Based in the coastal land of New South Wales’ Hunter Valley, Davali Thoroughbreds is one of Australia’s premier thoroughbred farms. A consistent performer when it comes to high-quality drafts every year and every sale where they present.
Founded and co-owned by Alison Hush and David Hush, Davali Farm has world-class facilities, highly trained staff and more importantly two veterans at the helm running the affairs of the estate. It is considered a common knowledge among the community that Davali will be bringing the biggest and perhaps the best draft to any sale that they land up at.
Alison Hush brings in 11 years of expertise to the farm and the draft. Although she is quite busy preparing for Classic Yearling Sale, which is their first sale of this season she was happy to chat to The Impact about their large, high-quality draft:
Q: From your draft of 17 horses which yearlings would you consider your highlight lots and why? (Also, if you could send us your complete list of horses along with commentary for each, we would be happy to publish the same as is.
A: It is difficult to pick highlights horses, every horse in the draft has its’ own appeal. From the fillies, Astern X Key Bar Nights has great residual value and the first crop from the stallion should spark the buyer's interest. We also have fillies by other first-season sires Divine Prophet and Kiss And Makeup, and the proven Sebring and Epaulette. Then we can add to that with up and coming stallions Star Witness, Super One and Pride Of Dubai. Something for everyone!
Itis even harder to choose a standout from the colts. We have well-grown yearlings by up and coming sires Headwater, Dissident, Real Impact and No Nay Ever, but also the proven sires in Epaulette, Sidestep and Choisir.
If you are searching for a horse to campaign for the Inglis Millennium Race next year, Perhaps No Nay Never X MysticalTale should be on the shortlist, and ChoisirX Tiffany’s Diamond, Star Witness X Sagrada.
Q: Which was the most expensive & most successful horse you've sold at this sale previously?
A: Davali Thoroughbreds started offering yearlings at the Inglis Classic Sale in 2015. In that time we have had at least one yearling sell for over A$100,000 each year. One of those is a now three-year-old full sister to one of this year’s offerings, Lot 172, Eppaulette X Hanukkah - we are eagerly waiting for her racetrack debut in the near future.
We are seeing some good success at the races as our graduates mature. Recently we have seen Bluestone win two from four in Singapore and Ballistica improve her record to three wins and over A$135,000 in prize money. We are also excited to see the two-year-old Lamelo return to the races in the next few weeks after a luckless run in the Breeders Plate.
Q: How do you decide which horses should be sent to the Classic Yearling sale?
A: The Classic Sale is our mainsail each year. We look to take quality types which are sound and trainable.
Q: Which sale will you be attending next and what are the highlights of that draft?
A: Our focus for yearlings in 2020 is the Classic Sale. We are also looking forward to presenting a draft at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale which was a great success as a sale and also for us in2019.
Q: How is your farm coping with the challenges of the bush fires and has anyone been affected?
A: We had a fire very close to us at the start of the season and we spent a lot of December and early Januaryshrouded in smoke. Some of our clients evacuated to our farm from the central coast and Southern Highlands and the fire season isn’t over yet. Sure, the persistent heat and smoke have made some days difficult for our team and the horses, but we are the lucky ones compared to many others.