Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Jason Abrahams’ Champion Thoroughbreds has been in business since 2009 with plenty of success from small groups of horses purchased every year. Their current group of 3-year-olds are the biggest in number for the business so far, with 12 purchases being double their usual six per annum.
Tyreek emerges as a spring prospect
John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Tyreek (Snitzel) was a relative bargain for Champion Thoroughbreds, who paid $160,000 for him at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Yulong’s draft.
The gelding, who Abrahams acknowledges isn’t the biggest horse, was one of the cheaper yearlings by his sire in 2024. He showed promise from his first trial, winning at Hawkesbury over 800 metres on July 7. He then won again at the trials over 1045 metres, before his debutant victory on Wednesday.
“Tyreek was probably the sharpest of the purchases we made in 2024, and his trials leading up to yesterday were indicative that he had some speed and talent,” said Abrahams.
Tyreek as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“It worked out well for him and he ticked a few boxes there yesterday in terms of track and running through the line. The style of win suggests he’ll be similar to his mother.”
Tyreek is the first foal from G2 Hot Danish Stakes winner Reelem In Ruby (Pierro), whose dam, Bobine (USA) (Giant's Causeway {USA}), is a half-sister to USA Champion Turf Filly and six-time Group 1 winner Possibly Perfect (USA) (Northern Baby {USA}). Reelem In Ruby has an Alabama Express yearling and is due to foal to the Champion sire Zoustar this spring.
Reelem In Ruby won at her second start over 1200 metres, stepping out to win over 1300 metres and 1400 metres in her next seven starts, and going on to win the G2 Hot Danish over 1400 metres. She was sold at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2022, where the Tagaloa Syndicate purchased her for $950,000.
Reelem In Ruby | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“He wants to be a racehorse, so that covers a lot of bases. We were thinking he would go close yesterday, but you’re never sure until they’re under pressure.
“I believe a large part in having a good racehorse is a horse who has that attitude of wanting to win, and it’s very difficult to work that out at the yearling sales!”
Unhelpful programming in NSW
When asked about the next steps for Tyreek, Abrahams pointed to the uncertainty in the programming for early season 3-year-olds. “We’re not sure just yet. I’m waiting to see what benchmark grading he gets, but assuming he’ll get 63, then looking at a 64 race is difficult as he’s not an overly big horse.
“We will likely have to look at a 68 or 72 rating race, but there are not many of those around. There’s one in ten days on a Saturday, but it might be a touch soon after winning on a heavy track.
“On our radar is the Up & Coming, but that’s three and a half weeks after his debut, so he’d have to trial potentially, just to keep him ticking over.”
The choice becomes a race that is either too soon or a Group 3 race that is a touch too far away.
Jason Abrahams | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“There’s not many races for 3-year-olds at this time of year unless you step up to stakes grade, so you can’t really take small steps.”
When asked if this was a programming issue, or related to a smaller pool of horses at this time of year, Abrahams pointed to the programming.
“I think they are looking for bigger fields in those stakes races, so with limited options elsewhere it corrals everyone towards them, for better or worse.”
Magic Millions as a longer term plan
With Tyreek being a Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate, the team at Champion Thoroughbreds are planning to target the sales races in January. Champion Thoroughbreds won the Magic Millions $250,000 Maiden in January 2025 with Hell To Pay (Hellbent), and would have aimed Tyreek there if he'd placed on Wednesday.
“We'd like to get him up to the Gold Coast in January but we’re not quite sure yet where he would fit in yet. There’s a slot race for 3-year-olds over 1200 metres, and there’s a class three and four races which he could be eligible for. Obviously there’s the Guineas, but he'd need to accumulate another $100,000 in prize money to make the field. It would be ideal as its 1400 metres which should suit him best.
“We had the Gold Coast in mind when we put him into the race yesterday, as opposed to running in the provincials or at a country track on debut. We chose the super maiden to really help us to determine where he sat going forward and just provide us some clarity on options.
Tyreek after winning at Canterbury | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He's a quite a tractable horse who will do pretty much whatever you ask him, so he’s not a difficult horse to place. You can ride him up on the speed, or at the back of the field, he’s got a good racing brain.”
Pulling together owners is the core part of any syndication business, and Abrahams showed plenty of joy in being able to win for his group of owners.
“We had so many owners in Tyreek who were just buzzing (after the win). They were over the moon and they couldn't stop talking about getting into the horse and their decision-making process around buying in and their past experiences with horses and how hard it has been for some to get even a horse to the races.
“He's (Tyreek) a quite a tractable horse who will do pretty much whatever you ask him, so he’s not a difficult horse to place.” - Jason Abrahams
“You just consider yourself very lucky that you got to take a horse to a metropolitan track and win on debut. It’s not something that happens every day and those owners will cherish that.
“They won't forget that day in a long time and a lot of them turned up to the race day which was great to see. They all got to meet John (O’Shea) and have a chat with Dylan (Gibbons). I think everyone had had a great experience and you walk away reminding yourself that's why you're in the job.”
Lilac leads the older horses for Champion
In 2024/25, Champion Thoroughbreds enjoyed two stakes winners with Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) winning the Listed Wyong Cup and Lilac (Justify) winning the G3 James HB Carr Stakes and Listed Jim Moloney Stakes. Lilac is trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald.
“Lilac was third in the Light Fingers behind Lady Shenandoah and fourth in the Surround once again behind Lady Shenandoah, then she won the JB Carr so she was good for us. She's now just turned four and she'll head towards The Invitation at the back end of the carnival.
“Lion’s Roar is retired now, but he was a stalwart for us for quite a number of years having won the Randwick Guineas. He ended up winning about $2.3 million and now he’s a pleasure horse. We were lucky to have him for so long.”
Gallery: Champion Thoroughbreds’ Stakes winners, images courtesy of Sportpix
“Lilac came out of New Zealand as well, and she’s earned more than her price with hopefully more to come.”
Lilac was sold by Curraghmore at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$300,000 to Champion Thoroughbreds and Annabel Neasham Racing. She is the second foal of Paulownia (Fastnet Rock) who is a Group 2-placed full sister to Group 1 winner and sire Foxwedge and Listed winner She’s A Fox.
Avoiding ‘pricey’ juvenile types
Champion Thoroughbreds typically purchase six yearlings a year, but have extended their business recently with 12 purchases in 2024 and another ten in 2025. They have a patient approach to syndication, often finding a bargain by being willing to wait.
“We normally average about six a year, so our 3-year-old crop is the largest we’ve had. Very few of them have raced. I think Tyreek is the third (3-year-old) horse to get to the races.
Tyreek | Image courtesy of Champion Thoroughbred
“We don’t really buy 2-year-old types because if a yearling looks like it’ll be an early going 2-year-old, they tend to make a bit of money, so we steer away from them.
“There's plenty of prize money on offer at those middle distances and staying distances. It just means we’ve got to wait a bit longer. It’s going to be an interesting spring for us and we’re very happy with how they are all travelling so far.”
“It’s going to be an interesting spring for us and we’re very happy with how they are all travelling so far.” - Jason Abrahams
Tyreek’s stablemate Scoop The Pool (Super Seth) ran fourth on debut in June. Champion Thoroughbreds have several 3-year-olds with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, being unraced Me Tarzan (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}), Rosa Incanta (NZ) (Per Incanto {NZ}) who placed in both her starts at two, unraced filly Much To Admire (Admire Mars {Jpn}), and an unnamed Pierro colt from Group 1 winner Lasqueti Spirit (Beneteau).
“It looks like a nice crop and over the next couple of weeks we've got some really nice young horses getting ready to debut.
“I'm not saying they're going to be able to come out and do what Tyreek did, but I’m confident enough to think that we might put them in races where they can win. Wherever we place them, I think they'll be pretty competitive based on what we've seen so far, so it's just looking like a nice season for us with a lot of irons in the fire.”
“It's just looking like a nice season for us with a lot of irons in the fire.” - Jason Abrahams
Regeneration (King’s Legacy) was placed on debut for the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable, John Sargent trains Dance With Destiny (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}), Lindsay Park has Kiss The King (King’s Legacy), Tony and Calvin McEvoy have Talent Scout (Bivouac), Michael Freedman trains Sir Loyne (Peltzer), and Jack Bruce has Gin Blossom (Encryption).
The remainder of Champion Thoroughbreds’ 3-year-olds are with Danielle Seib in Goulburn, being Bastion (Bivouac), Be My Sunshine (The Autumn Sun), Dunna Runna (Dundeel {NZ}), Flame Tree (Pierro), Spread The Love (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}), Voltage Lass (Too Darn Hot {GB}), and Wear The Crown (I Am Invincible).
