Cover image courtesy of Ciaron Maher Racing
The TBV Victorian Breeding Awards celebrates the achievements and honours the participants and organisations that have succeeded in the 2022/23 season and have dedicated their lives to participating in the Victorian racing and breeding industry.
These participants and organisations also contribute to a more significant picture cause: the ongoing success of the Victorian breeding industry that continues to grow from strength to strength.
Arguably once viewed as a lesser sibling to the rich Hunter Valley-based studs and bloodstock, the arrival and investment of farms such as Yulong, Swettenham Stud, Rosemont Stud and Darley, to name a few, and the quality of stallions such as Written Tycoon, Shamus Award, Rubick and Brazen Beau standing in the state has swiftly seen attitudes change.
Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria's President James O’Brien said, “Saturday night is all about celebrating the incredible success of the Victorian breeding industry. I congratulate all the winners for their outstanding achievements. I can’t help but feel excited about what lies ahead in Victoria’s breeding future and the upcoming season.”
James O'Brien | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
At the stunning Marnong Estate, participants of the industry gathered to celebrate all 13 deserving winners of the awards.
It should not be understated that each achievement and winner were as important and deserving as the other. However, the five victories were particularly pleasing for Godolphin's Northwood Park, home to its Darley stallions who, on average, foal down less than 50 mares each season.
Jerezana stars
Firstly, Godolphin received the Champion Victorian Broodmare sponsored by Avenel Equine Hospital for the late Northwood Park-based mare Jerezana (Lonhro).
Jerezana, who passed away in 2019, was a Listed winner, but as a broodmare, she has proven the most outstanding producer. From six foals she is the dam of Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}), a Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter, and the talented Zapateo (Brazen Beau).
Remarkably and fittingly, the James Cummings-trained and Godolphin-owned Zapateo would join her dam on the 2022/23 honour roll at the TBV Victorian Breeding Awards when she received the Champion Victorian-Bred Racehorse of the Year sponsored by TAB.
Zapateo was born and raised at Northwood Park, as was the bonny Cummings-trained Exploring (Brazen Beau), the recipient of the Champion Victorian 2-Year-Old of the Year sponsored by Inglis.
Adding more Victorian flavour, Zapateo and Exploring are paternal sisters by the Darley, Northwood Park-based Brazen Beau. The son of I Am Invincible has proven a quality source of precocity and toughness for Victorian-based breeders.
While Godolphin also received the VOBIS Owner of the Year and VOBIS Nominator of the Year, Racing Victoria sponsors both awards.
Andy Makiv received the VOBIS Owner of the Year award on behalf of Godolphin Australia | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Godolphin have been strong supporters and benefactors of the rich VOBIS initiative on offer for Victorian-bred thoroughbreds.
Makiv believes in Beau
For Andy Makiv, Darley Head of Sales, the achievements by Northwood Park, Jerezana, Brazen Beau and his two daughters was the perfect way to recognise the hours and quality of care the team in Victoria put in each and every day.
“It was a great night (Saturday). We had a very good night winning plenty of awards, which is just fantastic for the farm (Northwood Park) and the team in Victoria,” Makiv told TTR AusNZ.
“Victoria is obviously a big industry, and a stable or company like Godolphin, we understand, is global. However within the Victorian ranks, Northwood Park foal down 30 or 40 mares per season, so to be winning these awards, Leading Nominator for VOBIS, Leading Owner for VOBIS, Champion Victorian-Bred 2-Year-Old (Exploring) and Champion Victorian Bred Racehorse (Zapateo) off relatively conservative base numbers, it’s a great feather in the cap for James Manning (stud manager, Northwood Park) and his team.
“Victoria is obviously a big industry, and a stable or company like Godolphin, we understand, is global. However within the Victorian ranks, Northwood Park foal down 30 or 40 mares per season... it’s a great feather in the cap for James Manning (stud manager, Northwood Park) and his team.” - Andy Makiv
“We are competing against big stables and operations in Victoria now, and the awards highlight the success and quality of the farm (Northwood Park) and the quality of systems we have there,” Makiv explained.
“We recognise Godolphin is a global brand, but just within Victoria, it’s not a massive operation but last night (Saturday) demonstrated it’s a very successful one.”
Makiv also pointed out the accomplishments of Brazen Beau as a sire, and not just as a provider of quality horses to the ‘blue army’ but to all breeders.
Brazen Beau | Standing at Darley
“I think Brazen Beau is a very good stallion. Exploring and Zapateo are the only stakes winners Godolphin has had by the horse,” Makiv said.
“Brazen Beau has largely done it without us (Godolphin). He’s had 24 stakes winners, or 15 in the Southern Hemisphere and two in the Godolphin system. So it highlights that Brazen Beau has done a great job without a lot of heavy lifting from Godolphin.
“Early doors we sent a lot of mares to Brazen Beau, but we didn’t get the pregnancies. But we have improved his fertility and changed things up and he’s a good horse to breed to now. Brazen Beau has extremely well again, considering his fertility early days,” he shared.
“Brazen Beau has largely done it without us (Godolphin). He’s had 24 stakes winners, or 15 in the Southern Hemisphere and two in the Godolphin system. So it highlights that Brazen Beau has done a great job without a lot of heavy lifting from Godolphin.” - Andy Makiv
“Now we have improved his fertility, as a result we’ve got big numbers coming through in terms of rising 2-year-olds, and weanlings about to be yearlings and mares in foal. I think the Brazen Beau story is going to rise dramatically on the back of the strength of the Godolphin broodmare band.
“I think Brazen Beau is a great stallion to get a 2-year-old. You know, I was just thinking the other day, he’s had top three finishes in races like the Karaka Millions, the Magic Millions, the Inglis Banner, the Inglis Nursery and the Inglis Millennium. Then he’s also been close in Silver Slippers, Blue Diamond Preludes, Golden Gifts and Merson Coopers; so, he’s a proper juvenile stallion, and the market should recognise that.”
Zapateo classy and consistent
Makiv also pinpointed that the progeny of Brazen Beau have a tendency to train on, a case in point being Zapateo.
“Zapateo is a great example of the consistency and toughness of the breed. She has been a great mare throughout her career, very consistent and very tough. Pretty Brazen was another who showed all those qualities. Brazen Beau he’s a great stallion to produce a racehorse, but I think his real story is his ability to produce a juvenile runner.”
Zapateo winning the G2 Sapphire S. | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Makiv explained the importance of Zapateo for the operation’s broodmare band. The daughter of Jerezana and Brazen Beau has won five stakes races, including the G2 Sapphire S. and has been Group 1 placed.
“Jerezana was a great producer, she had Osborne Bulls, who was top liner, and went close to $3 million in earnings. He was a good horse, but obviously a gelding, who is now proudly in the Godolphin Lifetime Care program,” Makiv told TTR AusNZ.
“But Zapateo is a female, so has the ability to carry on Jerezana’s name.”
Written Tycoon Champion Sire
Written Tycoon has been a vital horse for the Victorian breeding industry; the Champion Sire stands at the Victorian-based Yulong and heads a strong roster of up-and-coming talents and the future of the local scene.
The grand stallion's deeds were again recognised when he was awarded the Champion Victorian Sire sponsored by IRT.
Written Tycoon once again had a strong season across all racetracks in Australia. However, it would be hard to eclipse the deeds of his outstanding daughter Coolangatta, who claimed the G1 Moir S. and the G1 Lightning S. at two of Victoria’s premier tracks, Moonee Valley and Flemington.
With plenty of ammunition and well-bred juveniles to come through his following crops, the influence of Written Tycoon only looks to grow.
Sioux Nation (USA) only shuttled once to the Victorian-based Swettenham Stud in 2019, leaving only 39 foals. However, it appears to be an opportunity missed as the son of the hugely successful Scat Daddy (USA) sireline has proven successful. With 10 runners to hit Australian racetracks, he has sired six winners.
Among them was the Listed-placed Apache Song and the flying filly Shaddow Fear, while Archo Nacho looks like an outstanding prospect, as does Lakota Fire.
These deeds saw Sioux Nation crowned the Champion Victorian First Season Sire sponsored by IRT.
Sioux Nation (USA) was awarded Champion Victorian First Season Sire at the Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria awards on Saturday | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Super night for Rosemont Stud
Rounding out the breeding awards for the TBV-hosted ceremony was Rosemont Stud, benefactors of two awards.
The Gnarwarre-based stud has shown a strong dedication to the Victorian breeding industry, such as being involved in the Rosemont-Victorian Alliance and compiling a strong roster of stallions headed by Shamus Award and an equally strong broodmare band.
Rosemont Stud was awarded the Champion Victorian Breeder sponsored by TAB, while a product of their farm Fashion Legend (Deep Field) was crowned the Champion Victorian 3-Year-Old sponsored by Surewise.
Rosemont Stud-bred Fashion Legend was crowned Champion Victorian 3-Year-Old at the Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria Awards on Saturday | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Rosemont Stud were represented by 2-year-old stakes victress Legacies (Justify {USA}) and the Group 1 placegetters Pounding (Exceed And Excel) and North Star Lass (Zoustar).
Fashion Legend was a $260,000 yearling purchase by Bon Ho when offered by his breeder Rosemont Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The 3-year-old gelding is trained by Richard and Will Freedman and won the G3 Vo Rogue Plate and the rich Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
Peter Raftopoulos received the Leading Victorian Small Breeder sponsored by KER/Barastoc. Raftopoulos has bred the likes of Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner).
Other winners
The Racing Victoria sponsored Trainer of the Year went the way of the dominant Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable.
The Peter Moody-trained She Dances (Street Boss {USA}) won the VOBIS Horse of the Year sponsored by Racing Victoria.
The rising 4-year-old has won five of her 10 starts, including the $200,000 Paulele VOBIS Gold Dash at Sandown-Lakeside in April. The daughter of Street Boss (USA) was bred by O E & D R Pope Pty Ltd and was a $180,000 yearling purchase by John Foote Bloodstock from the draft of Blue Gum Farm at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Emma Todd was the recipient of the Rising Star sponsored by Stud Staff Support. Todd has been working at Burnewang since 2011, and has helped raise a number of stars from the property including the G1 Goodwood H. winner Lombardo (I Am Invincible).
Emma Todd, winner of the Rising Star Award at the Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria Awards on Saturday | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Rounding out the awards was the Service to the Industry sponsored by Inglis, which was awarded to Mike Becker.
Becker has been a mainstay of the Victorian breeding industry since 1992, founding The Independent Stallion Station. He has also provided contributions to Emirates Park Victoria Farm and establishing Stockwell Thoroughbreds.
The outstanding breeder Robert Crabtree of Dorrington Farm said a few words about Becker.
Mike Becker, recipient of the Service to the Industry honour at the Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria Awards on Saturday | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“Mike’s passion for our industry is only surpassed by a work ethic that hasn’t changed in the 40 years that I have known him, a real hands-on man. He cares for his horses like we all do and then finds an extra thought or action to contribute and that sets him apart. Mike Becker is the thoroughbred industry.”
