As one of Australia’s top sprinters, Viddora prepares to travel to Dubai for the Gr.1 US$2m Al Quoz Sprint on the DubaiWorld Cup undercard, Ten Furlongs speaks to Arthur Mitchell, the co-owner of Yarraman Park Stud which stands her sire, I Am Invincible (currently number three on the global top sires’ list)
Q: How did your family get involved with Yarraman Park Stud?
A: My father Major James Mitchell purchasedYarraman Park from jockey George Moore in 1968 and the family moved here from the United Kingdom.
Q: How many mares do you currently own? Do you plan to grow this number each year?
A: We own partly or wholly about 65 mares and plan to keep our numbers approximately the same.
Q: How do you plan matings? Do you aim to breed a horse who is an overall athlete or do you try to breed horses for specific races or do you breed them to be better at specific distances?
A: As is the case in Australia we tend to breed sprinter/milers. We try to breed an athlete and select our mares/matings accordingly.
Q: How important is a compatible pedigree in your matings’ plan?
A: We try to buy mares/fillies to suit our stallions. We like mares that had decent ability themselves.
Q: How would you define a truly commercial racehorse?
A: By his racecourse performances.
Q: How did you come to stand I Am Invincible?
A: We bought him after his racing career.
Q: What kind of temperament does he have?
A: He is the most stunning stallion with a beautiful temperament.
Q: Whatis on your bucket list for I am Invincible's progeny?
A: He is only 3 stakes winners away from equalling the Australian record for Stakes Winners in a season held equally by Danehill and Snitzel on 26. We would love him to sire the winner of the Golden Slipper and many more Group 1 races.
Q: Do you plan to grow your stallion roster?
A: We are always on the lookout and have shares in quite a few prospective colts.
Q: Hasa yearling surprised you with the sale price and similarly has a yearling with a low sale price blown you away at the racetrack?
A: Yes in both cases.
Q: Which is your most favourite horse in the world and why?
A: My favourite horse in the world is obviously I Am Invincible not only is he a magnificent horse he has set the racing world on fire and surprised everybody by becoming one of the best stallions in the world.
Q: What was the most valuable advice you have been given?
A: Work hard, learn your business properly from the ground up. Always be prepared to learn and change.
Q: And what movie did you watch recently, or which book did you read, that you thoroughly enjoyed?
A: I recently watched and enjoyed GreenBook before the Oscars were held.
Published In Tenfurlongs Journey To The Dubai World Cup Vol - VI
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