The warm and affable Peter O’Brien whose career highlights include a lifetime (over 25 years) at Coolmore, speaks to The Impact about Segenhoe Stud's 2019 draft and provides Australian breeding industry insights:
Q: What does your draft comprise this year in terms of both quality and quantity.
A: Segenhoe’s first draft at Easter was in 2014 under the new ownership of the Maloney family and since then we have been in the top 3 farms in averages 4 out of the 5 years. We are always conscious of quality and our figures back that up each year but our priority always is to breed racehorse’s not sales horses and we are particularly proud of success on the track since inception. From small drafts at Easter we have already sold Group 1 winners Eagle Way, Manuel and Merchant Navy and our 2018 Easter draft look like a stellar bunch with Catch Me, Killin, Sun Patch, Starla, Garrison and Famous all looking like top-class performers. Quality will always override quantity for Segenhoe.
Q: What are the highlights of Segenhoe’s 2019 draft?
A: It is always difficult to choose who is your best child but the obvious highlight horses would have to include Lot 88 Merchant Navy’s full brother, Lot 396 Catch Me’s full brother and Lot 175 the Snitzel colt out of Peron who is an Adonis. Of the fillies Lot 400 a So You Think out of Celebrity’s choice, Lot 70 a stunning Pride Of Dubai filly and lot Lot 47 a Queen of a filly by Lonhro who’s two-year-old half-sister Starla looks very smart. It is a rare thing to say but I would honestly take any one of our drafts as they are consistently good animals and we are grateful to Fairway Thoroughbreds, Yulong Investments, Sheik Mohammad bin Khalifa and Amelia Park who are all outstanding breeders who have entrusted their stock with us.
Q: Given your exceptional records, could you give us an insight into the factors taken into consideration when you plan meetings?
A: First and foremost is that we try to breed to proven sires at all times and this obviously cannot always happen. However, we will always try and make sure a young mare goes to a proven sire two out of the first three years she goes to stud. We spend an extraordinary amount of time on pedigree and we love inbreeding to superior females where possible. Obviously, when breeding racehorse’s conformational compatibility is tantamount and this is vital when producing athletes. We have been fortunate to ride the I am Invincible and Snitzel waves from the start generally sending 5 to 7 mares to each for their formative seasons and this has set up our mares beautifully. However, with the service fees raising considerably this practice will have to be reviewed so like everyone else we are trying to find the next big thing and breeding too young stallions like Rubick and Dundeel last year looks like it will pay benefits for us. The most important factor for Segenhoe when deciding on mating is to include the opinions of the key people on the farm and all decisions reflect this. We are fortunate to have an experienced team of professionals with vast experience and it vital that we tap into this
Q: Which 2019 first-crop sires do you think are underrated current but will improve in the next 3-5 years?
A: It looks like we have a very strong group of first-crop sires this year with Stallions like Sidestep, Better than Ready, Brazen Beau all showing that they can get fast precocious two-year-olds. Rubick also but I think his stock will improve more over the next few years as they have a scope and a horse like Yes Yes Yes is absolutely a colt who will be an exceptional three years old. Australia can write off young stallions who don’t fit the early speed model and a horse like Dissident is a stallion I have great faith in. He significantly improved each year in training culminating in the horse of the year and his stock all look like him and. I certainly hope so as we have 6 mares in foal to him!
Q: Are there any elements on the breeding and sales industry which you feel are present in other parts of the world but still emerging in Australia?
A: I think the Australian breeding industry emerged a long time ago and it has World’s best practice in many areas. The biggest asset here is raising athletes is that effectively from birth the horses are out in fields not boxes and all you have to do is see the bone and feet on Australian horses to exemplify this importance. Australian horses are so much more durable and all you have to see is the amount of 5-year -olds and upwards racing year in, year out. Winx is a prime example. From a sales perspective, I do think that there is room for dedicated sales consigners who can professionally manage that business-like Bill Dwans Castle bridge consignment in Europe.
Q: What was the best advice you were ever given?
A: The best advice has been from my parents. We were taught to work hard from a young age, never worry about others and simply do your job to the best of your ability and strive to be the best at what you do.
Published in The Impact 9 Issue, 2 Vol
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