Garry Cuddy - Spendthrift Australia
TDNAusNZ: Where are you from and what is your earliest racing memory?
GC: I grew up in Revesby, NSW. My earliest racing memory was a horse named Audible. My uncle Peter Boyle, was working for Martin Hawcroft’s Byerley Stud in the early 90’s when they were based in Cudal NSW and they used to bring Audible to Sydney to race.
A young Garry with his Uncle Peter and Audible
TDNAusNZ: Which is your favourite racehorse of all time? Why?
GC: Octagonal (NZ). Bred by Cambridge Stud, raced by Woodlands Stud, trained by John Hawkes and he always put up a fight. A true war horse of his generation.
TDNAusNZ: Do you have a favourite day on a racecourse? Why?
GC: Golden Slipper Day is the only day of racing that I HAVE to go to each year. Merlene’s slipper was my first in 1996 as an 8 year old and I have been to 21 of the 26 run since.
Garry (left) and team Spendthrift
TDNAusNZ: Could you tell us how you got into this industry, about your job now and what you love most about it?
GC: I started out as a kid spending every school holidays with my uncle working on the farm, I was very lucky that my parents and grandparents would drive me back and forth from the city each holidays so I could do what I loved.
Once I finished school I was lucky enough to get a job with Vin Cox and I worked there for 8 years. Throughout my time with Vin we spent a lot of time in the USA which assisted me in getting my current role as General Manager of Spendthrift Australia.
As a kid growing up I idolised the Woodlands Stud operation, the Ingham family, John Hawkes and Trevor Lobb. I see my current role at Spendthrift as my opportunity to create something similar to Woodlands Stud and if we can be 10% as successful as they were, and continue to be through the Godolphin operation, I will be very proud of our team.
Garry with Vin Cox
TDNAusNZ: Who do you believe to be a value sire for the upcoming breeding season? Why?
GC: I think that Headwater could be a horse to breed to at value for this season, we saw quite a few nice yearlings by him this year at the yearling sales.
TDNAusNZ: Is there a stallion that you consider to be under the radar?, and why?
GC: I’ll stay close to home on this one, Jimmy Creed. He is currently running at 68-70% winners to runners, depending on the day, from his three crops of racing age. His first crop in Australia was small however we are told there are some pretty handy ones amongst them. His next two crops are 2.5 and 3.8 times the size of his first book. Let’s hope for our sake he isn't under the radar for our clients this year.
TDNAusNZ: Which stallion, ever, do you think was the best type?
GC: Lonhro, he is the King in my opinion, not that I am bias towards a Champion son of Octagonal.
Written By
TDNAusNZ: Which first season sire (other than your own) do you believe is most exciting?
GC: This is a tough one as there are so many options this year but I will go with Written By, he was the ultimate 2-year-old and in my opinion he is priced fairly in a competitive market.
I will also give a shout out to Beholder and Into Mischief’s little brother Mendelssohn, a wonderful pedigree and it was a demolition job in Dubai.
TDNAusNZ: What was your favourite weanling, yearling or mare purchase this year?
GC: Western Gem, Lot 1681 at the Magic Millions Broodmare sale. She is by Charge Forward, a half-sister to two Stakes winners, she is from a family developed by Peters Investments in WA, her half-sister is the dam on promising 3-year-old Western Pride (3 starts, 3 wins in WA), she is in foal to Deep Field, we paid $65,000 for her and to cap it off she is a good looking mare.
Garry's favourite purchase this year was a mare by Charge Forward in foal to Deep Field
TDNAusNZ: Who do you think is a rising star within the industry? (Person not horse).
GC: I am very excited that Matt Scown is moving to Inglis’ Victorian office, since I have known him he has worked with some very well respected people, in my opinion, namely Yarraman Park and John Foote. I think Matt will be a great injection to the industry down here.
TDNAusNZ: If you were an Everest slotholder, who would you pick?
GC: Chautauqua… but if I cannot have him I will go with Santa Ana Lane.
Santa Ana Lane, Garry's Everest pick
TDNAusNZ: What positive change would you like to see in the industry?
GC: I would love to see longevity prioritised by our industry, and in particular, breeding for a better thoroughbred. In my opinion the industry is very focused on “making a quick buck" pin-hooking pregnancies to weanlings, weanlings to yearlings, yearlings to two-year olds, and matings are often prioritised on this basis.
This is also highlighted by the fickle trends of stallion popularity, where demand is unprecedented first year and then often drops right off. The most successful breeders who have continually bred top horses for years show that playing a long-game and focusing on breeding a better, sounder horse, pays off. If a mare or cross suits a stallion in year one, the best results come from repeating that mating several times.
TDNAusNZ: If you weren’t in this industry what would you do?
GC: Great question, one I truly have never thought about to be honest as this industry has always been where I wanted to be. If I wasn’t this industry it would have to be something to do with Cricket or Soccer.
