Personality Profile –Know Them Better

Sponsored Content - by Tara Madgwick - Saturday October 9

A Kiwi horseman with a passion for golf has the coveted job of looking after the most expensive stallion in the country.

This week we find out more about Michael Morton, Stallion Manager at Yarraman Park.

Michael Morton, Stallion Manager at Yarraman Park.

1/ Where are you from, and what got you in involved in the thoroughbred industry?

Levin, which is a town located in lower end of the North Island in New Zealand. Mid way through high school I went to a parent teacher interview with Dad, and the Dean asked what I wanted to do when I finished school.

I said had no idea and she asked what I liked to do, being smart I said punting at the races with Dad. She suggested maybe horses should be something I looked into, so with school holidays starting Dad approached local horse trainer Ilone Kelly and thankfully Ilone took me on. I spent three years in the racing industry before I moved on to stud work.

2/ What does a workday in the life of Michael Morton look like?
 
During the season my morning starts a 5.30, and it’s pretty much the same routine every day.

I live right next to the stallions at Yarraman, so a short walk over to Vinnie and Hellbent. Give them a quick check over and a tidy up, then get the breeding barn ready for 6am covers.

They are both great horses to work with in the breeding barn and don’t waste any time.

They go out after covers and I like to leave them be until the next breeding session at 11am.
 

Break for some lunch, then head back over and bring the boys in for a groom. 4pm covers quickly come round and then it’s rugs on and feed up time.

I head home to either chill out or quickly head to town for nine holes of golf. Then most nights it’s back to at 8.30 for night covers at 9pm. I’m usually in bed by 10pm.

3/ Who is your favourite horse and why?

Tough! I’d have to give you two. My favourite racehorse was a kiwi horse called Tit For Taat. He was a horse that I can remember when I was 11 or 12. He was a multiple Group I winner and was so tough, he’d never run a bad race.

Then favourite stallion is I Am Invincible. When I tell people he’s my favourite they always sarcastically say of course he is, given his high profile. But if you spend time with this horse, he is one in a million.

 

I Am Invincible parades with Michael Morton - image Grant Courtney.

He’s a gentle giant, anyone can deal with him. He’s very intelligent and professional at his job, if there is a maiden mare in the breeding shed he knows, and takes extra care of himself and the mare. Add those things to his incredible physique and no wonder his stock have achieved what they have so far.

4/ Tell us about the best day you had at the races or at the sales, and what made it memorable for you?

Back when I was in racing stables we had a filly called Chunky Chic. The story behind her is that it took Ilone just under 10 weeks to get her broken in and running in the first 2yo race of the season in New Zealand.

She won that and was the first horse I led in for a win at the races. I remember her going to the track on the second day of having someone on her back, looking back at it now and knowing what it takes to get a horse to the races it was a bloody great effort.

5-What is your favourite show on Netflix or TV?

I’ve just finished watching Squid Game on Netflix and it’s great! I also like Money Heist and any Crime/Murder Mystery Doco.
 
6-When travel opens again where is the first place you will go?
 
I’d love to get back to Lexington in Kentucky. I’ve been lucky enough to shuttle More Than Ready there a couple of times.

Michael Morton is looking forward to getting back to the US.

I also have a couple of good mates that I met on the Irish National Stud course who live there and they always show me a great time when I’m there.

7-What is your favourite cuisine and restaurant?

Tough because anyone that knows me, knows I love food and most times it doesn’t have to been anything fancy. But you can’t beat the 1kg Rib Eye at The Cottage in Scone.
 
8/Name two things on your bucket list?

To play some of the Major Championship courses in Golf, and to breed a Group I winner.
 
9/ What’s the best advice someone has ever given you?

My Stallion Manager at Vinery Jose Ramos always said to me if you can’t be relaxed in the breeding shed with a stallion, then how can the horse relax. They sense every emotion we have whether you are happy or frustrated, and it will take 10 times longer if you try to rush a stallion into covering a mare.

10/ Tell us one thing that not many people may know about you?

I was a part of the Manawatu mixed junior golf team that won the New Zealand teams title, and took out the individual net score prize.

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Coolmore Announce Euro 2025 Fees
Coolmore have announced fees for their 20 strong European sire roster with three new additions City of Troy (Justify), Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact)and Henry Longfellow (Dubawi) and a significant increase for Wootton Bassett, who is currently in Australia.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.