The sale of Element Hill is a rare and outstanding opportunity for a serious breeder to purchase a Champion producing farm, and most of their broodmares will be dispersed at the upcoming Magic Millions National Sale.
The decision to sell Element Hill, neighbouring property Allawah, and to disperse most of their broodmares was a long-contemplated decision by the Hutchins family.
“Basically, our family has been in racing for a long time, and we came here about 12 years ago to breed horses as well. But now we are changing our focus back to racing which is where we started out,” said Josh Hutchins.
“It’s always been Dad’s passion, and mine to a degree. He’s getting older now, and breeding horses takes time, so with his age, we thought he might enjoy it a bit more just by racing some nice fillies, instead of going through that whole process. That’s been the catalyst for having this dispersal sale. We are keeping the 2-year-olds and some racehorses but will disperse everything else to get back to what we enjoy the most.”
A commercial Thoroughbred farm
Element Hill Stud is an exquisitely designed equine farm on 159 acres, whilst neighbouring Allawah is a substantial grazing property of 459 acres which is currently used for dry mares, yearlings, cattle and lucerne farming providing a more commercial scale addition to the main farm should a buyer wish. “Buyers have an opportunity to buy one or both,” said agent Clint Donovan of Donovan + co.
“The Hutchins family purchased Element Hill around fifteen years ago and built it from scratch to be a sensational boutique broodmare property in the heart of Queensland’s thoroughbred industry, in the picturesque Scenic Rim region. They bought Allawah, the farm opposite a few years later, when the family decided to expand numbers.”
The custom designed equine hub includes the main barn, vet facilities, walker, round yard, floodlit foaling area, CCTV, tack rooms and parade ring.
Element Hill Stud has all the facilities a breeder might expect from a stud farm of such a standard with 18 boxes in the quality main barn, a vet crush and facilities, walker, round yard, floodlit foaling area, CCTV, tack rooms and parade ring. A six-bedroom architecturally designed homestead with pool and spa, high end finishings and appliances, alfresco and entertaining areas. The property also has a four-bedroom manager’s house, while Allawah has the original timber homestead as well as a couple of two-bedroom staff cottages.
“Queensland’s climate is world renowned for improving horses from colder areas. The winter sun on the horse’s backs is naturally so good for them. A farm isn’t going to produce two champions and several million-dollar sales yearlings without the right combination of climate, water, land, and facilities. Element Hill is close to veterinarians, other stud farms, and is only an hour and a half to the Magic Millions sales complex,” Donovan added.
“I don’t think there is a better farm in Queensland for quality of infrastructure and housing. It’s perfectly set up, a real turn-key property and the buyer will simply have to unload their horses, unpack their suitcase to be ready to go.”
Gallery: Element Hill Stud, an exquisitely designed equine farm.
The Scenic Rim region itself is one of Australia’s fastest growing as Brisbane spreads south and the Gold Coast spreads west.
“The Hutchins family are genuine sellers who are in tune with the marketplace, so as vendors, their expectations are realistic. We believe the property is perfect for someone who recognises the upward trajectory and climatic benefits of Queensland all so close to both Brisbane and the Gold Coast with direct access South to the Hunter Valley for coverings to those stallions.
“The properties have been popular with several inspections so far. It’s a great opportunity to get into a proper farm for maybe less than people expect. Bang for buck, there’s going to be a very lucky buyer who wants to enter the industry with an absolute walk up start into the premium establishment and brand that Element Hill represents.”
Fourteen lots at Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
The fourteen weanlings to be dispersed at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale (Sunday, May 26 - Monday, May 27) are by the likes of Exceed and Excel, I Am Invincible, Maurice (Jpn), Profiteer, Rebel Dane, Russian Revolution, So You Think (NZ), Star Turn, Stay Inside, The Autumn Sun, and Written By.
“The two best on type are Lot 297, the I Am Invincible, and Lot 224, the Stay Inside filly from Pasar Silbano. The pair of them are beautiful,” Hutchins said. “It’s exceptionally hard to breed horses that look like them, and they haven’t put a foot wrong since they were born. They should sell accordingly as they really are standout types. Whether pinhooking or to race, they’ll be a great addition to anyone’s bloodstock portfolio.”
Both of Hutchins’ picks are selling on Monday. Lot 297, a I Am Invincible x Single Blonde (Not A Single Doubt) filly is the second foal of a stakes placed winning half-sister to Group 3 winners Colour (More Than Ready {USA}) and Boognish (Sooboog), while Lot 224 (Stay Inside x Pasar Silbano {Ire} (Elnadim {USA})) is a half-sister to Widden Stud's exciting young sire Zousain.
Gallery: Josh Hutchins picks of the weanling draft, Lot 224 and Lot 297
Two fillies from Element Hill’s foundation family are led by the Exceed and Excel filly, Lot 336, out of winning mare Tracy’s Image (Encosta de Lago) being a daughter of Group 1 winner Tracy’s Element (Last Tycoon {Ire}) who was the reason the Hutchins family named their farm Element Hill.
Tracy’s Image is a half-sister to the Champion racemare Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}) who sadly died foaling her first foal, Last Typhoon (Street Cry {Ire}) whose daughter Way Up High won at Sandown on Saturday. This filly will sell on Monday, while another from the same family is Lot 187, a filly by The Autumn Sun out of Tracy’s Element’s winning daughter Madam Tracy (Encosta De Lago) who has left three winners to date, who sold on Sunday for $180,000 to Sledmere and Cangon Stud.
“This is a family we hold very dear, so it’s bittersweet to sell them. The farm is named after Tracy’s Element herself, and she’s the reason why we started breeding. We have kept Twin Image (All Too Hard) who is a 2-year-old filly with Chris Waller so that we can continue the family with her. Hopefully she will win some black type and give us some more enjoyment.”
“This is a family we hold very dear, so it’s bittersweet to sell them. The farm is named after Tracy’s Element herself, and she’s the reason why we started breeding. - Josh Hutchins
Twenty-five lots at Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale
Element Hill will offer 25 lots as an unreserved dispersal sale during the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on Tuesday, May 28 to Thursday, May 30, consisting of 18 broodmares (all in foal), four racing prospects and two well-credentialed yearling fillies among the group.
A yearling half-sister to Hong Kong’s Champion racehorse Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) by the proven sire Wootton Bassett (GB) is Lot 586 and has to be one of the standout lots of the whole sale. Golden Sixty, bred by Element Hill, has won 26 races with ten at Group 1 level and holds the record for prizemoney earnings in Hong Kong. Their dam, Gaudeamus (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}) won the G2 Leopardstown Debutante S. and has produced six winners with two others who are stakes-placed and is also being dispersed in this sale.
“She’s probably Gaudeamus’ best yearling to date in terms of physique even though she’s out of an older mare. She’s a well grown filly, ready to go, in great condition with a lovely action and a big deep girth. It’s a unique opportunity to get into the half-sister to a champion.
We sold the Capitalist half-sister for $375,000 and the buyers have sent her unraced to America to get in foal to Medaglia d’Oro before he retires. I would rather have seen her race, but I understand the commercial decision to take that chance to get a close relation to Golden Sixty.”
Lot 586 - Wootton Bassett (GB) x Gaudeamus (USA) (filly)
Four racing prospects include unraced 3-year-old filly Another Pinot (Pierro) who is a full sister to Group 1 winner Pinot, out of Group 1 winner Dizelle (Zabeel {NZ}) who in turn is out of Group 1 winner Danelagh (Danehill {USA}). City winning 4-year-old mare Radiant Remi (Spirit Of Boom) is out of speedy Group 2 winner Amelia’s Dream (Redoute’s Choice), five-race winner Typhoon Taavi (I Am Invincible) and unraced 3-year-old filly Golden Blush (Written Tycoon) round out the quartet.
“Typhoon Taavi has won three in succession with Tony Gollan with combined margin of 10l. She goes straight to front Pride Of Jenni style and has boosted her rating to a stakes class level, is race fit being only seven days out of work, so is ready to go. She has a strong pedigree being a half to The Mission.”
The broodmares are in foal to a range of commercial sires including All Too Hard, Better Than Ready, Capitalist, Dundeel (NZ), Home Affairs, In The Congo, Profiteer, Russian Revolution, So You Think, Spirit Of Boom, Stay Inside, Wootton Bassett (GB), Zousain, and Zoustar.
Gallery: Broodmares in foal to All Too Hard, Better Than Ready, Capitalist, Dundeel (NZ)
“There’s plenty of value across the board for different buyer levels. We think the Single Blonde weanling might top the weanling sale, so it’s worth mentioning that Single Blonde is in this sale in foal to Wootton Bassett. We have several in foal to Zoustar plus some older mares who are proven producers which are good opportunities for farms to get into these families.
“Many of these broodmares are young daughters of older mares who were foundation mares for us, and it’s just timing that we have a bunch of younger ones in our broodmare band for this dispersal. We’ve tended to keep our families, and now people can get into these families that we’ve previously held onto.
“Everything is unreserved. It’s a genuine dispersal so people can bid with confidence. Potentially there are some bargains in there, and we’ve already sold some weanlings earlier this year for under their service fee.”
“Everything is unreserved. It’s a genuine dispersal so people can bid with confidence. Potentially there are some bargains in there, and we’ve already sold some weanlings earlier this year for under their service fee.” - Josh Hutchins
The three mares in foal to the highly exciting stallion Zoustar are young winning mare Bonanova’s Dream (Redoute’s Choice) who is a half-sister to Listed winners Prima Nova (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Bonaichi (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), winning mare Von Trapp (Frankel {GB}) who ran fourth in the G2 Tea Rose S. and is out of a winning full sister to Group 1 winner Hunter’s Light (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), and winning mare Lady Anthena (Fr) (Redoute’s Choice) who is carrying a three-quarter sibling to Listed winner Zoumon (Zoustar), whose winning half-sister Swatch (Bated Breath {GB}) is also in the sale, carrying a service to Zousain.
Zousain’s half-sister Pasar Gold (Choisir) is in foal to Capitalist and is out of a group winner Pasar Silbano (Ire) (Elnadim {USA}). Those looking for a current pedigree might be interested in winning mare Rare Fragrance (Show A Heart) whose 3-year-old colt Keenan (Capitalist) is a winner and stakes placed this season. The daughter of Group 1 winner Danendri (Danehill {USA}) is in foal to Better Than Ready.
Listed winner Risk Aversion (Encosta De Lago) is a half-sister to Shania Dane (Danehill {USA}) and Scintillation (Danehill {USA}), and she has produced four foals to race who are all winners and have won 18 races between them. She is in foal to Spirit Of Boom, as is City winning mare Miss Penfold (Pierro) who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Dan De Lago (Encosta De Lago). Risk Aversion’s half-sister London Rebel (Fastnet Rock), in foal to Russian Revolution, is the dam of Group 3 placed winner Handsome Rebel (Denman).
