In today's Q & A, we feature a quick-fire round with Thoroughbred Industry Careers' Chief Executive Officer, Lindy Maurice.
Favourite moment - racing, sales or breeding-related - for the 2022/23 season?
Lindy Maurice: Kathy O’Hara on Rediener to win the Epsom H. for Chris Waller and Charlie Duckworth. What a special moment for Kath and Charlie. I was sad to miss the ‘Duckenbury Arms’ that evening!
Also, seeing Damien Oliver running down from the jockey rooms so he didn't miss the Pony Race at The Valley was cool.
Which sire do you consider a value sire? Fee <$50k and not a first-season sire.
LM: For $33,000 (inc GST) this season, Harry Angel continues to showcase his ability in the Southern Hemisphere. Arkansaw Kid was impressive the Saturday before last and Tom Kitten from the 200 metres in the Spring Champion S. was eye-watering.
What young sire (less than three crops) do you think will one day be Champion Sire?
LM: The Autumn Sun. With a strong start producing several stakes winners from his first crop, and he seems to just have that look of a Champion Sire, the Inglis Easter sale-topper showing just how he can reproduce those looks and of course by the Champion of Champion Sires.
In terms of first-season sires, Alabama Express has really captured attention early with his first few runners, and in the photos I've seen of him, you could be mistaken in thinking that he is Redoute's, his head is so similar.
Which yearling purchase in 2023 are you most excited about?
LM: Shivermepink for the Waterhouse/Bott team. Purchased out of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and has been impressive in the early 2-year-old trials. Plus, Adrian and Gai are unstoppable right now.
Shivermepink as a yearling, purchased by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $520,000 at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Segenhoe Stud | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
What, if any, is your greatest current-industry concern?
LM: The impasse between NSW and Victoria.
In my opinion, on overarching matters like tackling animal welfare concerns, for example, we need to come together and operate strategically as 'one brand' with the single most important message amplified far and wide. The states are essentially the franchises of our brand and although I think competition between the states is good as it drives progress, it should never come between safeguarding those elements that affect the industry in its entirety.
When the vultures come for us, which we have seen in recent years, we need to be standing together, protecting ourselves as one, and most importantly future proofing ourselves for the next generation.
United we stand, divided we fall.
Name an emerging human talent in the industry and say why.
LM: Alex Sausville, who is currently on the Flying Start Program. I have had a few interactions with him and there is a lot about this young man that makes him stand out - if I could, I would employ him tomorrow. He has a great attitude and for me, that's number one.
Alex Sausville | Image courtesy of Godolphin Flying Start
If you had $10 million to invest in an industry initiative, what would it be and why?
LM: I would buy a property, set up a registered training organisation, and create an Australian Racing School, similar to that of the British Racing School, where people for all different roles could be educated properly. A racing school could also double up as a training facility for Pony Racing riders in school holidays, a home and purpose for retired racehorses as school and therapy horses etc. If we had a residential racing school taking people from all over the country, the list is endless on how we could educate people.
We need to set young people up to succeed, not fail.
And any money left over I would donate to Kick Up. I feel they are like TIC at the moment, taking on a mammoth task with very little funding and doing great work with what they have.
