From the bush to the big stage: Why racing’s biggest names need to keep backing the country

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Racing’s biggest businesses have good reason to keep horses in country stables. Every horse they send supports work for local trainers, jockeys and stable staff, while the country circuit helps develop the horses and horsemanship those businesses rely on.

For Arrowfield Stud and Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud, that relationship is part of daily business. Both operations give country trainers opportunities, educate horses through regional racing and draw on the skills of people who learnt their craft there.

On Saturday, that connection delivered a $2 million return when Chains Of Love (I Am Invincible) won The Kosciuszko at Randwick for Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich.

A blueblood daughter of Vinnie and granddaughter of Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice), she brought one of the country’s most prominent breeding operations into the winner’s enclosure on The Everest day. Behind the result was a longstanding commitment to racing well beyond the metropolitan tracks.

For Arrowfield chairman John Messara and Baramul Racing Manager Luke McDonald, keeping that commitment is essential to the businesses they run and the country racing communities that support them.

A family connection behind Chains Of Love

For Arrowfield, Chains Of Love’s success was also a story of pedigree, ownership and opportunity.

The stable attached to the stud provides a pathway for horses that do not sell at auction, whether they fail to meet their reserve, are not ready to be offered or have been held back by injury.

“Our stable is attached to the stud. Fundamentally, most of the horses that land there are those that we've passed in at the sales. So it's another means of trying those horses, that we've not been able to settle at the sales at our reserves, or for horses that didn't quite make the sales because they weren't ready or they had an injury or something,” Messara explained.

“Paul gets those and he trains them, or pre-trains them, and some of them go on to other trainers, and some we keep there to fill the stable.”

Chains Of Love was a particularly appealing prospect given her pedigree and the family’s connection with Arrowfield.

“Chains Of Love is a granddaughter of Miss Finland and I thought this was a really nice one for him to train because of the family connection and the ownership. He’s done a great job here and Leah too, with getting her ready for this race.”

Messara recalled that Paul had been confident in the preparation well before the mare arrived at Randwick, even if the plan initially sounded ambitious.

“He said to me a few months ago, ‘I'm not going to give her a start before the race. I'm going to give her three trials.’”

Messara admitted he had his doubts, but the result vindicated the trainers’ judgement.

“I thought this kid's dreaming. But anyway, he was right, and the performance she put up was extraordinary because the race didn't quite pan out the way you would have hoped, and she covered a fair bit of extra ground.”

The mare had plenty to do during the race, but allowing her to stride freely rather than search for an inside run proved crucial.

“Interestingly, the jockey worked out that she was a big filly with a big stride, and she would be better staying out wide and not hunting for an inside position. And let her run without anything obstructing her too much. And it worked in her favour, as it turns out, she had plenty left at the end to overtake the leaders.

“I mean, three furlongs out, you would have torn up your ticket. But Paul and Leah had her ready for that race and she was absolutely fit for it.”

For Arrowfield, the victory was a reminder that a horse’s value is not always determined in the sale ring. With the right preparation and opportunity, horses retained by the stud can still make their mark on the racetrack.

Country racing as a proving ground

Arrowfield’s commitment to country racing is grounded in geography as much as philosophy. With the stud and the Messara family based in the Scone region, country racing is part of everyday life for the operation.

“There are a lot of reasons for it. We're located there. I've got a home there and Paul's got a home there and we're located there. We have a staff of 120 up there, the stud has been going for 40 years and we love country racing,” Messara said.

The region’s tracks also provide a valuable environment in which horses can learn their trade.

“They're very good tracks, both Muswellbrook and Scone are great tracks to educate horses, and that's where they all start, and if they're good enough, they go to town and if they're not quite competitive enough for town, they stick around the country.”

For Messara, the system offers a practical progression, allowing horses to develop at an appropriate level before moving into stronger company.

“It’s a formula that's working for us. Paul is never backwards in coming into town if he's got a horse that he thinks is good enough. But it's a good kindergarten for the city and it has worked.”

Country racing is therefore not separate from metropolitan racing or the breeding industry. It is part of the pathway that supports both, providing opportunities for horses to progress while allowing others to continue competing successfully in their own regions.

For a stud with a substantial workforce and decades of breeding history behind it, the connection also has a human dimension. The same environment that helps educate horses can provide the foundation for the people who care for them throughout their careers.

The foundation of the game

For Luke McDonald, country racing’s importance extends well beyond developing horses. He sees it as the foundation of the industry, bringing together the people, skills and enthusiasm that sustain the sport.

“The country jurisdiction is the most important sector in the industry. It is the foundation of how you get involved, it’s so authentic, the characters, it's true, it's genuine and it stems from the love of the horse.”

That authenticity was reinforced during a visit to Birdsville this year, where the atmosphere and the people around the track left a lasting impression of what country racing is all about.

“When I went to Birdsville this year, and had a good look and a walk around, I had one of the greatest times I've had on a racetrack, because the characters that it brought to that track was just true, genuine love of horses and having a good time.”

For McDonald, country racing brings together people from different walks of life through a shared interest in horses, competition and the social side of the game.

That connection is central to Harvey’s involvement through Baramul Stud. McDonald said Harvey supports country sires, trainers and jockeys, helping maintain a cycle in which horses and people remain connected to the wider industry.

The operation’s involvement is reflected in the horses moving through its system and the relationships built along the way.

McDonald pointed to Chidiac’s journey as an example of how that process works, with the horse progressing through a network of country-based participants.

“We had Chidiac in The Kosciuszko. She went through our system, which is all through the country. They start at Armidale, then go to Luke Morgan at Tamworth and Mel O’Gorman, who both reside at Tamworth and polish them, and then down the line they go to Brett and Georgie Cavanough, who train at Scone.”

It is a pathway that demonstrates how country racing can provide opportunities at several levels, connecting breeders and owners with trainers who understand how to develop horses outside the metropolitan system.

McDonald also highlighted the significance of a horse passed in at the sales for a modest reserve, reinforcing that racing opportunities are not confined to expensive yearlings or high-profile purchases.

“She was passed in with a $25,000 reserve at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sales Book 2, so you don't get more country than that. That's a true country horse and she has just exceeded expectations.”

The example reflects an important part of the appeal for owners: horses can progress through the country circuit, exceed expectations and provide memorable racing experiences without following a conventional metropolitan pathway.

More than a race on the calendar

The Kosciuszko has become an important showcase for that potential, bringing country racing into the spotlight on a day dominated by some of Australia’s biggest races.

For McDonald, its significance lies not only in the prizemoney but in the opportunity to introduce a wider audience to the country jurisdiction.

“It's showcasing what our country's jurisdiction can do, and it’s for good prize money. It is so important to showcase that to our audience in the city, outlining that there are levels to this game and you can be a part of it.”

The race also creates opportunities for owners to build relationships through its slot-holder arrangements. McDonald said Baramul had been involved on several occasions, with the negotiations becoming an enjoyable part of the experience.

“We have been lucky enough to race in the race a couple of times now and the slot holder has called us up and negotiated, which is all part of the fun. But I still text each slot holder to this day, we have built genuine relationships from this race and genuine friendships.”

That social dimension is important to the industry’s long-term prospects. Bringing new people into racing is one challenge; retaining them and giving them reasons to remain involved is another.

“It's bringing other customers into the game and retention and recruitment is so important for survival to keep this longevity going within racing. So it's just fantastic.”

For McDonald, The Kosciuszko demonstrates how a race can create opportunities beyond the track, helping owners establish connections and encouraging people to become involved in an industry that can otherwise appear difficult to access.

It also provides a platform for country racing to demonstrate its value to metropolitan audiences, reminding the industry that the sport’s foundations are not confined to its biggest venues.

The people and the horses

McDonald believes country racing’s enduring appeal comes down to the people it attracts and the shared enthusiasm that keeps them coming back.

“I'm always curious to find out why people are into this game and I was talking to Gerry about it the other day. He has his own reasons why he got attracted to it but I think a common denominator is they love rubbing shoulders with different people. It doesn't have to be the top, the high-end class and high-class people, it could be anyone from all aspects of life.”

That diversity is part of what makes the country circuit distinctive. Race meetings bring together breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys, stable staff and local communities, united by an interest in the horse and the excitement of competition.

It is also where many people begin learning the skills that carry them through their working lives in racing and breeding. McDonald said the experience gained around country horses and at country meetings could be particularly valuable when developing staff for the thoroughbred industry.

“They start at country level and they learn their horsemanship, and I find the staff that I get from the country and put into the studs, they exceed my expectations, too, because they have that genuine foundation of horsemanship. So, it's so important for our game. I can't speak highly enough about it.”

That emphasis on horsemanship reinforces the connection between racing and breeding. The industry depends not only on the quality of the horses being produced, but also on the people who understand them, care for them and help them reach their potential.

McDonald recalled asking owners such as Max Whitby whether they would prefer to watch their horse compete in the city on a Saturday or contest a country cup. The response consistently reflected the appeal of the country experience.

“I always remember asking owners like Max Whitby the question on whether you would rather go and watch your horse in the city on a Saturday or go to a country venue in a country cup-type race, and his answer's always the same, it's that I'd rather go to a cup and enjoy that authentic feel of true racing.”

For McDonald, that sentiment speaks to a broader truth about ownership. The attraction is not always about competing at the highest level or being part of the most prestigious races. It can be just as much about the experience, the people involved and the satisfaction of seeing a horse perform.

A two-way relationship

The success of Chains Of Love at Randwick provided a timely illustration of how the different parts of the industry complement one another.

For Arrowfield, country racing is part of the environment in which its horses and staff develop. For Baramul, it is a vital pathway through which horses, owners and industry participants become involved in racing. Both operations recognise that the benefits extend beyond individual results.

Country racing benefits from major breeders and owners who provide horses, invest in the jurisdiction and create opportunities for trainers and jockeys. Their participation brings depth to the fields and helps maintain the connection between regional racing and the broader industry.

The Kosciuszko brings those elements together in a race that gives country racing a prominent place on one of the biggest days on the Australian calendar. Its $2 million purse provides a substantial incentive, but its wider significance lies in the attention it brings to a jurisdiction that remains essential to the sport.

Ultimately, the story behind Chains Of Love is about more than a big Saturday victory. It is about a horse whose connections extended through a major breeding operation, a training partnership that prepared her for the challenge and a racing structure that provides opportunities beyond the metropolitan centres.

For Messara and McDonald, country racing is not a peripheral part of the thoroughbred industry. It is where horses begin, where people learn their craft and where the love of the game is often at its most visible.

And while the biggest races will always command attention, the health of Australian racing depends on preserving the country foundations that allow horses, people and businesses to grow together.