‘If I was a trainer, I’d be very happy to train any one of them’ Glenbeigh Farm focus on quality for Easter debut

Cover image courtesy of Glenbeigh Farm

In January 2023, Denis Griffin and Kerry Stephens entered the yearling sale arena with their debut draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where they successfully sold 11 yearlings, with two of them already claiming victories on the racetrack.

Returning to the Gold Coast this year, Glenbeigh Farm presented 12 lots at the sale, achieving a top price of $370,000 for a colt by Wootton Bassett (GB).

This upcoming Sunday, Glenbeigh Farm is set to debut at the prestigious Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, showcasing three yearlings. This event marks a significant milestone for their new venture.

In anticipation of the 2024 edition of the sale, The Thoroughbred Report recently interviewed Stephens to discuss their journey and expectations for the forthcoming auction.

Hot start

Griffin and Stephens have earned widespread respect within the industry having contributed significantly as key personnel at major farms across the globe. Griffin, originally from Ireland, enriched his expertise through roles with The Aga Khan Studs, Ballylinch Stud as well as long-time yearling manager at Arrowfield Stud, and a three-year tenure at Vinery.

Conversely, Stephens, a native of Cornwall in South West England, began her career with David Redvers at Tweenhills Stud. What was initially intended as a brief six-month trip to Australia evolved into a 12-year commitment at Arrowfield Stud. There, she ascended to the position of operations manager at this prestigious nursery.

Drawing from their extensive experience and exposure, Griffin and Stephens were inspired to launch their own boutique operation, demonstrating confidence in their capabilities and vision for Glenbeigh Farm they have invested monetarily and much of their time into upgrading the property.

“Since 2022 we’re built two barns on the property. A new barn for the yearlings and the other is a mare and foal barn. We’ve re-fenced all the yearling yards but are in the process of re-fencing the paddocks and the mare and foal yards.

“We were lucky when we bought the property that there was infrastructure here but it was tired and needed a facelift. At the time it did the job but we were really lucky to have a really good first year that gave us the opportunity to re-invest into the farm and get it up to scratch.”

For Glenbeigh Farm the results in the sale ring have been pleasing but even more importantly it is starting to trickle into racetrack success. Only a handful of Glenbeigh Farm’s debut draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale have raced but two 2-year-old winners have emerged.

Lot 146 a daughter of All Too Hard from the Charge Forward mare Moonchild was purchased by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) for $160,000. Named Dream Of The Moon she won at Riccarton Park and finished third in the G2 Wakefield Challenge S.

Meanwhile closer to home, Lot 674 a colt by Rubick out of Bonito (I Am Invincible) made $200,000 to the bid Dalziel Bloodstock and Moody Racing. Now named Skipjack, the colt was an impressive 2l winner at Ballarat on debut in late March.

“For our debut we took 11 yearlings to the Gold Coast in January. We had 10 in the main session and out of those eleven two have already won.

“The Rubick colt (Skipjack) won and debut and the All Too Hard filly (Dream Of The Moon) won in New Zealand and has already been Group 2-placed.

“So that’s been really exciting for Dennis and I.”

Heading into their Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale debut, Stephens concedes there are some nerves. However, drawing on her experience and pressure of working for Arrowfield Stud that typically have some of the largest drafts entered at the sale, she hints there is also plenty of excitement and anticipation ahead of Sunday.

“There are some nerves. There always is. I worked for Arrowfield Stud for a number of years, as did Dennis, alongside spending three years at Vinery. So you have these big drafts at those farms and it’s a lot of pressure but it’s good pressure.

“We’re fortunate we have both been exposed to this scenario before and experienced those big drafts. You kind of learn to handle the pressure and manage it.

“Dennis and I are really excited to be there and we’re incredibly happy with the three or the trio that we’re presenting. They are three lovely yearlings so hopefully they do well.”

Preparing for life on the track

With a lifetime dedicated to horses and professional careers focused on preparing and educating young horses for racing, Griffin and Stephens have leveraged their foundational experience to shape the model of Glenbeigh Farm.

Stephens provided some insight into how they prepare their yearlings for sales, “We’re really big on nutrition and exercise for the young horses.

“One of the things that drew us to this property is that it’s got a really good hill but you’ve also got flat paddocks. One of things we have learned over the years is that if you have young horses on a hill you can help build up bone density.

“The nutritional side is equally as important. You want to be watching their weight, making sure they’re not fat and they have a healthy body score. We can tailor the preparation to the individual needs of the yearling.

“Some yearlings need lunging, others need more hand-walking. You just learn the needs of the individual horse and you adapt to serve that.

“Our main goal is we don’t want to be a big farm. We want Glenbeigh Farm to be boutique and Dennis and I want to be hands on. We want to be involved every step of the way with the horse’s preparation. It doesn’t end when the horse is sold because to see those two yearlings now our first graduates become winners was so fulfilling.

“Once the hammer goes down we want to be able to see the results on track. Dennis and I both think that’s incredibly important.”

The trio!

Glenbeigh Farm has the distinction of offering the only progeny of Ballylinch Stud’s New Bay (GB) at the 2024 Inglis Australian Yearling Sale. The colt catalogued as Lot 160 is from the Mozart (Ire) mare Modeeroch (Ire).

She was a talented performer on the track. Winning four races, including the Listed Tyros S. Modeeroch was placed in the G3 Debutante S. at the Curragh and fourth in the G1 Cheveley Park S.

At stud she has proven equally adept with her four foals to race, all winners. Modeeroch’s best performer to date has been Moteo (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), a winner and multiple Group 3 placegetter in Ireland.

The colt’s sire, New Bay, a son of the great Dubawi (Ire) was a class runner, winning the G1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby). Since his retirement to Ballylinch Stud in Ireland he is responsible for 13 stakes winners worldwide.

From limited exposure in Australia, New Bay has had seven runners for four individual winners of nine races. Additionally, he has been represented by two stakes-performed runners and one stakes winner.

New Mandate (Ire) trained by Chris Waller won the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup and the Listed Hawkesbury RC Ladies Day Cup. Meanwhile, New Energy (Ire) was placed in the G3 Liverpool City Cup.

“The colt (Lot 160) came to Australia from Ballylinch Stud in Ireland. He’s a son of New Bay, who is a son of Dubawi and from the family of Kingman. There is no indication to suggest New Bay shouldn’t work in Australia. The family has Kingman, who has been successful in the Southern Hemisphere siring Group 1 winners such as King Colorado (G1 JJ Atkins) and Zardozi (G1 VRC Oaks).

“There are a handful of New Bays in Australia. Ciaron Maher has quite a handy one in New Energy and Chris Waller trains his Group 3-winning son New Mandate.

“There are a few others as well that look promising. They’re all with good trainers, and being a son of Dubawi, whose sons like Too Darn Hot has made an incredible start in Australia, I think New Bay is well-placed to succeed.

“The colt physically just looks really fast. Despite being a younger foal, he is a very forward-looking type. He’s got good size about him and just looks like a runner, which is great and will suit Australia, I believe.”

The final two of the trio take on a more colonial angle being by the homegrown stallions Zoustar and Capitalist.

Lot 225, the sole filly of the three, is a daughter of Widden Stud’s sensational Zoustar. The filly is the fourth foal from the Sepoy mare Princess Wildfire.

Princess Wildfire is a dam of the noted producer, Leone Chiara (Lion Hunter). She won seven races, including the G3 SAJC RN Irwin S. but found fame as the dam of the Australia Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Star Witness, a victor of the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and G1 Blue Diamond.

Furthermore, Leone Chiara is also the dam of Group 3 winner Nostradamus and the Listed-winning Embracer (Sebring) alongside the Group 1-placed Lady Lupino (Sebring).

“The Zoustar (Lot 225) is a lovely, strong filly. She’s got great substance, incredible moving filly. When you’re leading she really powers along next to you.

“She's got a massive walk on her and a beautiful temperament - the best temperament. Obviously, being the only filly in the draft a lot of things she’s had to do on her own and it’s never phased her.

“The feed bin is always empty and she’s just never been a bother with her at all. So she has a really good mental constitution.”

Rounding out the Glenbeigh Farm draft is Lot 300, a son of Newgate Farm’s G1 Golden Slipper victor Capitalist. The colt is the fifth foal from the Snitzel mare Snitzel Blitz. Her second foal, Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}) is a talented performer, winning six races, including the G2 John F Feehan S. and the G3 CS Hayes S.

Additionally, Pinstriped has been placed in the G2 PB Lawrence S. and the G3 Sandown S.

Lot 300 is bred on the Capitalist/Sniztel cross that has proven such a success. Currently striking at 13 per cent, the cross is responsible for 23 runners of which 17 individual winners have accumulated 37 victories, including five stakes winners.

“Lot 300 is from a great family. It’s an old Arrowfield family, so Dennis and I know it quite well. The colt is a half-brother to Pinstriped, who has been very consistent.

“The colt is bred on that massive Capitalist/Snitzel cross. The likes of Cannonball, Marine One and Profiteer were all bred on that cross. Furthermore, Capitalist being a son of Written Tycoon, who has worked exceptionally well with Snitzel.

“Recently that cross has been responsible for Velocious. Lot 300 himself is a beautiful colt. He was scheduled to go to Magic Millions, but we decided to keep him back for Easter and he’s done exceptionally well.

“They are lovely horses in their own right. If I was a trainer, I’d be very happy if any one of them turned up at my stable.”

Expectations ahead of Sunday

As a lot of conversation has been centred around the middle and lower markets having some difficulty, TTR AusNZ has been getting the thoughts of vendors as they gear up for another sale.

Stephens said, “The middle and lower market has dropped a bit this year but it’s not a huge surprise. It was always going to come and as a vendor or breeder you just have to ride through it.

“I think placing your horses at the right sales has been more important than it was a couple of years ago. But you can’t control the market, all we can do is make sure the yearlings are presented to the best of our ability.

“We are confident our yearlings are in prime condition, and there’s no use worrying what might or could happen. We will just get them into the ring and hope for the best.”