Q & A with Sheamus Mills

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

In today's Q & A, we feature a quick-fire round with Sheamus Mills, owner of Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA).

Favourite moment - racing, sales or breeding related - for the 2022/23 season?

Sheamus Mills: Getting a running double on Oaks Day with Charm Stone and Roots was pretty memorable. My 9-year-old son came to the races with me and he’s been hooked ever since, so it’s a day I won’t forget any time soon.

Which sire do you consider a value sire? Fee <$50k and not a first-season sire.

SM: Dead heat between two Queenslanders – Better Than Ready and Spirit Of Boom. With their records, both would be standing for a lot more if based in the Hunter Valley.

What young sire (less than three crops) do you think will one day be Champion Sire?

SM: If we are talking three crops of foals or less then I’ll go with Justify. If it’s three crops or less of racing age, I’ll throw a dart at Russian Revolution.

Which yearling purchase in 2023 are you most excited about?

SM: The Zoustar x Fuddle Dee Duddle filly ($1,450,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling from Longwood Thoroughbred Farm) has shown the most so far. Physically, I love how the Zoustar x Members Joy filly ($1,100,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling from Newhaven Park) is developing.

What, if any, is your greatest current-industry concern?

SM: It was and always has been welfare, but I think the lack of industry co-operation between states has now become the biggest threat to the industry thriving unfortunately.

Name an emerging human talent in the industry, and say why?

SM: Michael Kent Jnr. Taken to the responsibility of a big stable with quality horses like a duck to water.

If you had $10 million to invest in an industry initiative, what would it be and why?

SM: I’ll give $5 million each to Racing NSW and Racing VIC but only if they agree to be locked in a room until we reach some sensible solutions on the bulk of issues we are facing.