Olivia Hamood: A life in the saddle

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Olivia Hamood has been in the saddle since the age of three. At nine years old she made her show jumping debut. By 12 years old she was making history, when she won the Junior Grand Prix at the Brisbane Ekka in 2004, making her the youngest rider ever to win this event. The horse that carried her to this success was the Woodlands- bred Torchbearer (Salieri {USA}).

Some could say Hamood was destined for a life in the saddle. Hamood’s family is immersed in the equestrian world. Her mother is the well-known Australian showjumper Paula Hamood, while her father David Hamood was for many years involved in the thoroughbred racing industry.

Torchbearer was originally one of Hamood’s mother, Paula’s previous World Cup horses. Torchbearer would also carry Hamood to victory in the prestigious Elysian Fields Junior Grand Prix in 2006.

The early exposure to the thoroughbred breed made Hamood realise there is a life after racing for these horses. Since she left school Hamood has been acquiring thoroughbreds, re-educating them and taking them to events where many have found homes.

“To be honest I can’t recall how many (thoroughbreds) I have rehomed, but I was picking them up cheaply or for free and I put the work into them. They are wonderful horses; they have super temperaments and are extremely athletic.”

Hamood, now 29, has accomplished much in the show jumping world, a world she admits is vastly different to that of the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry. The one thing the two worlds share is the love for the horse.

In 2022 Hamood achieved the Senior Championship title at the Australian Jumping Championships. Although a lot of her professional career has been centred around show jumping, Hamood does have a keen interest in the racing world, something fostered by her father David.

“Dad and his family used to own Glen Haven Stud in Birdwood, South Australia, and in its prime would foal down over 150 thoroughbred mares and we stood stallions. Dad was always interested in pedigrees.

“However, when we moved to Queensland in 2002, Dad got out of thoroughbreds, and somehow, I have found my way back to them.”

A new chapter

In 2021, Hamood shared that she was looking for something else to do and found herself scrolling through the catalogue of the Inglis Digital June Sale.

She came across the 7-year-old mare Care To Elaborate (Rubick). The daughter of now Swettenham-based sire Rubick was unraced and had changed many hands in her young life to date. Care To Elaborate is a half-sister to Voilier (Beneteau) a smart 2-year-old who was placed in the G2 Silver Slippers S. and as a 3-year-old was placed in the G2 Up and Coming S.

“She was a lovely big-framed mare. She would be 16.2 or 3 (hands high). Her pedigree wasn’t offensive; she never really had any bad marks against her name.”

When the bidding came to an end, Hamood was now the owner of Care To Elaborate for just $5500.

The mare had already produced a filly by The Mission, named Witheren Lass, who was sold at the 2022 Magic Millions Capricornia Yearling Sale for $20,000 to the Sunshine Coast trainer Tom Button.

Under the ownership of Hamood, she chose to send the mare to the first-season sire Dubious, who was standing at Aquis Farm in Canungra, Queensland.

Dubious, a son of Not A Single Doubt, was the fastest-ever winner of the G3 Breeders’ Plate over 1000 metres achieving a time of 56.45s, quicker than previous winners Capitalist, Vancouver, Pierro, Sebring, Snitzel and Choisir.

Dubious also won at Group 2 level before the conclusion of his career.

Why Dubious?

When asked why she chose Dubious she said: “I heard around the place that he was a promising young stallion. It sounded like he was going to be popular. The fact that he was a first-season sire attracted me to him.”

Care To Elaborate foaled the resultant progeny on October 2 from that mating, a bay colt.

“My dad and myself foaled him down.”

The foal would grow into a handsome colt and the decision was made to sell him at the 2023 Magic Millions March Yearling Sale, or commonly referred to as the QTIS Sale.

“I weaned him and prepared him for the sale. We did everything with him, all the education early days.”

Sale time

The bay colt by Dubious from Care To Elaborate would be known as Lot 295 and consigned through the draft Waylon J Stud.

“I work for Waylon J at the sales, so it we just put him through their draft.”

So, what was the expectations for this good-looking son of Dubious come sale-time.

“I honestly would have been happy if he made $40,000. When we started to get a lot of foot traffic, I thought well, maybe I might get $60,000.”

The final price far exceeded those estimations.

He was knocked down for $170,000 to Queensland’s leading trainer Tony Gollan and the renowned Bloodstock agent John Foote of John Foote bloodstock (FBAA).

“I could never have expected or even imagined that he would be near the top lots, let alone be the sale-topper. It was very surreal.”

Meanwhile, Care To Elaborate is in foal to another Aquis-based sire in Jonker. A fast, good-looking and durable son of Spirit Of Boom.

“I have yet to lock in a sire for next season, but it is very much on the cards she (Care To Elaborate) could go back to Dubious,” said Hamood.

Hamood admits she hopes this is the start of something big, “I very much enjoy breeding, it’s a change to my show jumping business. I have two mares now and I hope I can continue to grow.”

Olivia Hamood herself and her family are all eagerly anticipating the next chapter for the bay son of Care To Elaborate.

As Hamood concludes the colt she bred and raised attracted the attention of the right judges and couldn’t be in any better hands.