Cover image courtesy of Arrowfield
Most of us are familiar with the process of breeding a racehorse. First, there is a broodmare, which is sent to a stallion that complements her physically and genetically. If everything goes smoothly, the all-important rearing of the foal comes next, followed by early education. All these facets have a huge, yet often understated, impact on thoroughbreds.
John Messara’s Arrowfield Stud knows more than most about raising a good racehorse; they do it every season. For those involved in the operation, it’s everyday life. But what about those who are interested in racing but want to extend their knowledge beyond the track?
Arrowfield Stud | Image courtesy of Arrowfield Stud
That’s where Myracehorse comes into play, and where Arrowfield’s bloodstock manager, Jon Freyer, sensed an opportunity to bring the operation’s world to a wider audience.
The Thoroughbred Report chatted with Freyer to learn more about the concept and why Hitotsu was the perfect horse to introduce the idea of micro-ownership in stallions.
Authentic: A trailblazer
Deemed the ‘Hitotsu Stallion Package,’ interested investors can buy a 0.001 per cent share in the son of Maurice (Jpn) and a 0.01 per cent share in five broodmares specifically chosen to visit the three-time Group 1 winner, all for $165.
The MyRacehorse micro-share concept hit a bullseye with Authentic (USA), a son of Into Mischief (USA), who won North America’s most iconic race: the G1 Kentucky Derby. Authentic also added the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic to his CV before retiring to Spendthrift Farm.
Authentic (USA) | Image courtesy of the Breeders’ Cup
The team achieved success again this year with Seize The Grey (USA) (Arrogate {USA}), winner of the second leg of the Triple Crown, the G1 Preakness S.
Freyer provided some insight into how that success has translated to Australia and Arrowfield: “I believe MyRacehorse started in America, and they had an association with Spendthrift Farm and an interest in Authentic, who won the Kentucky Derby. B. Wayne Hughes passed away a couple of years ago, and they lost the connection they had started there.
“They were looking for a similar sort of association in Australia with a stud farm that could provide horses and give them a little bit of guidance.
“They (MyRacehorse) were looking for a similar sort of association in Australia with a stud farm that could provide horses and give them a little bit of guidance.” - Jon Freyer
“We had been chatting for a period of time and then they spoke to us and said they thought there was an appetite in their client base along the breeding lines. They were enamoured with Hitotsu and said, ‘Well, look, why don’t we try and do something with him as far as a breeding package goes?’
“We said, ‘Yeah, that’s fine.’ We had a chat with a few of the original significant shareholders, who had supported the horse strongly in the first year, but they didn’t want to continue to do it. So, MyRacehorse has taken a block of five shares, and we’ve found some mares for them that we think will suit him, and they’ve packaged it all up.”
Opportunity for education
Freyer and the team also saw the association with MyRacehorse as an opportunity to provide education on the inner workings of a stud farm to people who wouldn’t otherwise have the chance.
“They are going to give their client base the opportunity to participate and get a feel for what the breeding industry is all about. The investors will be able to come to the farm, see the mares, see the foals, and understand how the business operates.
“We thought that was great for several reasons. Firstly, I think there’ll be a whole bunch of people that are on the team for Hitotsu, and secondly, they’ll get to understand what goes on behind the scenes in terms of breeding horses, rearing them, and seeing how they are cared for from the earliest stage.”
Jon Freyer | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Freyer explained that the welfare aspect is extremely important today, given the spread of mistruths and inaccurate information about the thoroughbred industry from people and operations with little knowledge or desire to change their misinformed opinions.
“In our day and age, it’s so important. For people in our industry, there’s a really good understanding of how much care goes into horses and what it takes to rear a racehorse to the stage of a yearling, then to the racetrack and hopefully the winner’s circle. But there’s a lot of people who aren’t aware, and we can show this world to them too.”
The girls
The MyRacehorse package includes five well-credentialed, young broodmares who will visit Hitotsu in the upcoming season. The first, Diamondesque, is a metropolitan-winning 2-year-old by Arrowfield’s very own four-time Champion Sire Snitzel.
Diamondesque’s granddam, Marquise (NZ) (Gold And Ivory {USA}), won notable races, including the G1 Captain Classic. Marquise is a half-sister to the Champion Octagonal (NZ) and from the family of Commands.
Marquise produced the G1 Arrowfield Stud S. winner and the G1 Australian Oaks-placed Shower Of Roses (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), and this is also the family of G3 Gimcrack and G3 Blue Diamond (Fillies) winner Catch Me (I Am Invincible).
Diamondesque has produced two foals by Ole Kirk: the first, a filly, is a rising 2-year-old, while the second, a colt, is included in the package and is being targeted towards the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The daughter of Snitzel is currently in foal to Hitotsu.
The second mare, Hecate, is by the Champion Sire I Am Invincible and from the talented Wild Rain (Manhattan Rain), an eight-time winner who counted the G2 Ian McEwen and the G3 Sir John Monash S. among her victories. Wild Rain was also placed in the G1 Moir S. In addition to Hecate, she is the dam of the progressive Spring Lee (Zoustar), who has won three races and placed in the Listed Denise’s Joy S.
Hecate is from the family of Australian Horse of the Year Northerly (Serheed {USA}) and G1 Winterbottom S. victor Overpass (Vancouver). She is currently in foal to Hitotsu and will be served by the son of Maurice (Jpn).
“The second mare, Hecate, is by the Champion Sire I Am Invincible and from the talented Wild Rain, an eight-time winner who counted the G2 Ian McEwen and the G3 Sir John Monash S. among her victories.”
Another daughter of I Am Invincible, Jackrabbit Jimmy, is also returning to Hitotsu. Jackrabbit Jimmy is from the Listed winner and Group 3-placed Tai Tai Tess (Magic Albert), who is the dam of Huriwai (I Am Invincible), a multiple Listed-placed performer in Singapore.
The fourth mare, Speymalt, is a daughter of the late Not A Single Doubt, who stood at Arrowfield Stud. Speymalt is from the Shamardal (USA) mare Artistry, an eight-time winner, including the G3 Hong Kong Jockey Club, G3 Maurice McCarten, and the G3 Newmarket H. at Newcastle. She is also from the family of Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Samantha Miss (Redoute’s Choice).
The final mare, Meetmein Melbourne, is by the promising young stallion Russian Revolution. She won three races and is a daughter of the Testa Rossa mare Pane In The Glass, victress of the G3 Silver Shadow S. and placed in the G1 Champagne S. and the G1 Sires’ Produce S.
Meetmein Melbourne is a half-sister to Xilong (Deep Field), who won the G2 Euclase S. and the Listed Twilight Glow S. Additionally, she was placed in the G1 Surround S.
“They are some nice mares. There's a pair of daughters of I Am Invincible, one of which is a daughter of Wild Rain. There's some pedigree there that I think could certainly work with Hitotsu.
“We actually had the brother to Diamondesque; he was bought by Gai Waterhouse for $1.2 million at the sales, and we retained a share.
“They are some nice mares. There's a pair of daughters of I Am Invincible, one of which is a daughter of Wild Rain. There's some pedigree there that I think could certainly work with Hitotsu.” - Jon Freyer
“Diamondesque was quite a promising 2-year-old, and overall, it's a reasonably priced concept with an attractive enough group of mares that are going to be commercial. Hopefully, they’ll do well for them.”
The Hitotsu factor
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Hitotsu had a brilliant but short career. As a spring 3-year-old, he won the G1 VRC Derby, and followed up in the autumn with an electrifying victory in the G1 Australian Guineas over the mile. Proving his versatility in his last hurrah, Hitotsu was a sensational winner of the G1 Australian Derby.
An unfortunate injury led to Hitotsu's retirement, and his arrival at stud was announced late. However, due to the rare ability he exhibited, Arrowfield was more than happy to stand him alongside his successful sire Maurice.
Debuting at a fee of $22,000 (inc GST), breeders flocked to Hitotsu, and he served 162 mares in his first season.
Hitotsu | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s really done well with the transition. He’s a fabulous horse, and we’re really proud of him. We love him, and he got a really big book last season, even though he was essentially the last horse announced.
“He’s going to have a really nice bunch of foals coming through this year, so we’ll start to get them in the next couple of months, and that’s really exciting.
“He won the two Derbys but was also a Guineas winner. I think people are realising that some of these horses with the speed and capability to run over a bit of ground are the ones that tend to become prominent stallions—horses like The Autumn Sun, Dundeel, Savabeel, and So You Think. They’re the ones that are really versatile and pass that onto their progeny.
“He’s really done well with the transition. He’s a fabulous horse, and we’re really proud of him. We love him, and he got a really big book last season, even though he was essentially the last horse announced.” - Jon Freyer
“Hitotsu fits into that bracket and had those credentials, which is why I think people have really taken to him. I think there was a poll on Racing.com that asked which horse people felt we didn’t get to see the best of, or something along those lines. It was interesting because Hitotsu was right at the top, as was The Autumn Sun.
“But overall, we are happy to be involved. MyRacehorse is a good organisation, they’ve been well-managed, and they’ve had good success. The guys have been great to work with, and we’re keen to encourage more people to be involved in the industry and understand exactly the role we play. That’s really important.
Hitotsu | Standing at Arrowfield
“It’s crucial people understand welfare is at the forefront of our minds all the time, and if we can show that to people and educate them, it’s well worth it.”
