Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
One of the major contenders for next month's G1 Queensland Derby is the son of just the second Australian mare purchased by a family whose UK base is steeped in history.
“It started off as being a reason for my wife (Carolyn) to get down to Australia during our winter,” John Warren said when asked about Highclere’s ownership of a small but select group of broodmares in Australia.
“And we got very lucky early,” he said - Highclere’s first local purchase ($320,000 at the 2015 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale) being Piping Hot (More Than Ready {USA}) who, whilst lightly raced, showed ability winning two of her four starts.
John Warren | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Her first foal Snitzonfire (Snitzel) fetched $425,000 to the bid of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Mt Hallowell Stud at the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions - winning three races.
A very good one
And she produced a very good one as just her second foal - Coolangatta (Written Tycoon).
Sold to Ciaron Maher for $280,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she was retired last year off a career that saw her win five of her nine starts including the G1 Lightning S. and the G1 Moir S.
Coolangatta charges home to win the G1 Lightning S. | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Snapped up for what was believed to be a record price for a mare off the track, Coolmore Stud bought not only Coolangatta but also - from Highclere - her dam Piping Hot for $3 million at last year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
“Coolmore are sending them to high class stallions (Coolangatta to Justify and Piping Hot to Home Affairs) which is wonderful,” Warren said, “and they will continue to be mated very well.”
Piping Hot sold for $3,000,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Three years after their purchase of Piping Hot, Highclere put their hand up for the stakes placed Moonee Valley winner Luqyaa (Exceed And Excel) at the Magic Millions National; $310,000 securing the daughter of the Group 3 mare Charmview (Royal Academy {USA}).
“She was a $500,000 yearling purchased by Shadwell Stud and she is a particularly outstanding looking mare which befitted her purchase price,” said Warren - “and she was pretty fast too.”
“We decided to send her to a proven stallion first to get her going and we chose Spirit Of Boom.”
Luqyaa as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Doing a great job
That filly caught the eye of Black Soil Bloodstock, John Foote and Tony Gollan who purchased her for $300,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Racing as Liquor she has shown a good about of talent winning five her 10 starts including two at Eagle Farm late last year.
“She was a lovely foal,” Warren said, adding that Luqyaa has produced outstanding types for Highclere each year - “she is really doing a great job for us.”
Foaled in October 2020, Tannhauser is Luqyaa’s second foal - one who was going through a growth stage when he headed through the ring at the 2022 Magic Millions, selling for $425,000.
Tannhauser as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Henry Field did a great job selecting him, he had the foresight to see through that, he is an excellent judge.”
Showing enough early talent to fill the placings at Group 1 level at two - finishing off well when third in the JJ Atkins S. last winter - Tannhauser has been patiently handled by the Chris Waller stable, having just two spring outings and returning this year all the stronger and more mature.
Impressive taking out last weekend’s G3 Rough Habit Plate by 1.25l, Tannhauser is now favourite for the G1 Queensland Derby and the Warren family are enjoying “the exciting build-up.”
Currently in foal to Anamoe, Luqyaa has her 2-year-old daughter Analicia (Zoustar) in the Waller stable - purchased by that trainer with Mulcaster Bloodstock for $525,000 at last year’s Magic Millions.
“She is a beautiful specimen,” Warren enthused, “and she is nearing her debut which is exciting.”
We absolutely love Australia
Highclere house their Australian mares - currently four - at Milburn Creek with Warren grateful of the advice offered by farm manager Scott Holcombe.
“Being so far away feedback is really important,” he said, “and Milburn liaise closely with us - and they do a wonderful job.”
Loving spending each January - “and as much of February as we can” - in Australia, the Warrens base themselves in Sydney where they have enjoyed making many friends over the last ten or so years.
“We absolutely love Australia and the racing there is a wonderful, booming industry.”
“We absolutely love Australia and the racing there is a wonderful, booming industry.” - John Warren
“Australians are racing mad and you are setting standards on the world stage in regards to prizemoney, the sales and the whole atmosphere of the racing.”
Historic Highclere
The family boast a long tradition of racing success in the UK where Highclere Stud has been operating as a horse property - firstly as Siddown Warren Stud - since the early 1900s.
Founded by the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, the farm enjoyed royal patronage with Queen Elizabeth a visitor - naming her G1 French Oaks and G1 English 1000 Guineas - after the stud.
And Highclere (GB) (by the stud’s resident stallion Queen’s Hussar {GB}) made her mark at stud producing the Group 1 filly Height Of Fashion (Fr) (Bustino {GB}). Another 102 of her descendants are stakes winners and her influence spread across the world with Deep Impact (Jpn) her great grandson.
The late Deep Impact (Jpn) | Image courtesy of Shadai Stallion Station
Carolyn’s father, the 7th Earl of Carnarvon was known as Lord Porchester - for decades The Queen’s racing manager. And the Carnarvon family are famous not only for their thoroughbred passions but also for their involvement with the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb (the he 5th Earl of Carnarvon along with Howard Carter) and in more recent times with popular culture - Highclere Castle used to film Downton Abbey.
Warren hopes that the family’s involvement with horses will continue - his son Jake is just as passionate and the Highclere Stud reins were handed over to him a couple of years ago.
“We have been lucky to breed a number of pretty good horses,” Warren said, adding that he may add to his Australian band - “if the right mares comes along we will have a look.”
“If the right mares comes along we will have a look. I am currently going through the Magic Millions (National Broodmare) catalogue and deciding if I will come down next week.” - John Warren
“I am currently going through the Magic Millions catalogue and deciding if I will come down next week.”
Also looking forward to Tannhauser taking his place in the Queensland Derby is Trilogy Racing’s Sean Dingwall who became involved in the promising young horse the first year his group - which also consists of his wife Cathy along with Jason and Melanie Stenning - headed to the sales.
“We bought about 50 horses that year and were invited to be part of the Newgate syndicate,” Dingwall said.
Sean Dingwall | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Tannhauser was a lovely horse as his price-tag suggests and being very very comfortable with Dundeel as a stallion so we were very happy to be involved.”
“Tannhauser was a lovely horse as his price-tag suggests and being very very comfortable with Dundeel as a stallion so we were very happy to be involved.” - Sean Dingwall
Whilst it is always difficult to make the gelding decision with a well-related colt, Dingwall said the procedure has certainly helped Tannhauser.
“It was only a few weeks ago - Chris (Waller) said he was not really applying himself in his races and if he was to have a Queensland campaign gelding would help.”
And it did just that, Tannhauser doing everything right last start. Which means - for his owners and breeders - bring on the Derby!
