Rapid Reflections with Russell Warwick

In today's instalment of 2022/2023 Rapid Reflections, we feature a quickfire round with Russell Warwick, general manager at Westbury Stud.

TDN AusNZ: Favourite racing moment of 2022?

Russell Warwick: Sharp ‘N’ Smart winning the G1 Spring Champion S. at Randwick, he’s a quality horse and has performed admirably on both of his visits to Australia.

TDN AusNZ: And favourite non-racing moment?

RW: Being able to catch up with friends and family again who have been unable to travel due to the COVID situation over the past two years.

TDN AusNZ: What are you most looking forward to in the 2023?

RW: We had a marvelous year in 2022 with three individual Group 1 winners emerging from the farm, the challenge now is to find the next elite performer in 2023!

TDN AusNZ: Which Westbury Magic Millions yearling are you most excited about?

RW: We have three yearlings by Tarzino and the colt from Eau De Parfum is a cracker. He is bred on the identical cross to Gypsy Goddess and he has made excellent progress in recent weeks.

TDN AusNZ: If you could be someone else in the industry for a day who would it be, and why?

RW: We have so many talented people in the thoroughbred business it is difficult to settle on just one. I really enjoy seeing horses ‘travel’ in a race and respond for a good rider. In a different lifetime I would love to have their skill.

The likes of Hugh Bowman, James McDonald and Jamie Kah are ‘poetry in motion’ to watch in a race, their positioning and understanding of the horses they ride, and the rhythm they have their mounts in, can only be admired - they are superb athletes.

TDN AusNZ: Who is your favourite racehorse of 2022?

RW: Close call between Hitotsu and Gypsy Goddess. Hitotsu did a remarkable job to win a G1 VRC Derby at 2500 metres, not race again for 126 days and win the G1 Australian Guineas at 1600 metres at his next start, and after a further gap of four weeks stepped up to 2400 metres and won the G1 ATC Derby!

While Gypsy Goddess went from a maiden to a G1 Queensland Oaks victory during the 2021/22 season and from her only start at four she has run a close third in the Golden Eagle… really looking forward to seeing her step out in the autumn.

TDN AusNZ: Who is your favourite stallion, and why?

RW: Tarzino, he was a super racehorse and has begun his stud career in superb fashion with a Classic-winning colt and filly from his first crop which is a rare feat. He replicates what New Zealand breeding has always done well – breeding Classic horses – and he looks an exciting prospect for the future.

TDN AusNZ: Which stallion do you believe is the best physical type?

RW: Tarzino again, physically he is a replica of his maternal grandsire Zabeel with size, length and a great head. He has the most amazing skin all year round with dapples throughout his coat and is a very easy horse to like.

TDN AusNZ: Who is the most underrated stallion in Australasia?

RW: There are probably a few in this group, but closer to home I believe Redwood and El Roca are horses punching well above their weight, they consistently have good winners at all distances, and as we saw with Sharp ‘N’ Smart this year, they are good enough to mix it with the best on offer.

TDN AusNZ: Who do you think will take out the 2023 first-season sire honours?

RW: I am a fan of The Autumn Sun. He was an amazing racehorse and it would be a surprise if he doesn’t develop into a top sire. He carries the blood of two outstanding sires in Redoute’s Choice and Galileo, and while his progeny are likely to develop into better 3-year-olds and beyond, he is sure to have good representation in the back half of the season.

TDN AusNZ: What was your best purchase in 2022?

RW: My wife and I purchased Group 1 winner Il Quello Veloce recently for a very modest amount. She comes from an outstanding family and was a horse the farm sold as a yearling who went on to become Champion 2-Year-Old of her year, and while her earlier foals have not been so flash on the track, she has left us a very nice filly by U S Navy Flag – we can only hope that dreams come true!

TDN AusNZ: Favourite binge-worthy television show?

RW: Probably Peaky Blinders, look forward to the next series!

TDN AusNZ: What's the best book you read in 2022?

RW: Steve Hansen – The Legacy.

TDN AusNZ: Name an emerging human talent in the industry and say why.

RW: We have many young people in the training ranks, jockeys, bloodstock agents, etc., but the person I see as an emerging talent is Magic Millions representative Dane Robinson. A pleasant, well-informed and well-respected person, Dane represents the company, vendors and purchasers with a high degree of professionalism.

TDN AusNZ: What do you consider the greatest sporting moment of 2022? (Not solely racing related).

RW: Keeping it in the racing world, the achievement by Kiwi-born jockey James McDonald to be crowned the World’s Leading Jockey takes a lot of beating!

TDN AusNZ: What has been your favourite post-COVID trip?

RW: Haven’t had too many but always good to get to Queensland for the sales and racing carnival in May/June.

TDN AusNZ: What positive change would you like to see in the industry in 2023?

RW: While competition is the nature of the business, we as participants should always have the best interests of the industry (as a whole) at heart. The stronger the industry, the better off all participants will be in the long term.

TDN AusNZ: What's your 2023 New Year's resolution?

RW: To get fitter!