Henley Park a haven of success

Group 1 success and pressure go hand in hand. That's felt on a number of fronts, not only by trainers, jockeys and owners, but also those charged with caring for top quality thoroughbreds during their time out of the stable.

Marc and Sarah Devcich can attest to that with their Henley Park agistment operation in Cambridge a popular retreat for racehorses to the highest level and from a number of leading New Zealand trainers.

They have particularly enjoyed a long and successful association with champion duo Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and their multiple Group 1 winner Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) was a regular resident before and after successful Australian forays.

“We do the bulk of spelling for Murray and Andrew and obviously Dundeel was here,” Marc Devcich said.

“It was very exciting to be involved with a horse such as him. To reach the lofty heights he did was very satisfying and exciting for Sarah and I.

“It’s also been of satisfaction to us to see the way he has developed as a stallion.”

A rare talent

Dundeel spent time at Henley Park before he commenced his career and even back then there was something special about the colt.

“He was a horse that had a lot of presence about him,” Devcich said. “He was a very intelligent horse and he just stood out with his quality.”

They also admitted to that aforementioned pressure that comes with dealing with a horse of the calibre of Dundeel.

“Before he was sold to Arrowfield, after every campaign he came back and spelled at our place,” Devcich said.

“It was very nerve-wracking too. We were very aware that he was worth a lot of money and had to make sure everything was always safe.

“You treat them all the same, but obviously in the back of your mind you knew how valuable he was.”

Devcich said Dundeel was a treat to handle and nothing was too much trouble.

“He was a very easy horse to deal with, a real gentleman and very workable.”

Since Dundeel’s departure to stud in the Hunter Valley, Henley Park has continued to enjoy success to all levels across Australasia and Asia.

The recent Baker and Forsman black type winners Aretha (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), Lord Arthur (Camelot {GB}) and Quick Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) are regular residents, as was Lord Arthur’s outstanding half-sister and New Zealand Horse of the Year Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).

Also currently in Henley Park’s care is the G1 Auckland Cup and G1 Sydney Cup placegetter Glory Days (NZ) (Red Giant {USA}).

Other Group 1 winners to have benefitted from time out at Henley Park include Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor), St Emilion (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Vin De Dance (NZ) (Roc de Cambes {NZ}), Jon Snow (Iffraaj {GB}), Red Ruler (NZ) (Viking Ruler), Solzhenitsyn (NZ) (St Petersburg) and the former Singapore Horse of the Year Super Easy (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).

“We get a lot of support from Murray and Andrew and Stephen Marsh, another young trainer Brendon Hawtin and a lot of other very good clients,” Devcich said.

Ken and Bev Kelso, who now train in partnership with Mark Donoghue, also strongly support Henley Park

“Fix was here and horses like Princess Kereru. We’ve been lucky enough to look after some very good racehorses,” Devcich said. “You never take them for granted and always look after them with the utmost care.”

A former New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Fix, (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) was a three-time Group 2 winner and twice Group 1 placed while Princess Kereru (NZ) (Pins) has been a dual stakes winner this season and finished runner-up in the G1 Sistema.

Henley Park yearling sale graduates also continue to make their mark at home and in offshore markets.

“Embrace Me and the good horse in Hong Kong, Voyage Warrior, are a couple of more recent ones,” Devcich said.

The Danny O’Brien-trained Embrace Me (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) won this season’s G3 Typhoon Tracy S. while rising star Voyage Warrior (NZ) (Declaration Of War {USA}) is unbeaten in starts at Sha Tin for trainer Ricky Yui.

The Devcichs gained experience at prominent New Zealand farms before purchasing Henley Park.

“Sarah and I managed Mapperley Stud for seven or eight years, which was a big part of our careers,” Marc Devcich said

“From there we moved on to Windsor Park Stud and their run-off farm called Halidon Hill, consigning yearlings as well as running the farm. I ended up managing the yearlings for Windsor Park for about six years.”

Home-bred Group 1 success

It was through Windsor Park’s 2011 draft to New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka that the Devcich-bred Norzita (NZ) (Thorn Park) was sold for NZ$200,000. She went on to win the G1 Vinery Stud S. and G1 Flight S. and will command widespread interest when offered at Inglis’ Chairman’s Sale in Sydney on Friday.

“Unfortunately, we lost Norzita’s mum foaling to Sepoy,” Sarah Devcich said. “He’s a gelding now called Apellido and we race him. He’s won one and run second and he’s turned out and will be back for the spring.”

They are still breeding from Norzita’s sister Alpeno Rosea (NZ), who is from the family of Group 1 winners Melito (Redoute’s Choice), Zeditave (The Judge), Greys Inn (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and Smart Call (SAF) (Ideal World (USA).

“We’ve got a Charm Spirit colt to sell next year and we’ve kept a Per Incanto filly that’s with Murray and Andrew,” Sarah Devcich said. “She’s a 2-year-old, not named yet, and will trial on Monday.

“The mare’s also got Chauvinist, by Denman, who won a couple of weeks ago at Hawkesbury.”

It was during the couple’s time with Windsor Park that they bought Henley Park 11 years ago to set them on their current path.

“We’ve never regretted it. You do sometimes wonder if you’ve done the right thing with a mortgage to pay so you’ve got to make a success of it,” Marc Devcich said.

“It’s been rewarding and we’ve been very lucky to have had good trainers and clients supporting us. When you are agisting their horses and then they get the results it’s pretty rewarding.”