Cover image courtesy of Rosemont
It’s all part of a broader shift at Rosemont, where a focus on sharper broodmares, the right stallions and a more commercial approach is clearly starting to pay off. Their juveniles are stepping out early, running well and giving every indication that the plan is working. And with a few familiar red-and-white influences scattered through the Merson Cooper field, the race offers another good snapshot of where the farm’s programme is heading.
The Rosemont 2-year-olds on fire early in the season
Rosemont Stud’s juveniles have come out swinging this season. Their recent run this season includes One Day At A Time (Bivouac) finishing third in the Listed Maribyrnong Plate Trial, Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}) winning the G3 Maribyrnong Plate, and Carnevale (Pinatubo {Ire}) running a strong fourth in that same race. Add in a sharp trial winner and several strong chances in this weekend’s Listed Merson Cooper Stakes, and it’s clear Rosemont’s youngsters are flying.
“All of our graduates have been running great, winning the Maribyrnong Plate with Tornado Valley was a highlight, and One Day At A Time probably should have won the trial.” Rosemont Stud Principal, Anthony Mithen said.
Tornado Valley | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Mithen also highlighted an eye-catching midweek performance.
“We actually had a Zoustar colt out of Mildred called Peyton win a trial nicely at Warwick Farm through the week. John O’Shea and Tom Charlton train him.
“Instead of pushing him, he is going to have a little break and get organised for the autumn racing. John is in charge of his programming, and we know what it is like with being rewarded for patience with a Zoustar.
“But we have pretty high aspirations for him, so he could be one to watch out for in the Autumn.”
With all four of those youngsters coming from their Magic Millions draft earlier this year, Mithen says “it augurs really well, buyers like buying from frms that are going well and in form, and momentum can only be a good thing.”
Anthony Mithen | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The Merson Cooper Stakes next on the hitlist
Saturday’s Listed $175,000 Merson Cooper Stakes has attracted a field of 13, invulving three colts and ten fillies, all chasing valuable early black type and the prize money needed to qualify for bigger targets through summer and autumn.
Rosemont will be represented in several corners. They breed and own Ivy (Hanseatic), bred Tears Of Happiness (NZ) (Pierro), and have a strong interest in the progress of Eternal Warrior (Extreme Warrior) a China Horse Club-bred colt, by their exciting first-season sire Extreme Warrior, who has already produced a metropolitan winner and a placegetter from just three runners.
Extreme Warrior | Standing at Rosemont Stud
On Ivy, Mithen said:
“I have just been chatting away with her trainer Jason Warren, just continuing to say the Merson Cooper isn’t far away, then he said the other day he was throwing in a nomination.
“She hasn’t been beaten in a jump out or a trial yet, and Jason also said probably a gallop also, so she has some talent. We didn’t necessarily mark her down to be real early, but she has been very forward, done everything nicely, and there is no reason to not go racing.”
“She (Ivy) hasn’t been beaten in a jump out or a trial yet, and Jason also said probably a gallop also, so she has some talent.” - Anthony Mithen
It's also a very current family, with Ivy's dam Independent Woman (Redoute's Choice) having two stakes contenders at Caulfield on Saturday.
“Ivy’s dad (Hanseatic) won the Merson Cooper, her half-brother by Blue Point (Chicago Blues) is in the Blue Sapphire on Saturday also, so you could say there is a fair bit to like about the family at the moment.”
Hanseatic | Standing at Rosemont Stud
Tears Of Happiness has also surprised the team.
“We never in our wildest dreams did we think she would have been a pre-Christmas 2-year-old. She originally passed in at Melbourne Premier, but then Mr Zhang himself came for a look at her and ended up getting her for $60,000 I think.
“A pretty cheap purchase really, but I think Mr Zhang had been buoyed by knowing that we had bred Vinrock, and that we have been rearing nice horses.
“But going back to the type of filly she was, it just shows that you can’t judge a book by its cover, and have to treat them as individuals, but you would think she could be better as a miler and as a 3-year-old.”
Tears Of Happiness (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Rosemont didn’t breed the Lloyd Kennewell-trained Eternal Warrior, but as a son of their young stallion, the stable will be hoping he can become the sire’s first stakes performer.
“He has already had a metropolitan winner in South Australia, and he beat a few more of the glamorous stallions into doing that. He struggled with his fertility a bit, but interestingly it is improving with maturity, and following what Starspangledbanner did a bit for us.
“But you don’t need a big sample size to make an impact, I think Danehill only had 53 in his first crop in Australia and Street Cry had 54. Extreme Warrior was in the late forties in the end.
“It hasn’t been easy getting numbers for him since, but he is exciting, I have no doubt he can leave an impact.”
Eternal Warrior as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
2-year-old success built on commercial focus
Mithen attributes Rosemont’s early-season juvenile success to a deliberate shift in their breeding approach, that has been calculated and meaningful.
“We have made a shift to thinking much more commercially, and our General Manager of Bloodstock Ryan McEvoy has played a big part in our change in thinking and our development. He has guided us along to staying commercial, gaining commercial mares and alongside my partners we have been prepared to carefully invest.
Ryan McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We have dived in and sharpened up our broodmare band, and we also stand some sharp stallions. We now have some really precocious broodmares, you need sharp horses to stay commercial.
“We have dived in and sharpened up our broodmare band, and we also stand some sharp stallions. We now have some really precocious broodmares.” - Anthony Mithen
“In the past we have enjoyed horses in our colours and having a bit of fun, with the likes of Tarzino who was such a good racehorse, but it is no surprise that the run of results has coincided with a strategic plan to stay commercial, breed sharper and to stay current.
"It’s nice to get results and it shows that the long-term plans are working.”
Magic Millions preparations well under way
Looking ahead to the 2026 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Mithen is pleased with how the draft of 17 yearlings is progressing.
“They are coming along really good, they have been chipping away for about a month now and the team are in tip-top shape.
“We have to get them ready well, as it is a bit of a mission being an hour on the wrong side of Melbourne and then getting up to the Gold Coast. So they need to be ready for the trip first of all, it really is quite a unique task. The yearling team is capably led by Kelsey Dance, and they do a really good job. We have a parade at home on December 19 booked to show them off before they travel up to the Gold Coast.
“The yearling team is capably led by Kelsey Dance, and they do a really good job. We have a parade at home on December 19 booked to show them off before they travel up to the Gold Coast.” - Anthony Mithen
“There is a growing acknowledgement from everyone that they know we focus on two significant sales: Magic Millions and the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale. We focus on them, that is our system and it seems to work for us.
“In essence it is a split draft. The slightly more precocious ones, with maybe a touch more pedigree, go to Magic Millions. The ones that are slightly behind will go to Melbourne, or maybe it is their birthdate, or they need a bit more time.
“It works for us and it works for our customers, knowing how we do things and having full confidence.”
A breakout season in the stallion barn
It has also been a landmark year for the Rosemont stallion roster, with Group 1-winning Zoustar son Schwarz beginning his career and the beautifully bred Henry Longfellow (Ire) arriving from Coolmore as a shuttle stallion.
Schwarz | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It has been a really strong year. With Henry Longfellow, I am delighted the locals have adopted him and he has been popular. He deserved to be popular, being a Group 1 winning son of Dubawi out of one of Galileo’s best daughters.
“It was a massive coup for us and Victoria to get access to him and as I said I am delighted that the breeders have warmed to him.
“It really was a pinch-me moment getting Henry Longfellow and Schwarz to both start their careers at Rosemont this year.”
Henry Longfellow | Image courtesy of Coolmore
Starting two new stallions brought understandable pressure to all facets of the organisation.
“Starting two new stallions was a bit nervous for us this season, it was a bit of a hold-your-breath moment. But they were both strongly received and it has been a great team performance, right from the office who have had to deal with a lot more work, to the stallion boys and the broodmare team, everyone has chipped in and it has been a great effort.
“Hopefully we get through the next few weeks well, and the whole team will enjoy a drink at the Geelong races in a few weeks as part of a well-deserved celebration for our Christmas staff party.”
