Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Some bloodstock agents have a special ability to find a hidden gem. Dean Hawthorne, who manages the breeding interests of Jonathan Munz’s GSA Bloodstock, and has been doing a lot of work for Lindsay Park across the past 12 months, is one of them.
On Saturday, the New Zealander’s shrewd 150,000gns (AU$291,000) investment in 2017 reaped the ultimate reward when the Chris Waller-trained Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) won the G1 Sires’ Produce S. at Randwick, becoming an incredibly valuable colt in the process.
Militarize (NZ) after winning the G1 Sires' Produce S. at Randwick | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Militarize is out of the Dubawi (Ire) mare Amerindia (GB). She raced just twice, placing on both occasions, before being consigned by Godolphin at the 2017 Tattersalls Mares Sale.
Although her race record obviously wasn’t anything to write home about, Amerindia boasts a lovely pedigree, being a daughter of Satwa Queen (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}) - a Group 1 scorer in France.
Amerindia is a half-sister to the Listed winner Important Time (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and she herself has thrown the G1 Saratoga Derby hero Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).
Josh Rix and Dean Hawthorne | Image courtesy of Inglis
Speaking to TDN AusNZ ahead of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Hawthorne said Saturday’s result was incredibly satisfying, and had it not been for a Heavy track, GSA Bloodstock may well have been celebrating two Group 1s.
“It was great - we nearly bred a big double - Giga Kick didn’t really let down in the ground,” Hawthorne said.
“It was a really good result to get that Group 1 with Militarize. The mare we bought in England… I went up there to find a nice Dubawi mare and managed to get her at reasonable value. To have her second foal be a Group 1 winner, it’s bloody fantastic.”
“It was a really good result to get that Group 1 with Militarize. The mare (Amerindia) we bought in England… I went up there to find a nice Dubawi mare and managed to get her at reasonable value. To have her second foal be a Group 1 winner, it’s bloody fantastic.” - Dean Hawthorne
Yulong’s dual hemisphere Group 1-winning stallion Lucky Vega (Ire) also hails from the same family and Amerindia, and Hawthorne said he was taken by her pedigree.
“She was a good type of Dubawi mare and good through the knees,” he said.
“Yeah, she’s out of a Group 1 winner, but a fast Group 1 winner over there, it wasn't a stout family. You’ve got to be careful you don’t bring too much long-distance blood down here. The Sata Queen family is very, very speedy.”
In 2019, Amerindia delivered her first foal - a colt by Pariah. Consigned by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, he was knocked down to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $250,000. Named Non Grata, the now-gelding ran third on debut at Geelong in March.
Amerindia (GB) with her Pariah foal, now named Non Grata, in 2019 | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The following season, Amerindia delivered another colt (Militarize), this time by Dundeel (NZ). He was offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/Trilogy Racing went to $550,000.
Hawthorne said the rationale behind sending Amerindia to Dundeel was largely based on a proven track record of success in the Northern Hemisphere.
“The Sadler’s Wells-Dubawi cross has been working well up north, so that was why we did it,” he said.
“The Sadler’s Wells-Dubawi cross has been working well up north (Northern Hemisphere), so that was why we did it (sent Amerindia to Dundeel).” - Dean Hawthorne
“And, it’s worked again.”
Amerindia’s third foal - a Super Seth colt - fetched $160,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was bought by Lindsay Park Racing and Lizzie Jelfs from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft.
A successful strategy
According to Hawthorne, GSA Bloodstock is always looking to improve the quality of its high-class broodmare band.
The business model includes the selling of all of the colts “within reason”.
“We have a commercial broodmare band and the aim with all of our colts at the moment is to sell all of them through the ring and that funds some fillies that we keep,” Hawthorne commented.
“That’s the way we do it; all of our colts go through the ring, within reason, and that’s working well.
“We’re running a commercial business, we’re in it to breed Group 1 winners, and we’re starting to do it, so it’s been really good.”
“We’re (GSA Bloodstock) running a commercial business, we’re in it to breed Group 1 winners, and we’re starting to do it, so it’s been really good.” - Dean Hawthorne
One of the exceptions is the reigning The Everest hero Giga Kick (Scissor Kick). He was bred by GSA Bloodstock and is closely related to the Group 1 winner Alabama Express, who stands at Yulong Stud.
Giga Kick wasn’t deemed worthy of inclusion at any of the top sales, so instead, he was given to fledgling trainer Clayton Douglas - the nephew of the Munz-owned Pinecliff Racing’s Rod Douglas.
Since that time, the 3-year-old has won two Group races, plus The Everest, for earnings north of $7.8 million.
The Everest hero Giga Kick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It’s a funny story, a 20-year-old mare with her 10th foal,” Hawthorne remarked.
“He only made the Hunter Sale and when that went to online we thought it was a waste of time, so we kept him, gave him to Clayton and trialled him, and the rest is history.
“You haven’t seen the best of him yet, he’s still maturing.
“He (Giga Kick) only made the Hunter Sale and when that (yearling sale) went to online we thought it was a waste of time, so we kept him, gave him to Clayton (Douglas) and trialled him, and the rest is history.” - Dean Hawthorne
“I was really proud of him yesterday, he tried his heart out.
“When he gets some good tracks, he’s going to be hard to beat, hopefully for the next few years, assuming he stays sound.”
Giga Kick is from Rekindled Applause (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) and she herself is out of grandson of Rekindled Affair (Ire) (Rainbow Quest {USA}).
“Many years ago, Jonathan brought down Rekindled Affair and her first daughter, which was Rekindled Applause; they all came down together. We haven’t got much of the Rekindled family left,” said Hawthorne.
When it come to the fillies, Munz has enjoyed feature race wins with horses including Shoals (Fastnet Rock), who was bred by GSA Bloodstock in partnership with Arrowfield Stud, and Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock), who Hawthorne bought for $500,000 from the Cressfield consignment at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Gallery: Some of GSA Bloodstock's Group-winning mares, images courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Shoals - a triple Group 1 victress - has a Written Tycoon colt (Lot 357) - in this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and he will be offered by Arrowfield Stud.
Passive Aggressive - a sister to the Group 3 winner Missrock - is already a black-type winner, having won both the G2 Challenge S. and Listed Creswick S.
“It’s been an amazing five years or so… we’ve had horses like Shoals going around in our colours,” said Hawthorne.
“You just shake your head sometimes and wonder how it happens.”
“It’s been an amazing five years or so (for GSA Bloodstock)… we’ve had horses like Shoals going around in our colours. You just shake your head sometimes and wonder how it happens.” - Dean Hawthorne
Hawthorne helps Hayeses
Pinecliff Racing isn’t the only group to benefit from Hawthorne’s expertise, with the revamped Lindsay Park team of Ben and JD Hayes celebrating Group 1 glory after acquiring the Kiwi’s services some 12 months ago.
Hawthorne was pivotal in sourcing classy colts Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA}) and Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}) for Team Hayes. The former is now a Group 1 winner, having taken out this year’s G1 Blue Diamond S., and the latter running third in the juvenile feature.
“I’ve been working with them for about 12 months now and we’ve had an amazing run with our 2-year-olds,” said Hawthorne.
“I’ve been working with them (Lindsay Park) for about 12 months now and we’ve had an amazing run with our 2-year-olds.” - Dean Hawthorne
“We had two runners in the Slipper and we’re operating on a very limited budget; both colts cost less than $200,000.
“The boys approached me a couple of years back to help out and then there was a restructure when Tom (Dabernig) left; they asked me to stay on and do their yearling work for the season for them. I worked very, very well with Dave McKellar, the vet, and he's a huge part of the operation, he’s a wonderful vet.
“It’s been quite phenomenal, really.”
Gallery: The classy colts Dean Hawthorne sourced for the Lindsay Park team
The 2023 Easter Sale
Given he wears multiple hats, Hawthorne has been understandably busy in the lead-up to the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, which gets underway on Monday.
Regarding Lindsay Park’s involvement, Hawthorne said: “I don’t know how active the (Hayes) boys will be. I’ve done my job, my job is to shortlist for them and guide them into that shortlist, then they decide what they're going to do and how they're going to do it. I just make sure that we have the right horses getting put in front of potential buyers.”
And whether Munz buys at the sale, remains to be seen, according to Hawthorne.
Jonathan Munz | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s away in America; he’ll let me know. The work’s been done in case he does want to buy,” he said.
This year has seen a clear market correction across all major sales, with all of the key metrics pretty-much down across the board. Munz isn’t sure whether that trend will continue over the next two days at Riverside Stables.
“It’s a typical Easter Sale, there’s some lovely horses with pedigrees to match,” said Hawthorne.
“It’s a typical (Inglis) Easter Sale, there’s some lovely horses with pedigrees to match.” - Dean Hawthorne
“There’s some beautiful horses here, you’ve just got to find the cheque book to buy them.
“I don't think the market correction at the top end will continue, I think it will be business as usual, but I do think there will be a bit of a correction at the bottom end.
“The Easter Sale is a different kettle of fish. The residual value is a big thing (at Easter).”
