Jen Fowler’s Merrivale Farm-consigned Zoustar colt was this year’s Great Southern Weanling Sale top sale. The colt was knocked down to John Wheeler and Jason Warren Racing for AU$250,000 (US$171,687) amid a competitive buying bench.
The colt is the eighth living foal out of Morwell, who is a half-sister to the Listed winner Jestarella Boy. Also featuring among her siblings is Maltese, who is the dam of Gr.2 Schweppes Skyline Stakes winner Diamond Tathagata. Merrivale Farm sold all their seven weanlings for an aggregate of AU$440,000 ($302,170).
Fowler speaks to The Impact about her fantastic sale and Merrivale Farm:
Q: How do you plan matings? Do you have a firm plan around the pedigrees of your broodmares and past commercial successes where you would like to send your broodmares to? How do you plan those crosses and what changes every year?
A: I have only one rule and that is to try to breed elite athletes, having produced Group winners ALMIGHTY GIRL and ZODIAC RULER, and many other winners already in only 5 years since the farm was established, I hope I am heading in the right direction. To that end, I carefully match the physical compatibility of the two parents - necessary as I want to produce a well-engineered individual - and then I will follow pedigree nicks that have been successful.
Young mares I try to send to established successful stallions to begin their career well. Established mares I may send to one of the exciting first season sires. Most importantly I believe happy healthy mares conceive more easily and raise happy healthy foals - so I also take the year by year conditions into consideration, and knowing my mares well I will adjust accordingly. Some mares are stressed by travelling with a foal at the foot so I will tend to cover them locally. Occasionally a foal will be born needing extra care and that event can alter a planned mating also. I also follow the racing results carefully.
Q: Can you please describe this year's journey to the record-breaking point? What were you expecting the bid to stop at for your Zoustar filly?
A: My extraordinarily beautiful Zoustar yearling filly sold at Melbourne Premier sale for A$220K in March. My Zoustar which sold as the equal top lot at the recent great Southern Sale for A$250K was a gorgeous weanling colt. He has been an outstanding individual since he was born and everyone who visited the farm throughout his early life just loved him. Given the unparalleled success that progeny of Zoustar has enjoyed in recent months, it did seem the ideal time to take this beautiful colt to the market.
Q: How did you get involved with the thoroughbred industry?
A: I retired from a corporate career to immerse myself in breeding, racing and selling thoroughbreds. My grandfather worked his entire life with Clydesdale teams to build roads and I learned a great deal from his horsemanship. I competed in equestrian events all my young life. Coming back to horses is completing the circle. My first step was to buy a share in a yearling - later named First Command. He retired with 14 wins and gave me an exhilarating induction into the racing world that meant I was hooked for life. He is now retired and spends his days as a nanny rearing my weanling colts. He teaches them manners and sets a brilliant example with his absolute trust of people - and hopefully shares his secrets on how to win big races!
Q: Which is the horse you would say is closest to your heart?
A: I am sorry to sound trite but I absolutely love them all.
Q: What is on your personal bucket list and your bucket list for the farm?
A: I would love to see some of the legendary studs of the world, and also some of the legendary races, but I confess my focus is here at home for now. The farm will never be complete - I continue to re-invest and develop new facilities every year. It is currently a very modest farm with a focus on practical safety and maintains a low-stress environment for the horses. Merrivale Farm was established only 5 years ago. so even though I am very proud of the progress so far, and delighted with the many winners coming off the farm, I still have a long list of improvements!
Q: What sales do you usually present? Where are you off to next? And what is the biggest sale of the year?
A: Melbourne premier yearling sale has been my primary focus for the last couple of years. In addition, I have taken yearling drafts to the Melbourne Gold sale. I also have taken weanling drafts to the Great Southern Sale and the Australian weanling sale in Sydney. My focus now shifts to the breeding season. I will fool down about 25 mares and cover 35 mares in the next 5 months - and then begin preparing the yearlings for Melbourne Premier 2020.
Q: Please tell us more about yourself and the farm
A: I run the farm alone, using casual labour for extra hands during sales preparation. During the breeding season, I do all the vetting and most of the walkouts - and I foal down all the mares myself with a relief foal watch once a week. The horses are family to me.
Q: And finally which good books have you read recently and are likely to recommend to others?
A: This question did raise a smile - I am afraid my bedside table has only 3 books - the latest sales catalogue, the Stallions Annual, and the latest breeding theories book) currently Inbreeding to superior females by Rommy Faversham and Leon Rasmussen). It does make me think I am a little one-dimensional these days!
Published In The Impact 15 Issue, 2 Vol
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