Cover image courtesy of The Oaks Stud
Tony Rider’s plans for The Oaks Stud are beginning to take shape, with experienced horseman Marc Devcich appointed to oversee the merging of The Oaks and Milan Park, a rebrand of the historic property and the search for another commercial stallion.
Rider purchased The Oaks from Dick Karreman in June, with the property to formally change hands at the end of July 2027. On Thursday, he announced Devcich as the farm’s incoming manager, giving him responsibility for bringing the family’s breeding interests together under one operation.
Devcich, who runs Henley Park with wife Sarah, has worked for many of the biggest studs across Australasia. Until 2024, he was the Farm Manager at Cambridge Stud, and prior to that has worked for the likes of Windsor Park Stud, Mapperley Stud, and Widden Stud. He’s also done a stint in America.
“I’m looking forward to the new role. Tony (Rider) approached me about the role and he explained his goals and I thought that was a great opportunity,” Marc Devcich said.
“I’m looking forward to the new role. Tony (Rider) approached me about the role and he explained his goals and I thought that was a great opportunity.” Marc Devcich
“He’s got a passion and enthusiasm about the industry that is inspiring, and he’s committed. His family are very involved already through Milan Park. Obviously, this is more of a substantial investment, which shows you their commitment to the industry.
“Going forward The Oaks will be rebranded under a new name. Everyone in the family felt this would give clarity around the ownership.”
Marc Devcich | Image courtesy of NZ Racing News
Rider investment a vote of confidence
The New Zealand industry is in a state of change with the new Establishment Board announced in mid-August to bring together the Thoroughbred and Harness codes as well as the NZ TAB to assess and establish the focus of racing administration in the nation.
“There are a lot of positives coming in now in New Zealand with the administrative changes, and seeing this level investment from Tony and his family shows that there’s some confidence around. It’s great for the industry,” Devcich said.
“The Oaks is a great farm with a lot of history behind it. Dick Karreman has had a lot of success with the breeding and racing operation. It's a lovely, picturesque farm. It's got a lot of character and has been a successful farm under the stewardship of Rick Williams.”
“The Oaks is a great farm with a lot of history behind it... It's got a lot of character and has been a successful farm under the stewardship of Rick Williams.” - Marc Devcich
The Oaks Stud have bred many Group 1 winners such as Horse Of The Year Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), and Oaks winners Artistic (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and Zagalia (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
The Oaks Stud | Image courtesy of The Oaks Stud
“It’s very positive for the industry to see the farm carry on. We don't want to see these farms disappear in developments and not being carried on as a Thoroughbred property. It gives you a lot of confidence to have someone like Tony investing in the industry.
“The family’s values are very much focused on integrity and honesty, and that’s an important quality in someone I want to work for.” - Marc Devcich
“It’s good when you have people who are enthusiastic and genuine. The family’s values are very much focused on integrity and honesty, and that’s an important quality in someone I want to work for.”
Always keen for a new challenge
Devcich comes highly regarded for a role like this. Not only does he run the successful agistment and sales property Henley Park with wife Sarah, but he also spent eight years running Mapperley Stud, and was the Farm Manager at Cambridge Stud for four years stepping into the role in the difficult COVID years.
“I was at Cambridge Stud for four years as a senior manager, then came back to Henley Park for the last two years to focus on our agistment and pinhooking business. It’s going well and Sarah manages it very successfully,” Devcich said.
“I love challenges and I enjoy projects and Tony is the same. He loves getting his teeth into something and making it happen. He doesn’t stand still for long.”
“I love challenges and I enjoy projects and Tony is the same. He loves getting his teeth into something and making it happen. He doesn’t stand still for long.” - Marc Devcich
The purchase of The Oaks Stud did not include the current bloodstock on the farm, although current stallion The Chosen One (NZ) is already owned by Tony Rider so he will stay. Devcich has a year to understand the Rider family’s equine portfolio and make alterations to fit their goals going forwards. The farm will be taking on outsider mares for agistment too.
The Chosen One (NZ) | Standing at The Oaks Stud
“This will be an expansion project. Tony's staff at Milan Park will be amalgamated into this project and we’ll interview all the current The Oaks staff in the next few weeks and work out a plan. We already have a planned yearling draft for 2027, so there will be no gaps in the changeover period,” Devcich said.
“In horses, obviously everything takes time, but Tony has already increased his horse portfolio significantly in the last year or so through purchasing mares and he’s got breeding rights in some very high profile stallions, like Sword Of State, Hello Youmzain, and in Australia, with horses like Anamoe and Tentyris.
“He’s already had a lot of success with Milan Park, and he loves breeding racehorses, so that’s the main focus. The commercial side of it is always important, but first and foremost, is breeding good racehorses.”
Tony Rider | Image courtesy of NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Association
Milan Park was established in 2007 and Tony Rider has bred the likes of triple Group 1 winner Provence (NZ) (Proisir) who was sold to Yulong at the recent Chairman’s Sale for $1.8 million, and G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Pulchritudinous (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}).
Other elite winners include The Perfect Pink (NZ) (Savabeel), Irish Fling (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and Adventador (NZ) (Fast ‘n’ Famous).
Search begins for another commercial stallion
The Oaks Stud currently stand U S Navy Flag (USA) who is advertised at NZ$6000 plus GST for 2026 and The Chosen One (NZ) who stands at NZ$4000 plus GST. Retired stallion Darci Brahma (NZ) will be staying with Rick Williams when he retires, moving onto a smaller farm nearby with a few others of Dick Karreman’s retirees.
“Tony is looking for another stallion for next year (2027 season),” Devcich said.
“Tony already owns The Chosen One, so he will stay.”
G1 Thorndon Mile winner The Chosen One is a son of Savabeel from one of New Zealand’s most exciting families.
His dam Group 3-placed The Glitzy One (Flying Spur) is a daughter of dual Group 1 winner The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who also produced Group 3 winner The Diamond One (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) and Listed winner The Precious One (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
U S Navy Flag (USA) | Standing at The Oaks Stud
He has a small first crop of 3-year-olds with none to race yet. He moved to The Oaks in 2023 and has much bigger crops coming through with his 2-year-olds and beyond.
“I’m not sure what will happen with U S Navy Flag, he’s going well but needs a big horse to really get him going commercially. But he’s holding his own nicely. He’s at that transitional period where things could turn upwards quickly,” Devcich said.
U S Navy Flag, a beautifully bred Group 1-winning son of War Front {USA}), has seven stakes winners and a winners to runners ratio of 52%.
With a focus on building on The Oaks Stud’s past successes with a new brand, Tony Rider has made a further positive step by employing Marc Devcich who brings broad experience to the table.
The tantalising goal of adding more stallions of a commercial calibre to the farm indicates an understanding of the industry and gives the New Zealand breeding industry plenty to be positive about.
With The Chosen One remaining on the roster and Rider already searching for another commercial stallion for 2027, Devcich’s appointment signals that the new operation is intended to be considerably more than a consolidation of two existing farms.
