Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Many are born into the industry, but for Liam Attwood it has been hard work and dedication that has seen him rise to become the yearling manager at Widden Stud.
“My burning desire to be successful in the industry outweighed the fact I’d never touched a horse.”
When he realised he wasn’t enjoying his time at university in his native Queensland, Attwood left his studies to find a better calling. His father had owned shares in racehorses, which drew Attwood to try his hand with horses.
“I reckon I sent fifty, sixty emails to every farm in Australia,” Attwood told TTR AusNZ. “Widden gave me a chance.”
“I reckon I sent fifty, sixty emails to every farm in Australia (trying to get a job). Widden gave me a chance.” - Liam Attwood
Moving from Brisbane to the Hunter Valley over seven years ago, Attwood started working with the dry mares, learning the basics of daily care and handling that was all completely new to him.
“I had no idea how to do all that sort of stuff,” Attwood said, who spent his first breeding season putting mares through the crush before spending six months in yearlings, where he caught the sales bug. “I really enjoyed that, I learned a heap of stuff and I was really fascinated by the sales side of things.”
Liam Attwood | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Attwood would spend three years rotating around Widden, learning about foal care, furthering his horsemanship skills with the yearlings, and spending time in the covering shed.
“I’m obviously a big fan of Zoustar,” said Attwood, “and I really like Trapeze Artist now. He’s doing a pretty good job. He’s a character of a horse - big personality!”
Retiring to stud in 2019, Trapeze Artist’s best offspring to date have come from the Widden yearling barns, headed by G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Griff and the Group 3 victress and multiple Group 2-placed Facile.
Sales success
In late 2020, Attwood would take the next step up the ladder; when the yearling manager role became available, Widden offered him the job. His first sale at the helm would be the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, which would be the start of a spectacular sales year for Widden.
“We actually topped the sale with the Snitzel x Bonny O’Reilly colt, he was a cool little horse,” Attwood said of the horse now known as Basquiat, who was knocked down for $1.9 million to Tom Magnier. “That was a really special start, having him.” The same sale would yield Group 3 winner Brereton (Zoustar), bought by Victorian Alliance, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and David Redvers Bloodstock for $1 million.
Clean Energy as a yearling with Liam Attwood | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The Inglis Classic Sale followed suit, producing Listed winner and twice Group 1-placed Zou Tiger (Zoustar), Group 3 winner and also twice elite-level placed Buenos Noches (Supido), and Listed scorer First Immortal (Churchill {Ire}).
However the stars would shine brightest at that year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, including $1.25 million yearlings Night Move (I Am Invincible) and Zamborghini (Zoustar), Widden roster new recruit Sweet Ride (Deep Field), Group 1 victor Climbing Star (Zoustar), and - saving the best for last - Zougotcha (Zoustar).
“She’s a freak,” Attwood stated. The four-time Group 1 winner out of Fast Talker (Fastnet Rock) was bought by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock for $500,000. “It was a pretty special first year, I was really blessed with some great horses to work with.”
Zougotcha | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Attwood prepares around 300 yearlings every year, headed for sales ranging from the Gold Coast to Adelaide.
“We’ve got horses for all sorts of budgets and all sorts of levels, which is pretty cool,” Attwood said. “You get exposed to a lot of different pedigrees and bloodlines.” He credits a “active prep”, utilising regular handwalking and lunging through the week, for producing the standout yearlings he sends through the ring.
One yearling that blossomed with Attwood’s attention during prep was G3 Hawkesbury Guineas victor Schwarz (Zoustar), who went under the hammer in January 2022.
Schwarz | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“From the minute he started prep to the end, he went from one horse to another, he changed inside out,” Attwood recalled. “He just did so well at work and in prep, he put on such good condition. He was always an athlete, a good moving horse - he ended up making a lot of money as a yearling, but when he came in, you wouldn’t have thought he’d make that. He just transformed.”
Another horse to excite Attwood is Clean Energy (Zoustar), the full sister to Champion mare Sunlight, who set a new Gold Coast record for fillies last year when selling for $2.6 million to Yu Long Investments. Unbeaten in two starts, Clean Energy was last seen in Doomben taking out the Listed Bill Carter S. in May.
“I’ve never had a horse that was so professional, she never put a foot wrong,” said Attwood. “She did hundreds of parades, and you kind of knew from then - not that you ever know for sure - that she was really special. She’s an exciting one coming forward.”
Exciting prospects
The 2024 season had plenty of highlight lots, and Attwood tips the full brother to Schwarz, purchased at Inglis Easter for $1.55 million by China Horse Club and Newgate Colt Syndicate - “probably the best walking horse I’ve ever had anything to do with, you had to run to keep up with him!” - and the Prompt Response filly from the same sale - “stunning filly, just gorgeous” - as ones to follow.
A much more personal highlight came in January, when Attwood presented his own yearling for sale for the first time, to a phenomenal $300,000 result.
Anders x En Aval (colt), bred by Liam Attwood, realised $300,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I’m living my wildest dreams,” said Attwood, who purchased dam En Aval (Toorak Toff) with a group of friends for $9500 online. “She (En Aval) matched really well with Anders and suited him physically as well, so we went out to buy her for him.” Last spring, En Aval produced a colt by Supido, and is expecting a foal by Anders in September.
Passion and drive
Always keen to improve himself, last year Attwood headed to Ireland to work the sales for Tally Ho Stud, under the tutelage of Roger and Henry O’Callaghan.
“It was really a beneficial thing for me. Roger and Henry, they taught me a heap, and (there’s) a few little things I was able to bring back,” he said.
Back at home, Attwood pays tribute to the team around him, particularly assistant yearling manager Emile Fredericks, recipient of the Horsemanship award at the 2023 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards.
Emile Fredericks
“He’s (Fredericks) been there since day one, he’s been a big influence in getting me to where I am,” said Attwood. “We make a good little team.”
He also credits “tough critic” Dave Merrick, then stud manager at Widden, as a big part of his journey. “He (Merrick) was the man who replied to my first email and gave me the chance. Without him, I wouldn’t have gotten this far.”
Attwood is an outstanding example that the industry will welcome those with little or no experience, as long as there is enthusiasm. He is pleased to see the advent of industry training like the Fast Track course, adding, “use the resources available to get a little head start, but even if you don't, big horse farms are great places to learn and they’re always after people who want to do well (and) want to learn.”
“Your passion and your drive can outweigh your experience,” concluded Attwood. “Hard work gets you a long way.”
