Cover image courtesy of Pepper Tree Farm
It wasn’t until recently that Damian Kirwan and his partner, Dr Brianna Vandyke - relatively new owners of the Cowra-based Pepper Tree Farm - made the decision to commence selling horses under its own name.
Up until that point, Pepper Tree Farm had other farms act as agent, usually Victoria’s Blue Gum Farm.
Last month, Pepper Tree Farm proudly presented a draft of three at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and on Tuesday, it will offer two horses at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Pepper Tree Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Image courtesy of Pepper Tree Farm
Kirwan - an Irishman who has worked at a number of studs across Ireland, Western Australia, New Zealand and New South Wales - told The Thoroughbred Report he is extremely proud of what the small team has achieved since Vandyke and he took ownership of the property in mid-2023.
“It was so nice to not only have the yearlings there in the farm’s name, but also to see the staff in our uniforms, and have our brand in the ring. It was probably a bit surreal, to be honest,” Kirwan said.
“It was so nice to not only have the yearlings there (at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale) in the farm’s name, but also to see the staff in our uniforms, and have our brand in the ring.” - Damian Kirwan
“We wanted to keep our numbers small this year and we anticipated a few teething problems. It was always going to be a massive learning curve for us.
“Luckily, our stud manager Robert (Sims), he’s very experienced at taking very good drafts and very high-class drafts from his time at Tyreel Stud, so having him there to guide us through it was a huge help.”
Pepper Tree’s three yearlings grossed $445,000 at an average of $148,333. The top-seller was Lot 222 - a colt from the winning Iffraaj (GB) mare Sororia (NZ), who was bought by DGR Thoroughbred Services (FBAA)/John Sargent Racing for $240,000. Fittingly, the colt is a son of New Zealand’s premiership-winning stallion Proisir, who Kirwan worked with during a stint at Rich Hill Stud.
Lot 222 - Proisir x Sororia (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“It was fantastic to stick our toe in the water and get a feel for it, and we learnt a lot,” said Kirwan.
“When those horses were in the ring, it’s a bit like an out-of-body experience, because you’re so caught up in the moment, and there’s so much apprehension and nerves attached to it, too.”
Pepper Tree will offer a Bivouac filly and a King’s Legacy colt at Riverside Stables, with both yearlings to go through the ring on Day 3 (Tuesday).
“We’re very proud and excited to be selling these two horses next week. We think they’re both very nice yearlings,” Kirwan remarked.
“We’re very proud and excited to be selling these two horses next week. We think they’re both very nice yearlings.” - Damian Kirwan
“Having done Magics, we feel more comfortable and better-prepared.”
Lot 733 is the first foal from the Snitzel mare Spiritual Pursuit, herself a three-time winner and Group 3 placegetter who is a half-sister to Group 3-placed Bohemian Daisy (Hellbent).
The Bivouac filly’s second dam, Happy Hippy (Shamardal {USA}), scored twice in Listed grade. A three-quarter sister to the Listed victress My Nikita (NZ) (Shamoline Warrior), Happy Hippy has produced eight foals, seven have raced and four are winners, including the seven-time scorer, the Bjorn Baker-trained Wategos (Capitalist).
Lot 733 - Bivouac x Spiritual Pursuit (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pepper Tree Farm purchased the filly from the Amarina Farm draft at last year’s Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $50,000.
“We pinhooked this filly at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale last year on Rob’s advice. He worked very closely with that family at Tyreel Stud and he quite liked her, he thought she would develop into a nice yearling, which she has,” Kirwan commented.
“It’s such a good, running family. Everything out of Happy Hippy has just got up and running, and more importantly for the Australian market, has got up and going early.”
“Everything out of Happy Hippy has just got up and running, and more importantly for the Australian market, has got up and going early.” - Damian Kirwan
Lot 753 - the colt by King’s Legacy - is from the winless So You Think (NZ) mare Supergo, who Pepper Tree Farm just $10,000 for at the 2020 Inglis 2020 March (Late) Online Sale. Supergo was in foal to Extreme Choice at the time and the resultant foal, a filly, was purchased by Trilogy Racing for $350,000 from the Blue Gum Farm consignment at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
This colt is closely related to stakes winners including San Andreas (Smart Missile), Banc De Fortune (Galileo {Ire}) and Zingam (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
“Superego is the first mare Brianna and I ever bought, so we bred this colt ourselves. She has been very good to us. Her second foal, a Harry Angel colt, made $100,000 (at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale when consigned by Blue Gum Farm),” Kirwan explained.
Lot 753 - King's Legacy x Superego (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We were very bullish on King’s Legacy from the start, we sent two mares to him in his first season. Redoute’s Choice’s record as a sire of sires… the fact he’s so closely related to Not A Single Doubt, the fact he was a dual Group 1-winning 2-year-old, we just thought he was so well-credentialed, and when we went to see him at Coolmore we were blown away by him on type, I could see a lot of resemblance to Not A Single Doubt physically.
“We were very bullish on King’s Legacy from the start, we sent two mares to him in his first season.” - Damian Kirwan
“That Easy Date family has proven itself time and time again, so we thought he had a very good chance of making it.”
The evolution of Pepper Tree Farm
Situated in Cowra in the Central Slopes region of New South Wales, Pepper Tree Farm was established in 1996 by Vandyke’s parents, Rob and Julie Vandyke.
Over time, Pepper Tree Farm was developed by Rob and Julie into one of the leading standardbred studs in Australasia, standing top stallions such as Art Major and Rock N Roll Heaven.
In 2015, Brianna Vandyke set up the Pepper Tree Farm Equine Clinic on the farm and expanded the breeding program to include thoroughbred clients. Today, Pepper Tree Farm provides agistment, breeding and reproductive services for mares, foaling, weaning and yearling preparations, as well as a world-class equine veterinary practice.
Damian Kirwan and Dr Brianna Vandyke | Image courtesy of Inglis
The size of Pepper Tree’s broodmare band sits at eight, but with their breeding and agistment services, they had up to 120 mares during the last season.
Kirwan and Vandyke intend to increase their broodmare band over time.
“We’re not in a rush and we want to do things properly,” he said.
“We try to breed our mares commercially.
“Next season, we will probably end up with 20-25 yearlings to target at the sales, which is really good.”
“Next season, we will probably end up with 20-25 yearlings to target at the sales, which is really good.” - Damian Kirwan
Kirwan acknowledged Blue Gum Farm’s former owners, Philip and Patti Campbell, for their ongoing support and advice. Kirwan developed a relationship with the Campbells during eight years working for Blue Gum Farm.
“When Brianna and I branched out into this venture together, they supported us amazingly well, they really helped get us to where we are today. We are extremely appreciative of their loyalty and for giving us a chance,” said Kirwan.
