If there is any entity that can be clearly credited to adapting new times and keeping themselves ahead in the game, it has to be Vinery Stud. Their facility boasts of all the modern equipment and methods of the thoroughbred horse world. We could not help but be amazed at the sheer amount of modernization that this farm had incorporated in their daily life and we believe that it is these minor details that complete any show.
Peter Orton, managing director of the Vinery Stud is one of the most revered people on the breeding game and rightfully so. Known for his humility and an ever so smiling face, Peter is someone that not one single person would have a problem looking up to. He has been in this business for multiple decades, from his journey as a student in the 90’s to being a master in the current scenario. Peter has come a long way by means of dedication and his willingness to remain an eternal student to the art.
We had a brief chat with him in regards to the draft Vinery is bringing to the MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Unsurprisingly, they are bringing some of the finest yearlings in one of the biggest drafts and we are bound to have some questions for him.
Q: You have a large draft of this year. Could you tell us more about your highlight Lots from your 2020 draft? (You could even send us an excel sheet with a little commentary for each of the horses, and we can publish that whole at the end. But for the highlight lots, it would be great to get a long perspective.)
A: We have a high draft of yearlings again for this year's Magic Millions sale who are from good producing mares and by a nice mix of active commercial stallions. They are a strong, sound, well-grown group, typical of the type of horse that the Vinery property has produced for many years now. This year's 2yo Magic Millions winner, EXHILARATES, was a Vinery bred, reared and sold yearlings, as was the current favourite for next year's Magic Million race - FARNAN.
It is not easy to pick out highlights when we have such a kind, consistent draft; however, in the top range of pedigrees and type, two colts will attract considerable attention:
The Snitzel/Fit And Ready colt is a beautiful, racy filly, who is well balanced, has good bone and looks like he will go nice and early. He is from a very well-bred, good producing mare. He boasts the Snitzel/More Than Ready cross, which is proving to be a great success and includes our 2018 Magic Millions winner Exhilarates.
I also really like the More Than Ready/You da One colt. He is by our Champion stallion More Than Ready, who has already produced two Magic Millions winners, and from one of the best families in the Australian Stud Book. This is a great looking colt, with right size and scope, plenty of muscle and significant presence. Although this is just her second foal, his dam is proving to be a perfect producer early in her career with the full brother winning very impressively in Hong Kong at his last start and looks to have a very bright future.
Q: Could you please tell us a bit more about your association with this sale? How long have you been showing at the sale? How do you manage that balance of high quality and the right quantity?
A: I have personally been selling yearlings at the Magic Millions Sale since its inception back in 1986 where we had the first draft of 3 yearlings in a sale totalling 200 lots. Vinery Stud has been selling at the Magic Millions since its commencement in Australia in 2000. The concept of the sale has changed somewhat over the years and although it was set up to race graduates from the sale for $1million that has not necessarily changed. Still, the sale itself has progressed and is now a significant sale in the Southern Hemisphere selling horses for a far broader market than just a 2yo race the following year.
The sale is represented by the top end yearlings bred in Australasia. There is a general perception and a buyer expectation, however, that these yearlings are the more mature, precocious types, so the selection process is somewhat controlled by this expectation. Pedigree is important and the better the pedigree obviously, the more attention it attracts, however for this sale type is paramount which is part of the reason you see so many good racehorses come from it.
Q: Although you have probably sold some costly and successful horses in your lifetime, please tell us about the most expensive horse you ever sold at this sale and where he/she is right now? Similarly could you please tell us about those horses you've sold, who have gone on to be very successful on the racecourse.
A: The most expensive yearling we have sold was the I Am Invincible colt from Gr.1 winning mare Commanding Jewel (who we also sold at this sale as a yearling) in 2018. He is currently being trained by Brad Widdup, at Hawkesbury, who has always had a significant opinion of the colt. Unfortunately, the colt had a setback that precluded him from running as a 2yo which is not all that uncommon, especially for first foals. He is now back in full work, and Brad expects to have him racing shortly.
We have had an array of great horses from our drafts through this sale. Horses such as Champion mare Atlantic Jewel and the current leading stallion in the country, Rubick, have both come through our Magic Millions draft and of course, there's Exhilarates whom I mentioned earlier.
Q: How do you decide on your matings? How long does it take you, and what does the process involve? Would you say its an art or a science?
A: We spend much time on our matings, as I'm sure most people do. Throughout the year, we track the mares' produce records and general activity within the pedigree to give us all the information to best select the most suitable stallion for them. The process of mating a mare is both an art and a science, but for me, it is more about research and horsemanship. It involves researching current and previous performances of sire lines and analyzing the mare's pedigree to gain a good feel for the best crosses and their suitability to our racing. Having good horsemanship is vital because although having an excellent pedigree that has all the aspects you are looking for is essential, it is of no value if the resultant yearling doesn't possess the right physical attributes. To assess and read a horse is so important when you are looking for that standout individual; a yearling that has presence and x-factor that is the core trait of a good racehorse.
Q: With the big name Triple Crown winners coming to Australia, do you believe the top-end Australian market slowly shifting away from Precocious 2YOs with speed to more mile-2000m racehorses, albeit slowly? If yes, why so and if no, why so, also?
A: No, I don't think we will move away from precocious 2yo's, however, there is much more patience being given these days to allow the level of horse we are now producing to reach its full potential. The advent of the shuttle stallion over the past 30 years has helped to enrich and deepen the pedigree pool in Australia. We see our pedigrees perform over a variety of distances and to a level that is competitive anywhere in the world. Using our own More Than Ready as an example, he has produced 2 Magic Million winners, 2 Golden Slipper winners, a Blue Diamond winner, all the premium early 2yo speed races. Still, he has also produced 2 VRC Derby winners, several Oaks winners and other winners of Derbies throughout Australasia, then add to this what he is doing all over the world at all sorts of distances and on all types of surfaces is just mindboggling.
Precocity is one element that has been so important to our racing here, but that doesn't mean our horses only run over shorter distances for a shorter period. With the depth of our bloodlines and the calibre of stallions we have on offer, the horses we now produce are more likely to race on longer in pursuit of the high level of prizemoney far on offer for older horses. Australia is the best in the world at producing sprinter milers and the country our farms are on and the way we rear our horses allows us to dominate in this area and supply many horses, not only to our domestic market but to Asia as well. Our conditions are not entirely suited to the development of exact staying types. Nevertheless, there are plenty of nice stallions coming through with great depth to their pedigrees, and I'm sure we will continue to see a higher percentage of locally bred horses compete successfully in that middle distance range, which is a massive part of our racing programme.
Q: How did you get involved with horses, and what is your history with Vinery?
A: I grew up with horses and farming in general. The horses we had were stock horses and some sporting horses, but I did not have much to do with thoroughbreds at an early age. I wasn't until I was given the task of breaking in a number of thoroughbreds that I became so passionate about the breed and for what they were so finely bred and developed for. I never tire of being around and working with the thoroughbred; they are unique, special animals that give so much and take you to all corners of the world with people from every level of society coming together with a common passion for the horse.
Q: With 2020 fast approaching, what are the top two things on your bucket list (sales' figure-wise or racecourse-success-wise) to achieve by 2030?
A: Sales wise; we are always aiming for the yearlings we breed to be sought after and accepted into the leading sales and to enjoy the returns that level of market can provide. By sticking to our proven formula and putting our efforts into our select group of mares, we can achieve healthy returns in the sale ring and produce horses that are well adapted to our racing conditions. Aiming for the top end of the market, in turn, helps our broodmare band because her resultant progeny are afforded respect and opportunities on the track that will only strengthen her pedigree page.
Racing wise; we would love to continue to find the elite racehorse, which is understandably the driving ambition of all involved in this industry. Moreover, my great goal is to take what we can produce here in Australia to the world by racing our best against the world's best, as some get to do in the likes of Hong Kong, Ascot, Dubai or at the Breeders' Cup. That would spread the respect for what we are producing here, which is genuinely so deserving. The enormous opportunities we have in Australia with prizemoney does tend to limit many from taking such a risk. Still, as we seek to perform at the highest level, we are producing a product that can compete against the best, and it is a commitment I would be prepared to take.