Peter Orton to depart Vinery after an incredibly successful 25 year stint

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It was the year 2000 that Peter Orton first arrived at Vinery Stud, stepping into a role that would help him shape a new force in the Australian thoroughbred landscape, essentially from nothing and from the ground up.

Orton and Vinery: A great combination

Peter Orton walked through the gates of Vinery Stud with a bold mission ahead.

At the time, Vinery was more of an idea than an institution, about to find its feet after recently branching out from American roots.

It was the arrival of the German businessman Dr Thomas Simon that truly set things in motion. With his purchase of the historic original Segenhoe property in the Hunter Valley, Simon wasn’t just investing in land, he was laying the groundwork for a powerhouse.

And it was Orton, with his deep industry knowledge and vision, who would steer that foundation toward something far greater. What began as a quiet entrance would grow into one of the most respected breeding operations in the country.

Under Orton's leadership Vinery has thrived, beginning with the acquisition and shuttle of More Than Ready (USA), the young Southern Halo (USA) stallion who became an influential sire in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Building on More Than Ready’s success, Orton developed Vinery Stud into one of Australia’s leading stud farms, with a premium resident broodmare band and an expanded stallion roster over this period which included other prominent sires such as Red Ransom (USA), Mossman, All Too Hard and Testa Rossa. Now, Vinery is positioned for its next phase, with young, exciting stallions such as Exceedance, Hawaii Five Oh and Ole Kirk, who is the leading first season sire by winners, stakes winners and prizemoney.

Ready for the next challenge

After decades at the forefront of the Australian thoroughbred industry, Peter Orton is stepping into a new chapter with a deep sense of pride and excitement for what lies ahead.

When asked whether his decision to step away from Vinery Stud came with a mix of emotions - excitement, satisfaction, and perhaps a touch of sadness, Orton was candid: “Absolutely, very much so. I’ve thought about it for a while now, and now is the right time.

“Now that the sale of Vinery Stud has been finalised, it’s an appropriate time to take the opportunity to step away and focus on my own thoroughbred farm and bloodstock portfolio.

“This is something that I’m very keen to do, however, it was most important that I leave at a time when the Vinery Stud operation is in a great place, with exciting young stallions coming through and a robust client base with strong broodmare portfolios to ensure the continued success and growth of the business.”

Orton reflected on the evolution of his career with great satisfaction but at the same time excited about working on his own portfolio on his own farm.

“I’m looking forward to it. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while, but my time at Arrowfield was exciting, and so was setting up Vinery,” he said.

“I have about 200 acres between Newgate and Darley, and it’s time to enjoy the farm and everything else that comes with it.”

Grateful for the people and partnerships that have shaped his journey, Orton acknowledged the importance of those relationships.

“I’ve been very fortunate with the people I’ve worked with, with Arrowfield and the Messaras, and Tom Simon at Vinery. To make big decisions and set up farms like that with these people was great,” he said.

“We broke new ground with those farms, and it was a great opportunity. We saw some really interesting things.”

Orton played a pivotal role in the careers of two of the modern era’s most influential stallions, Danehill (USA) and More Than Ready, and remains deeply connected to their legacies.

“Those stallions have made a huge impact. I remember Danehill stopping off the truck for the first time, and seeing More Than Ready in the tie-up stalls in New York,” Orton recalled.

“To go back to that level, you do really connect with them big time, personally and physically. I have great memories of those two stallions and what stallions they were.”

Messara reflects on Orton’s impact

John Messara, Chairman of the Arrowfield Group, has worked closely with Peter Orton over the years and holds deep respect for the pivotal role Orton played in building Arrowfield Stud into one of Australia’s leading thoroughbred breeding operations.

Messara acknowledged Orton’s instrumental involvement in the establishment and development of not just one, but two significant Arrowfield properties.

“Peter was instrumental in helping us develop the first Arrowfield, which was at Jerry’s Plains, what later became Coolmore, and then the second Arrowfield, where we currently reside. In the early days, he was also instrumental in that property,” Messara explained.

Orton is widely regarded as one of the industry’s great farm developers, able to visualise, plan and execute major property transformations. Messara echoed that sentiment.

“He’s got good vision, and he is a great builder in the sense of developing things. He loves to build things and design things, and he is very good at that.”

“Peter is a really good man, and a very good judge of a horse in my opinion,” Messara said.

“I regard him as a very sound manager, whom you can trust implicitly. You can't say that about everybody, but I can certainly say that about him.

“I’m pleased to say that my son Paul has taken after him a bit and has set up stud operations and racing operations as he built his track at Scone. Paul has looked at Peter as a great example and as a guide in that regard.”

As Orton now looks ahead to focusing on his own bloodstock portfolio and private farm, Messara was supportive of the decision.

“I think the move will be great for him. It’s a lot of weight running these big commercial farms, there’s never a moment you can rest. There’s always something happening whether it is looking after clients’ horses or the stallions and the issues they bring, and the books you have to fill. It’s a very demanding life being a manager of one of these big operations.

“He deserves to enjoy doing his own thing, and I’m sure he will succeed.”

Hamish Esplin: “Peter Orton, to me, is a person that really is a role model”

President of Thoroughbred Breeders New South Wales, Hamish Esplin, has known Peter Orton for most of his life, both on a personal level and through their shared roles in the breeding industry. His admiration for Orton’s legacy is both heartfelt and unreserved.

“I’ve known Peter since I was knee-high, growing up in the industry, right through to working alongside him at Thoroughbred Breeders New South Wales,” Esplin said.

When asked about Orton’s impact and the depth of his contribution to Australian breeding, Esplin didn’t hesitate: “It's remarkable, really.”

“I can’t conceive of a person who has given more to the industry, both from a personal perspective in managing studs, and from a representative standpoint, through the wide range of board positions he has held.

“The sheer time, breadth, and dedication he has committed to pushing the Australian industry forward is, in my experience, the greatest I’ve seen across all facets.”

Esplin was quick to highlight Orton’s pivotal role in shaping some of Australia’s most iconic breeding operations.

“His record is incredible. He established Arrowfield Farm from the ground up and they stood Danehill, sold Arrowfield to Coolmore, moved it to Scone, then started Vinery Stud and stood More Than Ready. Even on a shortlist like that, those are the pivotal moments in the Australian breeding industry over the last 25 years, and he was front and centre, hands-on, in every one of them.

“He has built leading stud farms (Arrowfield and Vinery) and they only exist because of the person on the ground who plans the farm, builds the infrastructure, knows where to put the paddocks and the stallion barns, can assemble the team that sells nominations, raises weanlings, and manages yearlings. It all comes down to leadership. And Peter has done that, twice.

“Any one of those achievements on their own would be enough to write an article about. But the fact he’s done all of them, and while doing that, mentored so many people including myself - is extraordinary.”

That mentorship, Esplin emphasised, extended beyond the practical elements of farm management.

“He’s been there through all the arguments and lobbying we’ve had to do on behalf of breeders against administrative bodies like Racing New South Wales and Racing Australia. He’s been instrumental in those conversations.

“To leave Vinery in the shape it’s in now, with its team, its stallion roster, its outstanding record, is an achievement that can’t be overstated. A large part of that success belongs to Peter Orton.”

Beyond his professional contributions, Esplin said Orton has always been generous with his time and guidance.

“He’s always been available to myself and so many others, offering advice to both breeders and commercial operators. And you’d struggle to find anyone in the industry who has a cross word to say about him. I certainly can’t think of one.

“There is barely a person I would know that would have had a cross word with him or have been upset with him, or that he has disappointed in some way, I certainly can't. Going along with that, to do it with the charisma and personality that he has, just shows how unique an individual Peter Orton is.”

In summing up Orton’s influence, Esplin offered a simple but powerful tribute:

“He is, to me, a person that really is the role model. He can do it all, and he has done it all.”

Vinery pays tribute to Peter Orton’s enduring legacy

There’s no question that Peter Orton is one of the most respected figures in Australian thoroughbred breeding and Vinery Stud would not be what it is today without his leadership, dedication, and vision. Over his two and a half decades at the helm, Orton not only helped shape the Vinery brand into one of the country’s premier studs but also mentored and inspired the people around him.

That sentiment is echoed by Vinery’s Bloodstock Manager, Adam White, who worked alongside Orton for the whole duration of 25 years

“Peter is wholeheartedly responsible for what the Vinery brand is. I feel privileged to have witnessed first hand the dedication and effort he put into the organisation from its birth and to maintain it over an extended period of time,” White said.

“It was quite ironic how I found myself in a position to work under Peter. He interviewed me for a position at Arrowfield in late 1999, which I was at the time disappointed not to get. Just three months later, I found myself working under him at Vinery when Tommy Simon first secured his services to run the stud.

“The mentoring he has given me personally is immeasurable. I am just one of many industry participants that have benefited from his guidance, which I’m sure I’ll continue to benefit from.”

Current Vinery Stud shareholders Katie Page and Steve McCann also paid tribute to Orton, expressing their deep gratitude for his years of commitment and contribution to the business.

“Over his 25 years leading Vinery, Gerry and I have been the beneficiaries of Peter Orton’s peerless expertise, wise counsel and vision, both personally and professionally,” said Page.

“Peter, to say we are so grateful to you and to Adele is such an understatement. Our great friendship and mutual respect continue beyond the farm, and we look forward to seeing you in January.”

McCann added, “Peter has for many years been one of the most respected thoroughbred experts in the country and has made a tremendous contribution to both Vinery and the broader industry. I would like to thank Peter personally and on behalf of all of our clients and current and past shareholders.”