Q - To start with can you please tell us about your history with Prompt Response?

A – I bought the mare (Prompt) some years ago. My client Mr. Ron Hamer raced a horse calledBeneteau,who was a Blue Sky yearling purchase. We raced that horse in partnership with Arrowfield. Ron was one of my clients in our Stallion Fund. Beneteau was eventually retired to Arrowfield Stud. So Ron had a share in Beneteau but he didn’t have a broodmare. He needed a broodmare for his nomination. We then bought the mare Prompt at the Magic millions broodmare sale for A$45,000 and bred her to Beneteau. We kept to mare at Newgate Farm at the time. The first foal was offered for sale at the Magic Millions Yearling sale. But the foal had some x-ray issues at the time. This meant he didn’t meet his reserve. The horse was parked. We decided to keep the colt in partnership with another owner. Prompt Return was a Group winning 2YO and he now races in Queensland.

The next foal was Prompt Response. By this time Ron had decided to move his stock at Newhaven Park, with the Kelly family. At the timeNewgate brought Prompt. But Ron decided to keep the foal, Prompt Response and she was moved over to Newhaven. She was the best foal at Newhaven in a field of 100 foals. So John Kelly and I told him (Ron) that it would be better if he kept the foal rather than sell her at the Inglis Easter sale, which was the original plan. He took the suggestion under consideration and raced the filly for himself under Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

The rest as they say is history.

Q - What kind of a horse is she and what kind of personality does she have?

A - She’s is incredibly sound mare. She’s never been sore or had any issues. She has run second in two stakes prior to the Tatts Tiara. While she has had a great 2018, she’s been a bit unlucky as a 3YO and 4YO. It’s good to see her getting better with age. I also think Adrian and Gai have altered her training regime to keep her a bit fresher and keep her light. But other than that they don’t have to do a lot with her because she does so well. She is very genuine.

She’s my favourite horse because she tries every time because she tries every time. She has great ability and she steps up to that ability every time she comes on the track.

Most horses have their idiosyncrasies before the race. And sweating is hers. Most horses when you see them sweating in the yard or behind the gate, there could be something wrong. But I have noticed that when she sweats up in the yard or behind the gates, that’s when she does her best. I remember she sweated up a lot behind the gates before the Tatts Tiara.

She also sweated a lot in the yard before the Breeders’ Stakes in February. But she looked great. Gai and Adrian felt that she might be underdone. But she did really well.

Q - As the person who manages this mare and ofcourse enjoys seeing top class horses race, which race would you say was technically her best and which race are you most fond of?

A – I think her best run, in the Gr.1A J Moir Stakeson Derby day was a great race. The race was won by Shoals, but that was an enormous race.

I was so proud of her. But for a dominating performance, I think it would have to be her win in the Breeders’ Stakes and the Tatts Tiara. It was fantastic to see her dominate classy older horses. And it’s probably given her confidence too.

Q - Has she gone into training for The Everest? Are there any big races before the Everest which he will participate in?

A - She is going to run the Gr3. Sheraco Stakes which is at the sprint distance. We hope to get her into two – three lead up races and we hope she earns her position in The Everest.

Q - what do you think of the Everest concept?

The Everest is an amazing concept. It’s a great carrot and outside of the Melbourne Cup, everyone is talking it, months and months out.

There are stallion prospects which are not being retired this year because of The Everest. Even English has been kept in training just for The Everest; otherwise she would be retired to stud.

Q – What are your plans for Prompt Response? Will she continue to race or do you plan to retire her soon?

A - She will certainly race for another 12 month. She’s at her career best. She is enjoying her racing and the owners are enjoying racing her. And as I said before she is sound. There are certainly good prize money and many opportunities for mares in this country.

Every major stud farm in Australia has approached me to ask whether the owners will sell her but I said you will just have to wait for another twelve months to see whether the owners keep her or sell her. And I would suggest to them to keep her and breed from her.

And Benateau is big part of the decision. She is our link to the great racehorse and stallion. And it's a joy to watch her race.

Q - Given the Merchant Navy win at Royal Ascot, do you foresee more top race orse owners travelling internationally?

A - I think it’s a specialist hobby. The prize money in your own back yard is good; there is very little reason to risk taking her outside. Even the sales races have large prize monies. The Magic Millions Sale Race in January had a prize money of A$10 million.

The owners of Prompt response have travelled a horse internationally. We took a horse called Better Be The One to Dubai. We raced raced him in the Al Quoz on the Dubai World Cup undercard.. He finished third, beaten by half a length. They are certainly open to travel overseas if Prompt Response’s form.

But there are so many variables to consider. I guess it’s very special when the horse travels well and performs well.

Q – And what about racing in Australia?

A - It’s the most accessible place in the world to race a horse and the rewards are there for those who those want to play the sport here. The prize money at just country level is A$15,000 to A$20,000 (on average). And then it goes up to 100,000 and more in Melbourne and Sydney. These are better returns you could find anywhere in the world.

And syndicates have made horse owning easy. Many of our owners are stockbrokers, farmers, lawyers etc. Also, we are lucky that racing is in the fabric of the realm of social interaction here. Every small county has a race course and the whole nation stops to watch the Melbourne cup.

I have been to the Kentucky Derby but it was so different to my Melbourne Cup experience.

Racing is deeply rooted in our culture. And we usually try to enhance the owners’ experience by asking them out to see the track work and interact with the jockey etc. And many owners end up doing business together because they are like minded. So it’s also a great networking opportunity. The ups and downs in racing are great fun.

Q – Tell us about yourself and your background.

A - My family is not a racing family as such. I grew up about four hours outside of Sydney and then I went to boarding school in Sydney. My family was involved in polo. My uncle, Jim Hayden was a very good polo player. But I fell in love with racing when I worked at the stable for Gai Waterhouse. My eyes were opened to the world of thoroughbreds.

I enjoyed polo and also rode Rodeo Bronx as teenager. I went to America to continue my rodeo where I did well.

Then I went back to university in Cleveland. Thereafter I got a job at Magic Millions as an auctioneer. I was a bloodstock consultant for them and continued to be an auctioneer for twelve (12) years. That’s how I met all the trainers, vendors and buyers.

And in 2006 I went out on my own after working for a year with BBA in Ireland.

I continue to go to America more these days than I go to Europe. I go to Keeneland and Fasig Tipton every year. It’s a small family of thoroughbred racing in the world. People generally look out for themselves.

I get a joy in seeing owners of horses I bought get successes at the race course. It’s just a great thrill watching horses we picked out do extremely well.

Published In EverestDiaries Issue 2, Vol 2

click To view the complete The Everest library - http://secretariatsworld.com/magazines/EDII_Final_180715.pdf

Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretariatsworld.com