Breeding and racing are all about youth and the future, and I’m not just talking about the horses.
Respected bloodstock agent Mark Pilkington has every reason to be excited about this spring and shares his thoughts - After some big wins and a placegetter in the Turnbull, excitement turns to our Caulfield Cup prospect, Eliyass, but not before I get a bit nostalgic and share with you all the far-reaching influence of Lindsay Park and its legacy.
Racing can change quickly, especially during this time of year. Our team had high hopes for Epimeles in the Guineas, but a virus was discovered after a disappointing 10th-placed finish in the Prelude.
It seemed our Spring hopes rested on Eliyass until Luke Currie’s brilliant ride on comeback kid Uncle Bryn in Saturday’s Paris Lane Stakes and Airman’s giant-killing performance in the G2 Premier Stakes at Randwick gave us and our partners renewed excitement.
We have raced a few with Rupert and Cheryl Legh and joined forces with them in Airman after bidding against each other for him at the Easter Sale. Their colours also stood out on another great day of racing for Lindsay Park’s stalwart Jenny McAlpine’s ladies’ horse, Arkansaw Kid. The Hawkes team has done an exceptional job with Airman, and while getting into the Everest would be nice, the $2 million Sydney Stakes offers a strong alternative.
We now turn our hopes to barracking for our Fierce Impact partners Frank and Chris Cook and their Lindsay Park trained 3yo Evaporate in the Caulfield Guineas.
The recent success of French import Eliyass made me reflect on my early days at Lindsay Park, where they had taken me and how fortunate I was that a young-ish David Hayes took a youthful and green West Australian under his wing in 1998. Lindsay Park has been an extraordinary training ground for many years, not just for horses but also for people.
Andy Makiv, now Godolphin’s Australian Manager, is a standout example - as it was clear he was destined for a leadership role in racing. His rise is a testament to the environment at Lindsay Park, which consistently nurtures talent.
Darren Thomas partnered with the fledgling syndication company First Tuesday Racing with Sam Hayes (son of Peter) and the McLachlan brothers (Hamish & Gil), which gave Makiv his first racing job. We still cheer on the old First Tuesday colours that regularly visit the winner’s stall for Colin & Janice McKenna.
The Seymour team will cheer home Another Wil, a homebred by Makiv’s Godolphin stallion Street Boss, in the ever-present First Tuesday colours in this week’s Toorak Handicap.
“I’m chuffed to have played a small role in the long-standing relationship between Andy & The McKennas, and that our promising French stayer Eliyass was sourced for us by another of Pilks old apprentices,Louis Le Metayer puts an extra layer of excitement on his progress,” said Darren Thomas.
Saturday’s Turnbull placegetter Eliyass was a €330,000 purchase for Le Metayers Astute bloodstock at last October Aqarna Sale. Le Metayer secured Elamaz, a horse with a similar profile to Eliyass, at this week’s Aqarna sale for €480000.
Ex-Angaston boys Tony McEvoy and Mark Walker have also made a pretty good fist of training, as has Peter’s old apprentice, Ciaron Maher.
There was a time when people wondered how David would go when handed the reigns from CS; I reckon he’s gone pretty well! Louis’s success got me thinking that besides being gun trainers, the Lindsay Park team has been an amazing producer of quality young people outside the training space.
The reach of Lindsay Park extends globally, and the story of Nico de Chambure, Who briefly joined in the early 2000s via his friendship with Jenny McAlpine, exemplifies this.
Nico orchestrated the rise of Wootton Bassett, a stallion who became one of the hottest in the world. His success, culminating in a $65 million sale to Coolmore in 2020, was a dream come true for any studmaster.
Prominent racing veteran Peter Maher and his wife Jo cheered home their amazing Wootton Bassett 2yo Maranoa Charlie when he captured the racing world’s attention with an 8-length demolition of a G3 field in France on Friday night, at the same time our Wakeful Stakes winner, Luvaluva, foaled a magnificent filly by Wootton Bassett at Newhaven Park.
We also have a Wootton Bassett half-sister to last week’s Maloney Stakes winner, Lilac, and her progress under the guile of the in-form
Waterhouse/Bott combination adds even more excitement as the Spring races heat up.
When Nico joined us, the Hayes twins Will and JD were pesky 4-5yo’s. The job they, Ben, Sophie, Grace, and their support team have done to establish themselves as leading trainers is outstanding; their work ethic and success speak volumes.
Emerging bloodstock agents like Will Johnson, who helped secure Metropolitan Handicap winner and Caulfield Cup placegetter Mirage Dancer for our ownership group, are part of this new wave of talent.
Johnson, who grew up playing footy with Ben Hayes, has become someone we regularly rely on for International industry insights.
I might be biased but I think former travelling foreman Lizzie Jelfs is one of the industry’s leading media performers - she genuinely knows her
stuff and Racing.com are lucky to have her.
Seymour Park, where we operate, is bustling with activity. It’s a multipurpose property, and we’re incredibly proud of it. There are many
spokes in the Seymour wheel, and our horses, like Epimeles, couldn’t enjoy the spring grass without Brian Byrnes and our dedicated team.
Mares are foaling, yearlings are heading off to their sale consignors, and the Lovatsville stallion lineup includes Royal Meeting, Fierce Impact,
Gold Trip, and Generation are busy in the breeding shed - under the stewardship of yet another young talent, Sam White. They provide excellent options for breeders looking for value without sacrificing quality during uncertain times.
"Every business requires a balance of experience and youth to drive progress. Like Lindsay Park nurtures talent, I enjoy seeing young people grow into their roles and add value in my core business at Thomas goods international. I firmly believe our Seymour Park/Lovatsville Manager - Brian Byrnes, who at 34 years old, is well on the way to being one of Galway’s finest thoroughbred industry exports.
"Uncle Bryn’s win in the Winning Edge Paris Lane Stakes was special to him, his hard-working team, and our great team of owners including Uncle Smokey Dawson. Trent & Nat, have done a super job with the horse and who knows, there might be a nice race for him in the coming
weeks,” continued Darren Thomas.
Racing is becoming more lucrative as prizemoney continues to rise, but with that comes an increase in the cost of participation, from buying
horses to training fees. We applaud those who succeed in the racing and breeding industries; we know just how hard it is, but being supported by long-time friends, trusted clients, and an exciting new generation of talent makes the journey all the more rewarding.
May we all be fortunate enough to participate in some capacity during the 2024 Spring carnival!
