Long recognised as a fertile nursery for good horses, Edinburgh Park showed itself to be an industry leader on another front in October, with its proactive stance on animal welfare.
In a swift response to the 7.30 Report into the fate of retired racehorses, Ian Smith and the Edinburgh team announced the “Guarantee for Life” policy whereby any horse carrying its IKS brand would be welcome back to the farm at any time. Smith put in place a $1000 purchase guarantee to buy back a horse either privately or at public auction, to ensure it has a great home for life. Smith was widely applauded for the response and has been proactive in the time since following through on the promise.
“The vision we saw from the 7.30 Report was horrifying,” Smith said. “If people who have horses they own that carry our brand are in a position where they can’t look after them properly, we will offer them $1000, which is higher than any abattoir or knackery.
“We will follow that through, plus we are working on a few other things which will guarantee the welfare of the horses we breed.”
He said he understands the industry as a whole has taken longer to respond because “big wheels take longer to turn” but he has urged authorities to find a swift solution.
“Hopefully over time, sooner rather than later, we can get to a better position than what we are now,” he said.
“We have to realise in terms of the world and how the world sees things now … internet, social media. People’s knowledge and acceptance of all things in life have changed dramatically.
“We as a stud, profit from breeding, rearing and selling the progeny, so we have made a socially conscious decision that will protect the horses we bring into the world.
“We are selective breeders, we spend a lot of money rearing the horse and most of them are well sought after. The fillies are well bred, so end up breeding on other farms. A big percentage of our horses find good homes.”
The last two years have seen a seismic shift in the horses Edinburgh are breeding and they are selling a lot more horses on the Gold Coast.
Edinburgh sold all 16 yearlings it had catalogued last January (compared to a draft of just four the year before) up to $800,000 and at an average of $250,000.
Smith expressed at the time it was the farm’s strongest ever Magic Millions draft and had come as a result of the replenishment of the broodmare band with a host of younger mares.
The flag bearer for Edinburgh has long been the former World Champion Sprinter Silent Witness, but there’s an ever growing list of stakes horses on the same honour roll.
Another Edinburgh graduate kicking big goals is Better Than Ready, the former Randwick track record breaker who is now making a huge impact at stud, setting a modern record for first crop two-year-old winners last season.
Off the back of the 2019 Magic Millions yearlings, the Pride Of Dubai colt Tanker (a $170,000 MM graduate) gave his new owners a quick return when he won the Debutant Stakes in October.
Choisir filly Lady Naturaliste won the Listed Cinderella Stakes earlier in the year and there’s been a host of other city winners.
This year’s Magic Millions draft is similar in numbers to 2019 and likewise, high on quality.
One of the highlights is the Exceed And Excel-Smokin’ Alice colt, a three-quarter-brother to Eleven Eleven, who won three on end before a break and is being readied for a summer carnival tilt by Greg Hickman, who launched Pierata’s road to stardom at the Queensland summer carnival.
“He’s a lovely well put together colt, typical of what the mare throws,” Smith said.
“The mare also produced the China Horse Club/Newgate horse War Memorial, which made $680,000 at Magic Millions last year. He won an early season barrier trial and is being aimed at the Magic Millions.
“There’s a lot of exciting two-year-old prospects coming through that we sold at Magic Millions last year and that horse is one of them,” Smith said.
Edinburgh will also present two classy Written Tycoon colts in January, both from stakes winning mares.
“The Written Tycoon-Miss Marx is a quality colt and the best foal the mare has produced. He looks like a real runner and I think the market will receive him well,” Smith said.
“The Written Tycoon-Becerra is closely related to Teleplay, who won the Group race on Melbourne Cup day at Flemington, from the family of First Seal. He’s a very nice colt as well.”
Another highlight is a close relation to multiple Group 1 winner Criterion.
He’s a colt by Sebring from Sticky Fingers, a mare whose second dam is a sister to Criterion’s dam Mica’s Pride.
“He’s a very good looking Sebring colt,” Smith said.
The Vancouver-Euro Chic colt is also expected to have plenty of admirers. Vancouver has come out of the blocks quickly with his first crop and this colt is from the wonderful family of Bint Marscay, with Euro Chic having already produced the stakes placed Alburq (Rubick).
“We also have a really racy Brazen Beau filly, typical of the sire,” Smith said. “She’s the first foal of her dam Military Operation, who’s dam is a sister to Not A Single Doubt.
“It’s a family that runs early and this filly looks no exception.”
Smith also suggested buyers pay close attention to the two Edinburgh lots in Book 2 of the sale.
“The Sizzling-Senro Kisaki colt is a half to Ziziz and also the stakes placed Rubisaki,” he said.
“And the Scissor Kick (ex Total Discretion) is a very racy filly. She’s a ripper too.”
What appeals to you most about the MM sales and race series?
It’s a fantastic location, it’s at a really good time of year for people, in terms of incorporating horses and holidays, which everyone enjoys. The race series and the Brisbane Summer Carnival and the sales, it blends in so well for people to bring other horses in and even the wildcard races all bubbles and promotes the whole package. It’s very well run.
How would you sum up your farm and the service you offer?
We’re a small to medium sized broodmare farm. We pride ourselves on our individual attention and care for each animal and our ability to individualise feeding programs to suit each horse to maximise their chances of developing into the best possible athletes of the future.
How many mares did you breed with in 2019, who is the best known?
We bred 48 mares, which include the stakes winners Our Crown Mistress, Miss Marx, Dublin Lass and well related mares like Quicksilver Lass (half to D’Argento), Temolie (half to Invincibella), Waikato River (half to Oceanex and three other stakes winners) and some good American families.
How would you summarise your draft this year?
It’s full of quality colts and fillies. They are a nice, good even bunch of yearlings which
I think the market will appreciate.
