Five minutes with... Shane Wright

Shane Wright - Yarraman Park

TDNAusNZ: Where are you from and what is your earliest racing memory?

SW: I was brought up in County Westmeath in Ireland, a bit left field in this industry but no family ties to thoroughbreds or horses in general. I did ride and then started hunting with the local hounds which led to an opening of a job at a local stud when I was in school for pocket money. From here I progressed to another stud, Lynn Lodge for Eddie O’Leary where I got my grounding and caught the bug.

My earliest racing memory other than going to the local races as a kid would have to be War of Attrition (Ire) (Presenting {GB}) winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup, he was owned by Eddie O’ Leary’s brother Michael of Gigginstown House and was the first Group 1 winner they had, needless to say it was one hell of a party that night.

TDNAusNZ: Can you tell us a bit about the work you do, the farm, recent results and exciting stallions at Yarraman?

SW: As Stud Manager I deal with the day to day running of the farm, client liaising, stallions, sales and anything else that can be thrown at me. The farm is enjoying a great run at present. I Am invincible is going from strength to strength and we are also eagerly awaiting Hellbent’s first foals next month.

This along with great success on the track recently including, Beat the Clock (Hinchinbrook), Leicester (Wanted), Voodoo Lad (I Am Invincible), Houtzen (I Am Invinicble), Strasbourg (I Am Invincible), Soqrat (Epaulette) and I Am Immortal (I Am Invincible) to name a few really gives a great buzz as you can see the results of all the team’s hard work and effort come to fruition.

TDNAusNZ: What was the highlight of the season for you?

Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) being booked in to visit us this year is an obvious highlight but Vinny breaking Danehill (USA) and Snitzel’s record of individual stakes winners in a year was an incredible feeling. Considering he broke the record at the local track over the Scone Carnival and everyone was there to enjoy it definitely added to the occasion, even Ashton my little boy was on the winning post shouting her home, a truly memorable day.

TDNAusNZ: What do you love most about your job?

SW: There are so many factors and most sound cliché but it’s the absolute truth, I get to meet amazing people with different backgrounds every day that all share one common interest, that of thoroughbred racing. There are so many great mentors out there and I am incredibly lucky to be surrounded by some of the very best in the Mitchells, what you learn from them on a daily basis is priceless.

I also get to work with some of the best horses in the world, and there is no greater feeling of accomplishment than seeing a horse you have known since it was a follicle the whole way through to sales ring then going on to win big races. Again cliché, but when you love this way of life, it doesn’t feel like work, every day you get out of bed and do what you love doing, you are quite lucky.

TDNAusNZ: What is your favourite day on a racecourse?

SW: Hard to separate them but Derby Day in Flemington with I Am Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible) winning the GR1 Myer and Illustrious Lad (I Am Invincible) (known affectionately to everyone at YP as Dusty) romping home in the GR2 Tab Sprint was a huge day, Illustrious was born on Yarraman and was always a favourite among staff, he had his issues early on which always makes it a little more special.

I Am A Star was not born with us as we sold the mare in foal (for $8,000 if I remember correctly, cringe) but never the less a huge day to be a part of. Also seeing Sea the Stars (Ire) winning the Irish Champion Stakes in Leopardstown was an amazing occasion, I was lucky enough to have him in my barn as a yearling and is a horse I will always hold close to my heart.

Watch: Sea The Stars (Ire) winning the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown

TDNAusNZ: Do you have a favourite book and favourite movie?

SW: I’m a big fan of the Dan Brown novels as I love a bit of conspiracy and presently I have just finished 'The Subtle Art of not giving a ****’, would highly recommend it as sometimes we can all take life a little too seriously.

I am a sucker for the Epic’s like Braveheart and Gladiator but a movie I really enjoyed recently was Focus with Will Smith and Margot Robbie, it’s got Margot Robbie, enough said.

TDNAusNZ: Do you have a nickname? How did it come about?

SW: I had a nickname playing rugby back in Ireland which I managed to keep secret for ten years since I have arrived out here, that’s not changing now.

TDNAusNZ: What was your favourite weanling, yearling or mare purchase this year?

SW: Every year everyone on farm picks out who we think will make ‘the racehorse’ out of what we sold at the yearling sales. This year I picked a Vinny filly out of Skyerush that Star Thoroughbreds bought, not the most expensive yearling we sold but to me she had the X-factor. Last year my pick was I Am Immortal who won his first two races, the Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude so hopefully this year this filly can replicate, as we know Denise of Star Thoroughbreds can pick a Vinny filly.

TDNAusNZ: What stallion do you consider to be ‘under the radar’ and why?

SW: Epaulette is a stallion I always liked and have bred to, we have also bred a few Shadwell mares to him and have had good success over the years with stakes horses like Khulassa and also multiple Group 1 winner in South Africa, Soqrat. He is one good headline horse away from taking a step to a different level and I feel it isn’t too far away

TDNAusNZ: What first season sire (other than your own) are you most excited about?

SW: How can you ask me this when I have Hellbent sitting in the barn looking at me knowing the mares that are due to foal to him. Anyway, not looking too much outside the box, Russian Revolution and Merchant Navy would have to be great chances given the support they got in their first year. Saying that history is starting to tell us first season sires are getting harder and harder to pick with the likes of Vinny, Spirit of Boom and Better than Ready all proving this recently. You just never know where the next good one is going to come from.

TDNAusNZ: Who do you think is a rising star in the racing industry? (person, not horse)

SW: Two people that are really making their mark are Fergal Connolly of Valiant Stud and Rae Louise Farmer of Fernrigg Farm, both farms have produced good consignments of quality horses in their first years and knowing both personally neither are afraid to work hard, put in the effort and take a risk on what they believe. I can see these being big players in the next few years.

TDNAusNZ: If you were an Everest slot holder, who would you pick?

SW: At this stage it is so hard to pick before the big horses even start their preps, I would have loved to see Bluepoint (Ire) (Shamardal {Ire}) come down and thrown his hand on the table but that is not to be. The two geldings Redzel (Snitzel) and Santa Ana Lane (Lope de Vega) both know when the big day arrives and when to put in their best and both are trained by teams that always have their horses spot on for the Grand Final, pick one, ok, Santa.

TDNAusNZ: What positive change would you like to see in the industry?

SW: I think the TB industry in Australia is in a pretty good place at present, prizemoney is at an all-time high, sense of community among our industry is better than anywhere else in the world showcased by things like the Farms / Trainers / Vet Clinics all coming together as one in trying to protect everyone against Hendra and then with some great fundraising for Tye Angland and his family show we really do look after our own.

I would love to see Racing NSW and Racing Victoria come to the party and stop trying to outdo each other as effectively the crossover of major race days etc. is impacting both states. Maybe we could have a NSW vs. VIC race day (NSW horses, trainers, jockeys vs. Vic horses / trainers / jockeys) once a year to decide who gets to book their race dates first, winner takes all, can’t see it happening but it would be a spectacle.

TDNAusNZ: If you weren’t in the thoroughbred industry what would you be doing?

The industry go to for this question is Pro golfer, as much as I would love it, it is definitely a dream too far. I have always enjoyed the teaching and mentoring aspect of my job with young people fresh to the industry and with students from programmes such as FastTrack etc. Maybe that would be a route I could follow.