Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
In today's Q & A, we feature a quick-fire round with Jon Freyer, bloodstock manager at Arrowfield Stud.
Favourite moment - racing, sales or breeding-related - for the 2022/23 season?
Jon Freyer: Selling our top-priced yearling of the year, a Snitzel colt at Inglis Easter who is the first foal of a lovely mare, Ms Bad Behavior ($1.5 million to Tom Magnier). We stretched to purchase her at Fasig-Tipton in 2019 (US$600,000).
Which sire do you consider a value sire? Fee <$50k and not a first-season sire.
JF: I think Supido is a definite overachiever. An analysis of his early books indicates he has so far exceeded expectations. A fast horse from a stallion family, I expect his fee will continue to rise.
Supido | Standing at Widden Stud
What young sire (less than three crops) do you think will one day be Champion Sire?
JF: It’s early doors but we are confident The Autumn Sun will emerge as a truly top-class stallion capable of providing the complete spectrum of performers, right through to the Classics.
Which yearling purchase in 2023 are you most excited about?
JF: We purchased the top lot at Inglis Easter, a filly by The Autumn Sun from Via Africa. She is quite a special filly, and we hold high hopes for her next year.
The Autumn Sun x Via Africa filly which Arrowfield purchased for $1.8 million at this year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale | Image courtesy of Inglis
What, if any, is your greatest current-industry concern?
JF: Racing is primarily funded by gambling and worldwide there is a growing and powerful anti-gambling lobby.
Name an emerging human talent in the industry, and say why?
JF: Adrian Bott has already emerged as a champion trainer in waiting. Well-trained and training well!
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
If you had $10 million to invest in an industry initiative, what would it be and why?
JF: I think racing needs to know a great deal more about those it interacts with – participants, punters, customers, fans and opponents. A better understanding of these groups will help us continue to improve everything we offer and, more importantly, make it sustainable in the long term. Data collection is the key.
