Cover image courtesy of Elsdon Park
It’s been a whirlwind nine months for Lib Petagna, Kerrie Cox and the rest of the team at Elsdon Park, who, later this month, will offer a draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale for the first time.
In May last year, it was announced that Petagna had purchased the boutique, picturesque Matamata-based thoroughbred stud, Valachi Downs, from Kevin and Jo Hickman.
Lib Petagna | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Since then, the Elsdon Park team, headed by well-known and respected industry figure Cox – the farm’s general manager - have done a tremendous job to get a draft of 15 ready for the first New Zealand sale of 2023.
“We got the keys in August (2022), so we hit the ground running. We started foaling, breeding; it was a new farm, a new team, it has been super busy, but there’s no better way to get going and see what you’re made of,” Cox told TDN AusNZ.
“It has been an amazing season; we’ve had a great in-foal rate and the foalings have gone awesome, and then obviously into the yearling prep, and that’s gone really smoothly.
“We got the keys in August (2022), so we hit the ground running. We started foaling, breeding; it was a new farm, a new team, it has been super busy, but there’s no better way to get going and see what you’re made of.” - Kerrie Cox
“We’re on the last step now; it’s under a week until we head off (to Karaka) and it’s very exciting.”
Cox said the Elsdon Park team hasn’t done much to the property since taking over, admitting there hasn’t been a need.
“The Hickmans have done an incredible job developing the property, we’ve literally walked into ‘Horse Heaven’, it feels like,” Cox said.
“The pastures are fantastic and the fencing, and the undulating land is just amazing for growing sound racehorses and producing good bone and strength.
“The Hickmans have done an incredible job developing the property (Elsdon Park, formerly Valachi Downs), we’ve literally walked into ‘Horse Heaven’, it feels like.” - Kerrie Cox
“And, visually, it’s stunning, the trees… there’s been a lot of time and effort and money spent on developing the property, so we knew we could walk in and everything would be there for us.
“Always when you buy a new property you want to make it your own and this is no different for us. Lib has a vision and things he wants to progress with.
“One of the things we did do was put a brand-new parade ring in. We cut off a massive hill and the view is just outstanding. We put in a new parade area, so we’re pretty proud of that, and the buyers have said it’s a great place to be viewing horses.”
Elsdon Park was named as a nod to the suburb in Wellington where Katrina, Petagna’s wife, grew up.
Kerrie Cox | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Up until recently, the Petagnas, had been a shareholder in Blandford Lodge with Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax. Blandford Lodge has long been one of New Zealand’s leading vendors, breeding and selling Group 1 winners such as Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel), Pasadena Girl (NZ) (Savabeel) and Danzdanzdance (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).
Elsdon Park didn’t retain any of the Hickmans’ stock, who were dispersed via Gavelhouse Plus in August, and included the grand producer Baggy Green (Galileo {Ire}), in-foal to Ocean Park (NZ), as well as the Group 2 scorer Bohemian Lily (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
“We did look to buy a few, but we missed out,” said Cox.
Elsdon Park will look to expand its broodmare band in the coming years, but for now, it will rely on its current crop that includes top mares such as Lucia Valentina, Group 1 victress Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) and Dreamlife (NZ) (Danroad) – the dam of Group 2-winning sprinter Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
Lucia Valentina (NZ) when racing | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Cox explained: “We’re working with our own already established and highly successful broodmare band, which Lib and (bloodstock agent and consultant) Bruce Perry have put together over the years. Lib has raced some exceptional fillies that he’s not wanted to sell, so he’s become a breeder, he’s gone from racing to breeding, and the numbers start to get up pretty quickly when you do that; we’re sitting at approximately 50 in our broodmare band.
“Whilst the name is new, the foundation is an amazing, high-quality broodmare band.
“I just walk around the stock and it really does just ooze quality and it’s not just looking at a piece of paper and seeing top-quality pedigrees, which they obviously are as well, but you could walk around the paddocks not knowing any of the pedigrees and just see beautiful types. At the end of the day, we’re breeders on type, we want to breed a racehorse, and then obviously we match it up with the pedigree and hopefully get a good result. That really shines through in our horses at Elsdon, they’re great types as a whole and then you look through their pedigrees and think, ‘Wow’.”
“At the end of the day, we’re (Elsdon Park) breeders on type, we want to breed a racehorse, and then obviously we match it up with the pedigree and hopefully get a good result.” - Kerrie Cox
A draft to be proud of
Elsdon Park’s draft comprises seven colts and eight fillies, with yearlings by Alabama Express, Almanzor (Fr), Ardrossan, Per Incanto (USA), Savabeel, Shalaa (Ire), Super Seth, Tivaci, Too Darn Hot (GB) and U S Navy Flag (USA).
The Petagnas have shares in Waikato Stud residents Ardrossan, Super Seth and Tivaci, as well as Yulong Stud-based Alabama Express.
“It’s a word that gets thrown about, but we are definitely really proud of this draft; every horse that comes out for an inspection… we’re just so proud of them,” said Cox.
“They’re a lovely bunch of horses to be presenting to the market for our first draft and the feedback we’ve been getting from on-farm parades has been really positive, so we’re looking forward to showcasing them at Karaka.”
“They’re a lovely bunch of horses to be presenting to the market for our first draft and the feedback we’ve been getting from on-farm parades has been really positive, so we’re looking forward to showcasing them at Karaka.” - Kerrie Cox
Cox said the two Savabeel fillies are likely to have their share of admirers.
Lot 97 is from the 1200-metre winner Chiaretta (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) – a half-sister to the Listed victress Members Joy (Hussonet {USA}) – the dam of the Group 2 winner Pure Elation (I Am Invincible). Members Joy’s Zoustar filly made $1.1 million at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Lot 548 is out of Deep Field mare Star Ellipse, who was placed at two and is a three-quarter sister to the stakes performer Good And Proper (Shooting To Win).
“I think there’s only seven Savabeel fillies in the whole catalogue,” Cox commented.
Gallery: Some of Elsdon Park's yearlings to be offered at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, images courtesy of NZB
“If this wasn’t our first year, we probably wouldn’t be offering them for sale; we would keep them, but we’re very mindful that we don’t have a huge draft this year and we want to showcase the stock that we have on-farm.
“These are two high-end fillies with lovely pedigrees.”
Elsdon Park has two yearlings by first-season sire Super Seth, whose progeny averaged $231,429 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Lot 282 is a filly from Kissmekate (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) – an unraced half-sister to the dual Group 1 hero Nashville (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), while Lot 337 is a colt out of the stakes performer Mary D’Or (Fr) (Verglas {Ire}) – a sister to the Group 1 heroine Stormy River (Fr) and a three-quarter sister to the Group 1 winner Silverware (Fr) (Silver Frost {USA}).
“Super Seth’s progeny are big, strong, very forward horses and the two we have are a really good representation of the stock,” Cox remarked.
“Super Seth’s progeny are big, strong, very forward horses and the two we have are a really good representation of the stock.” - Kerrie Cox
Too Darn Hot is another first-season sire that made waves on the Gold Coast, with his 14 yearlings selling at an average of $276,786.
Elsdon Park will offer Lot 471 – a colt by the Darley shuttler from the stakes-performed Savabeel mare Rosa Carolina (NZ). The colt’s grandam is the three-time Listed victress Ombre Rose (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who has produced three stakes performers.
“He’s a really nice colt with a great female line,” said Cox.
“I actually think the mare he’s out of could one day be one of our best mares on the farm, I just think she’s got the makings of being an outstanding broodmare.”
“I actually think the mare he’s (Lot 471) out of could one day be one of our best mares on the farm, I just think she’s (Rosa Carolina) got the makings of being an outstanding broodmare.” - Kerrie Cox
Plans for the future
Not surprisingly, Lib Petagna – a hugely successful Wellington-based businessman - has grand ambitions for Elsdon Park.
Cox said there is no rush, but there is an aim for Elsdon Park to stand stallions.
“Lib’s always on the lookout for top-quality fillies for us to race, then add on to the broodmare band, and also colts; one day he would love to stand stallions.
“Lib’s (Petagna) always on the lookout for top-quality fillies for us to race, then add on to the broodmare band, and also colts; one day he would love to stand stallions.” - Kerrie Cox
“He’s raced a lot of colts that are now stallions standing around the place, so it would be nice if he could stand one of them himself one day. That’s definitely the dream and the goal, but for now, we’re happy where we’re at.
“We’ll continue to race horses; Lib gets a lot of enjoyment from that and his love of the industry came through the actual racing side.
“Bruce (Perry) has bought a large majority of Lib’s racehorses and their strike-rate is absolutely incredible. They’ve had a lot of success and I’d imagine that will continue.”
