s a very nice fellow who is getting ready for a sale at Mill Park Stud. Over the last 10 or so years we’ve had wonderful luck and success with Mill Park."

Mill Park given the credit

The luck Peacock referred to extends to more than just success with the matings, for he also credited them for Berkeley Square ever seeing the track at all.

“He was born and within weeks he picked up a bacterial infection. We had him treated by our top vet here, Dr Andrew Hunt. We couldn’t get him right, so we sent him down to Mill Park Stud with the Watson family.

“(Sian), Chris and Dr Hunt and all the staff down there looked after this horse meticulously well, but for almost 10 months he just couldn’t be cured. I twice got reports that he was doing very poorly. Twice I suggested… he doesn’t seem to be getting any better.

But the team at Mill Park encouraged Peacock to persist with the horse’s treatment and eventually, he turned a corner.

“I have to thank Chris Watson, Mill Park and everybody associated with them and Dr Hunt for this horse being alive,” Peacock said, adding: “We’re just very luck with this fellow, he’s obviously got a fighting spirit.”

Turning down offers

With the fighting spirit plain to see in his races, and as a horse with everything before him, it should come as no surprise that Peacock has been in receipt of a number of offers for Berkeley Square.

But, at 76 years old, Peacock’s entertaining nobody, resolute that he will enjoy whatever is in store for the latest product of a years-long passion of his.

“I’m 76, we’ve been lucky enough to have four really, really good horses in our lifetime, and I just think in my last remaining years let’s try one last time to have another good one.”

“The first really good one was a very small filly by Euclase called Be Discreet. She won seven of eight juvenile starts, including the (Listed) William Crocket (S.). She was co-equal Australasian Champion of her year.”

That filly was trained by Russell Cameron, whose subsequent move to Melbourne led to the formation of Peacock’s association with O’Sullivan.

“Then, as luck would have it… Dan O’Sullivan came from Melbourne to Adelaide, and I was introduced to him,” Peacock recalled.

Not long after they’d met, one of Peacock’s friends rang him and encouraged him to get involved with a horse in training.

“He said Dan O’Sullivan’s got a horse here and he thinks its Listed quality. In my cheeky, rude way I said: ‘What would Dan O’Sullivan know?"

That filly was So Gorgeous (Brief Truce {USA}), a dual Group 2 winner of both the Edward Manifold S. and the VAJC Tranquil Star S. – and the horse which cemented the association between breeder and trainer which is still going strong now.

More to look forward to

With Berkeley Square now with a set path to the G1 Caulfield Guineas via the Listed Exford Plate at Flemington next month, there may well be more success to follow in the family.

Inspired by a song from Australian pop quartet The Seekers, Peacock has named Berkeley Square’s 2-year-old half-sister Another You (Frosted {USA}).

“She’s a beauty. Dan’s going to train her as well, but she hurt herself a fraction… but we’re confident she’s a very lovely filly.”

Cover image courtesy of Noorilim Park

The Arcadia-based nursery, which is continuing to grow in stature, has had an 18-month period to remember, with homebred progeny such as Miss Roseiano (Exceed And Excel) and Crystal Bound (Not A Single Doubt) making a mark on the racetrack and in turn upgrading the pages of their dams Special Lover (NZ) (Pins) and Crystalised (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), of which are owned by the Carricks.

Gallery: Noorilim-bred Group winners of the past 18 months

This season Noorilim are due to foal down a farm record of 160 mares, up from 109 last year, with roughly 145 of these client-owned or arriving from outside operations.

“The team did a great job last year and it has grown off the back of that; I think other farms and clients now have great trust in us,” Noorilim Park's Business Manager Glen Carrick told TDN AusNZ.

“Everyone, including our Operations Manager Chris Kent and his 2IC in Brenna Murphy, are continuing to step it up and it’s a good team effort to ensure we can get the job done."

Despite recent pedigree updates bolstering the Carricks' current broodmare band, they aren’t willing to rest on their laurels.

“We’re always looking to increase the quality of our broodmare band, but it is tough to get the ones you want these days with the strength of the market,” Carrick said.

“However, you have to keep turning them over, which is why we are constantly looking at all the sales and if we can secure one for the right price we won’t hesitate in doing so.”

Planning matings isn’t a one-size-fits-all process, with farms, agents and owners alike taking various and sometimes polar-opposite approaches when tasked with the important decision.

And for Noorilim pedigree isn’t the be-all and end-all, with the Carricks preferring to mate their mares on type.

“It’s probably more to do with size and type when we try and match our mares up with the right stallion,” Carrick said.

“We do a bit with Suman Hedge, Chris (Kent) and also work off what crosses have worked well previously with the particular mare and family, along with ensuring the mating has strong commercial appeal.”

Crystal clear

While Crystalised, a $1.3 million 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase, didn’t justify her price-tag on the racetrack she has since repaid the Carricks as a broodmare, with her stakes-winning daughter Crystal Bound, a $400,000 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Ciaron Maher Racing, realising $1.05 million to the bid of Tom Magnier at this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

With Crystalised having proved herself in the breeding barn it was an easy decision for the Carricks and Crystal Bound's managing part-owner Campbell Stott to cash in during a period of market prosperity.

The buoyant bloodstock scene also proved a major factor in selling her half-sister Crystal Dynasty (Tavistock {NZ}) via July’s Inglis Digital Sale.

Crystal Dynasty, a winner of two career starts, netted the Carricks and Stott a $200,000 payday after selling to Dean Harvey's Yevrah Investments.

“We just thought with the market being so hot and having other fillies in the family that it was a good time to move her on, and it was a great result getting over a million for her,” Carrick said.

Crystalised, who is currently in foal to Coolmore's King’s Legacy, a son of Redoute’s Choice, will be covered by Newgate Farm’s debut stallion Stay Inside this season.

It is a mating that works from both a physical and pedigree perspective, according to Carrick, and enhanced by Stay Inside’s commercial appeal.

“We’re sticking to that Not A Single Doubt line, which worked with Crystal Bound, and Stay Inside is a good size for her as she’s (Crystalised) a big girl,” Carrick said.

“We need that early, precocious stallion to mate with her every year and with Stay Inside being a first-season sire that resultant progeny is sure to sell well.”

Crystalised, who placed fourth in the G3 South Australia Fillies' Classic, is a half-sister to the G1 South Australian Derby and G1 Schweppes Oaks heroine Zarita (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).

G2 Avondale JC Concorde H. winner Run Like The Wind (NZ) (Pins) and the four-time Group 1-placed sprinter Joy And Fun (NZ) (Cullen) also feature in the first generation of this family.

Another Special mating

The Listed-placed Special Lover, a NZ$160,000 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale purchase by the Carricks, has started her broodmare career off with a bang having produced recent Saturday city winner Easy Single (Not A Single Doubt) and G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) winner Miss Roseiano (Exceed And Excel) from her first two foalings.

Special Lover currently has an ‘impressive’ I Am Invincible yearling on the ground and will return to Yarraman Park’s Champion stallion this upcoming season.

“Her filly by I Am Invincible currently on the ground is a very impressive type and is definitely the best yearling on our farm, she will be heading to the sales next year,” Carrick said.

“So, we are going off what we have previously seen and it warrants going back to I Am Invincible.”

Out of the unraced Zabeel (NZ) mare Special Diamond (NZ), Special Lover is a half-sister to the stakes-placed True Excelsior (Exceed And Excel), Diamond Valores (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Heart Of The Ocean (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).

A Revolution

Alasaayel (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) is another Carrick-owned mare who has benefited from a pedigree upgrade this year, with the daughter of the three-time Group 3-placed Bulbula (Shamardal {USA}) a half-sister to impressive Flemington debut winner and current G1 Coolmore Stud S. favourite Doull (Snitzel).

She is also a half-sister to G3 Ottawa S. heroine Aryaaf (Epaulette) while her dam Bulbula is a half-sister to G3 Thoroughbred Breeders' S. winner Khulaasa (Epaulette).

Alasaayel is currently in foal to young Darley stallion Bivouac and is destined for a date with Newgate Farm’s Champion First Season Sire Russian Revolution.

Carrick describes Alasaayel as a ‘nice and neat’ mare, who is sure to leave a lovely sales horse.

“We’re banking on Doull having a big spring and one of the main reasons behind this mating was to get that cross, with Russian Revolution being by Snitzel,” Carrick said.

“The stallion couldn’t have started his career off on a better note and he will always be liked in Australia as he gets that early, commercial type of yearling which stand up at the sales.”

Solid supporting cast

While Crystalised, Special Lover and Alasaayel are the stars of the show there is also a strong supporting cast which make up the remainder of the Carricks' broodmare band.

Young Dundeel (NZ) mare Lankan Gold, who they purchased in foal to Maurice (Jpn) via April’s Inglis Digital (Late) Sale from the Arrowfield Unreserved Auction for $135,000, is likely to be covered by Russian Revolution.

“Lankan Gold is a lovely mare and we are patiently waiting to see what she can produce, with Maurice having just been crowned Champion Second Season Sire,” Carrick said.

“Being from the same family as Lankan Rupee we tried to find the best match with a Redoute’s Choice-line stallion and Russian Revolution certainly fits that mould.”

The unraced Lankan Gold is a half-sister to Listed Levin Ryder S. winner Manhattan Street (Manhattan Rain) and the Listed Macau Gold Cup-placed Classic Jade (Manhattan Rain).

Her G3 MVRC Champagne S.-winning grandam Estelle Collection (Stravinsky {USA}) is responsible for Mick Price’s five-time Group 1-winning sprinter Lankan Rupee (Redoute's Choice).

Robert and Luke Price’s G2 Victory S.-winning, Golden Eagle runner-up Count De Rupee (Real Impact {Jpn}) also features in the second generation of Lankan Gold’s pedigree.

Ready to Rock

Despite having her career cut short after two starts the well-bred Rock The Sea (NZ) (Fastnet Rock), who they purchased for $680,000 in unison with Ciaron Maher Bloodstock, will still be given every possible chance to succeed at stud.

Currently empty after missing last season, Rock The Sea will be covered by Swettenham Stud's marquee stallion Toronado (Ire) this year.

Her first foal, a yearling filly by Written Tycoon, is destined for sale next season.

“Rock The Sea is very well-bred being from the same family as outstanding broodmare Hips Don’t Lie,” Carrick said.

“While it was disappointing that she missed last season, her Written Tycoon filly is a lovely sort and she will get every possible chance this time around by going to a high-class stallion in Toronado.”

Rock The Sea is a half-sister to Group 3-winning Darci Brahma (NZ) mare No More Tears (NZ) and the Listed Valley Pearl S.-placed Pioneer River (Snitzel).

Her dam Ocean Of Tears (NZ) (Minardi {USA}) is a half-sister to G2 Reisling S. heroine Hips Don’t Lie (Stravinsky {USA}), who herself is responsible for the G1 Golden Slipper S. and G1 Blue Diamond S-placed Lake Geneva (Fastnet Rock) and R. Listed Inglis Nursery hero turned Coolmore stallion Acrobat.

Dual Group 2-winning sprinter Splintex, who will cover his first book of mares at Darling View Thoroughbreds this upcoming season, also features in the second generation of this family.

Table: Some of the matings Noorilim Park 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

The Magic Millions sales company is, along with Inglis and New Zealand Bloodstock, one of Australasia’s ‘big three’ auction houses. As a new racing and breeding season dawned in August of 1997, it had been flirting with oblivion for almost the entirety of its first decade in existence.

The force of nature that was Carl Waugh and the precocious brilliance of inaugural Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Snippets had provided both proof of concept and competitive edge. However, as the world markets and Australasian bloodstock suffered catastrophic downturns at the end of the 80s, the company changed hands several times and teetered on the edge of insolvency.

David Chester was a fixture with the Queensland-based business from the early days and remembers the parlous state the company was in as the autumn carnival of 1997 played out.

“I was down in Sydney, at the sale there, and I ran into Gerry (Harvey),” he explained.

“Gerry had been selling horses here since the 1980s and he said: ‘How’s Magic Millions going?’ And I said: “Oh, they want to sell it’, and he said: ‘What do they want?’…”

History shows that Harvey acquired the sales company and brought in two great friends as partners, John Singleton and Rob Ferguson. The podcast explores the circumstances of the acquisition, but also the ramifications; not just on the now iconic company, but on Australian breeding and racing, particularly racing in the sunshine state.

Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell believes the result has been almost magical.

"You would never find three more unique, but spectacularly successful individuals, combine in an interesting marriage,” he contends.

“(It) probably felt like the start-up that was starting to fade, and these three gentlemen coming in… have really energised and delivered. It’s like this secret sauce or magic potion that occurs every January.”

The podcast features reflections from several industry figures on the changes that were introduced and the influence of personalities that make up the third pillar of a powerful triumvirate of bloodstock auction companies.

The heirs to the thrones ascend

Season 1997/98 was also the season that a son of an Australian racing icon achieved what his father never had.

David Hayes had left Australia for Hong Kong in 1996, after a short tenure in charge of Lindsay Park, which had netted three of Australia’s four ‘majors’, several premierships and a Japan Cup. It was Better Loosen Up’s win in the latter that had started him on the road to a more permanent stay at Sha Tin.

“After (the) Japan Cup with Better Loosen Up, I went straight to Hong Kong and I had a horse for Alan Bell called Crackenback,” Hayes explained.

“And I just looked at the scene here and thought, ‘Wow, this is fantastic’ with the living on the track, racing two days a week, and then I went back with Fraar… and when I came back from the trip, I told my father that I wouldn’t mind having a stint in Hong Kong, and he couldn’t believe (it). I’d just had the massive (Victoria) Derby Day and won the Melbourne Cup and I wanted to move.”

The senior Hayes eventually gave his blessing, but nobody, least of all David, thought he’d reach the top of the pile in Hong Kong only 18 months after arriving.

“It was a little bit ahead of schedule, but I got great support and I was young, enthusiastic and I was able to win.”

A former Hayes trainee was also able to win maiden premierships in 1997/98. His name was Zabeel (NZ).

A mighty season

A glamorous entire, Zabeel had made the transitions from blue blooded foal to blue chip yearling to blue riband racehorse with aplomb, but a few breeders were singing the blues with his early crops as a stallion.

“There were two farms that got out of Zabeel,” revealed Marcus Corban, a longtime stalwart at Sir Patrick Hogan’s Cambridge Stud.

“Everyone sort of thought, he was (only) Octagonal… and just remember, a lot of trainers didn’t like his fillies, they thought they were high strung.”

Joe Walls has similar memories.

“I distinctly recall there was nervousness among people who were going to sell Zabeels… because they had got a bit of a reputation for being a bit hot.”

By the January of 1998, the only thing hot about the Zabeels was the demand for them at sales. You see, the spring of 1997 was the spring of Might And Power (NZ).

One of the greatest examples of a horse’s name defining its running style in living memory, Might And Power pulverised his opposition in a G1 Caulfield Cup rout that is still considered the gold standard in demoralising dominance.

He then lead doggedly from pillar to post in a G1 Melbourne Cup, adding courage to a CV listing raw, sustained speed as a core skill.

Breeders recognised that Zabeel was a stallion that would be defined by repeated excellence and not just through his unions with super mare Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}). Two previous matings between Zabeel and the flashy brown mare had yielded champion brothers Octagonal (NZ) and Mouawad (NZ) and the podcast covers the sale of their final product at the 1998 Karaka Sale, along with the historic efforts of Zabeel’s exceptional crop of 3-year-olds that season.