Valachi Downs Announces Major Expansion Plans

Media Release - Thursday July 19

Valachi Downs are significantly increasing their holdings in the thoroughbred industry.

Steve Autridge - Trish DunnellThe Kevin Hickman-owned Matamata operation will be the new home for Group One-winning trainer Stephen Autridge while the breeding arm of the business will also be further developed.

"Valachi is expanding both the racing and stallion side of the business and we have bought the property formerly known as Wexford Stables," manager Jonathan Scully said.

"We will take over in mid to late September and Stephen will have the bulk of the Valachi horses and probably four outside clients.

"He'll probably kick off with about 50 horses and build on that over the next few years. It's still the intention to spread about 20 per cent of our young stock with other trainers."

The new venture will be located on 10 acres with 70 boxes and direct access to the Matamata track with former trainer Kris Shailer as foreman.

"We'll be putting in a treadmill as well," Scully said. "Stephen was going to take a bit of a step back, but Kevin had a chat with him and it works for both parties.

"It's a great opportunity and Stephen's very excited. He'll have some great bloodlines to work with.

"There will be a couple of European fillies and Kevin bought three more by Dubawi, Nathaniel and Choisir at the Tattersalls Sale and they will probably end up down here at some stage.

"There's also the Frankel colt out of Silent Achiever. I saw him at Newmarket a couple of weeks ago and he'll come out here to Stephen later this year.

"Kevin will also probably keep a few more colts than he has done in the past.

"It's great that people like Kevin and his wife Jo keep investing, they would be among the largest benefactors of New Zealand racing.

Zacinto"It's all about the people and a unified team approach, you can't do this without the right people."

Valachi will be standing successful sire Zacinto and the home-bred freshman stallion Savile Row with plans for more in the future.

"Zacinto will be serving top end mares and there's been a fair bit of interest in Savile Row," Scully said.

"We'll be having six stallion boxes and 12 paddocks so we're prepared in the future for more stallions.

"We won't be carrying outside mares and we'll be running it as a stallion station. It's exciting times." – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Bellatrix Star May Back Up in G1 Champions Sprint
Te Akau and Fortuna Racing’s filly Bellatrix Star proved she is among Australia’s top sprinting three-year-olds last Saturday at Flemington, finishing second in the A$2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Zacinto Filly Wins G3 Desert Gold
The Lisa Latta-trained Secret Allure secured her biggest career success when she stormed to victory in Saturday's Group III Williment Travel Group Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.
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.
Melbourne Cup Tips – Tara Talks Racing
Tara Talks Racing is now online having had a Sunday arvo drink or two as we go through the Cup horses, so what do Clocker and I like for this year’s Melbourne Cup?
Te Akau Chasing Another Cup Day Success
Last year’s Melbourne Cup Day concluded in success for Mark Walker in the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), a race he will chase back-to-back crowns in on Tuesday with Kiwi mare Quintessa.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.
Guineas Goal for Vassilator
Juvenile stakes winner Vassilator will kick-off his three-year-old season at Caulfield on Saturday when he tackles the Group III McNeil Stakes (1200m).
Will it be a fairytale finish for Tasmanian-bred mare The Map?
Fresh from sweeping the sire awards at the 2024 Tasmanian Racing Awards this season, the Armidale Stud team is in line for another significant achievement with The Map (Alpine Eagle x This Moment) flying the flag for resident stallion Alpine Eagle in the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 5 November.
ZAcinto Filly Wins G3 Taranaki Breeders
A heady ride by in-form jockey Rosie Myers paved the way for Awapuni galloper Secret Allure to add further black type to a burgeoning pedigree page when she stormed home from near last to capture the Group III Rich Hill Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera.
Zacinto's Odeon Strikes in the Lord Stakes
Punters can be a forgiving lot and for those long-suffering supporters that parlayed their faith in Luvaluva at Randwick into Odeon in the Listed Ladbrokes Lord Stakes (1700m) Caulfield it was a day to savour.