One would not be wrong in calling Janine Dunlop a resounding success in the business. At a very young age, she inherited the passion and knowledge for the business from her parents. Taking that as a starting point, very soon Janine ventured out on her own and started Phoenix Park. Not just a luscious and serene but also a practical and efficient farm for the thoroughbreds to grow and train here and become the champions of the future.
Regardless of the business that one is in, the back story of every entrepreneur is as fascinating as the other. There are so many similarities and yet they are so different and that is what inspires us to bring you the accounts of all these women and men who have made their name in our business.
Janine is one such shining example of “making it on her own”. We sat down with her for a brief tete-a-tete to ask her about her beginnings and her drive. Then, we were also intrigued about what goes on in her mind when she is faced with a decision. Whether is it her handpicking the horses or the day to day administration of her farm. She was gracious enough to share all of that and more with us in an interview.
Q: Yours is one of the largest drafts in this sale. Could you please tell us more about your draft (how many horses, how many colts and how many fillies, what ages etc) and tell us in a bit greater depth about the pedigree, type, physical attributes etc about your highlight lots. (Kindly provide photos /videos of your highlight lots as well) Will send article through….
A: The two highlight horses this year is the Dunedeel and Tavistock colts that are very attractive, free moving and nicely balanced colts which both have very strong pedigrees particularly the Tavistock being out of the outstanding Ponderosa Miss……
Q: How did you handpick horses? Could you please tell us more about your process? If the horses are bred by you how do you plan the matings/ pedigree cross?
A: I don’t breed horses I run on a client base, and horses are often handpicked for the RTR sale by the client, at all different levels, or owners have bred them and we have decided to put that particular horse best suited for this sale.
Q: How did you get involved in the thoroughbred breeding industry? Please tell us more about the history and the size & facilities of your farm. If you hadn't chosen to breed as a career what else would you have done?
A: My parents raced a couple of horses and one was the Champion 3yo filly in Australia in 79/80 seasons, so as a young girl had a great passion and a very good knowledge on pedigrees, racing and I guess grew from there.
At the age of 18, I was managing yearlings and from the age of 22, Phoenix Park was created by myself and has been my career ever since!!!!
Phoenix Park is 19 hectares of lush Waikato sandy loam, it has 30 modern stables, a walker, and beautiful developed trees with very high quality naturally grown pasture.
As for another career, maybe doing creative landscaping or owning a top-end hunting lodge!!
Q: Please tell us about the most expensive horse you ever sold? When you sold him was the horse sold to people who knew you and realised these were great horses? If not, what happened?
A: The most expensive, was a filly by O Reilly out of the great producer Star Affair who made $600.000 and went on to be a Stakes winner and GR1 placed was purchased by the astute judges in Waikato Stud.
Q: Could you please tell us more about your successful graduates from the Ready2Race sales you have participated in during the last few years.
A: With 4 GR1 winners and a host of stakes performers and as recent as yesterday when the farm produced Mauna Kea Gr3 winner yesterday,
Q: And finally which is your favourite horse and why is he/ she special?
A: Without a doubt, it was Able One who I feel would be one very rare horse that had the looks to top two sales being the Select Yearling sales and the RTR in which I prepared him for both sales, and go on to be the Champion Miler in Hong Kong.
Special and rare.