Doherty has been in the Thoroughbred industry for over 30 years of which he spent 16 years in Ireland with Coolmore Stud and PacaPaca Farm Japan, where he prepared foals and yearlings which consistently sold for over US$1 Million dollars, and most recently, 8 years at Godolphin Northwood Park, in Victoria.
The Impact had an exclusive opportunity to chat with one of the Thoroughbred industry’s finest and most experienced members about their offering in Magic Millions Gold Coast Broodmare Sale.
Q: Could you please tell us more about the high-quality mare you sold last year, for a record-breaking price? (Who was she, why was she so highly prized and where is she now?)
A: At last year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare sale we were lucky enough to consign Heatherly. She won a GroupTwo and was GroupOne placed. She was obviously a brilliantly fast racehorse but most importantly she was a beautiful mare. She demanded attention every time she stepped out of the stable. She was owned by Barrie and Midge Griffiths who also raced Response, now the dam of Estajaab, and fourteen other GroupOne winners including their current star, Oakleigh Plate winner, Booker.
Heatherly was bought by Paul Moroney on behalf of Sir Owen Glens GO Bloodstock. I’m told that the foal Heatherly was carrying at the time of sale turned out to be a beautiful filly and we are looking forward to seeing her on the track and hopefully following in her mother’s footsteps.
Q: What is the size of your 2019 draft and which mares would you say are the highlight lots this year?
A: At this sale, we are offering 3 young mares all in foal to commercial stallions.
Lot 1354 is a Choisir mare called Manhattan Muse.She’s a full sister to listed winner Manhattan Maid and is currently in foal to exciting sire Pierro.
Lot 1606 is Summit Breath. By champion sire, Snitzel and a full sister to Group three placed Air Apparent. Summit Breath herself won four races and is currently in foal to Capitalist, whose first foals are proving very very popular at the weanling sales here on the Gold Coast.
Lot 1718 is our beautiful grey mare Alice Island. A race winner and full sister to Group 3 winner Miss Steele. Alice Island is currently in foal to champion sire Fastnet Rock and interestingly enough, the Fastnet Rock x Storm Cat cross has produced an amazing 16% stake winners to runners.
Q:What is your vision for Yarran Thoroughbreds.
A: Yarran Thoroughbred is 1000 acres right in the heart of the breeding industry of Victoria. Within a couple of kilometers in any direction are the birthplaces of dual Everest winner Redzel, champion 2-year-old Sepoy and superstar mare Black Caviar. There have been many more GroupOne winners produced in the neighborhood but to have 3 champions from such a small area is amazing.
Q: What broken records are on your bucket list?
A: Given the size and quality of land, we have at Yarran I believe we can give horses the best start to life and the opportunity to grow up and compete to the very best of their ability. It is our ambition to produce a champion racehorse. I’ve been in the industry for long enough to know that it is very hard to tell where the next champion will come from but we are going to give all of our horses every chance.