Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Established in 2017, Rae-Louise and Padraig Kelly’s Fernrigg Farm brings a wealth of experience to the table. Padraig is one of Australia's most respected equine vets, while Rae-Louise previously served as the yearling manager at Widden Stud.
Combining their talents, Fernrigg Farm has quickly established a reputation for breeding and producing quality racehorses. Judging by Saturday’s results, the operation appears to have an exciting graduate in Wanaruah (Snitzel).
The Thoroughbred Report spoke with Rae-Louise Kelly about the Snitzel colt, whom they were “just not willing to give away.”
Named after the land
Trained by the powerhouse duo of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Wanaruah made his first public appearance at Randwick in May this year, where he finished fifth behind the talented Spywire (Trapeze Artist) and King Of Roseau (Capitalist).
Wanaruah at the Randwick trials in May | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Following that effort, he won a trial at Randwick by 1.16l. Wanaruah then made his debut at Canterbury on June 18 over 1250 metres on a Heavy 8 track, where he won comfortably by 2.21l.
On Saturday, Wanaruah stepped up to 1400 metres at Randwick and showcased his class, defeating his rivals by a visually comfortable 1.99l.
Raced by Fernrigg Farm alongside Oneplusnine Racing and Matha Bloodstock, Wanaruah was also bred by the Kellys and spent his early life grazing and running on the fertile land of their Muswellbrook-based property.
Rae-Louise Kelly explained the meaning of the name Wanaruah: “It is actually the Aboriginal name for the land of Fernrigg Farm and the area of Muswellbrook where he was raised.”
Not going to give him away
When presenting a son of Arrowfield Stud’s four-time Champion Sire Snitzel, who comes from a Group 2-winning dam (Mella Maria), it's reasonable to expect interest and a good chance of a nice result. Wanaruah fit the bill on paper. However, when he was offered by Fernrigg Farm at the 2023 Inglis Australian Yearling Sale, no buyer was willing to meet his $300,000 reserve.
Wanaruah as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Rae-Louise Kelly explained why she felt this was the case: “He wasn’t your typical Snitzel. Even as a weanling, he was quite big and almost raw. His joints weren’t perfect at the time. He was just a bigger, raw horse—that's just the type he was. However, we always loved him, and he had an unbelievable attitude.
“He was so easy to prepare, and there were never any issues with him. So, we were never prepared to just give him away because of those cosmetic issues.”
“He (Wanaruah) was so easy to prepare, and there were never any issues with him. So, we were never prepared to just give him away (at the yearling sales) because of those cosmetic issues.” - Rae-Louise Kelly
The Kellys have been well rewarded for their patience and faith, with Wanaruah proving that those cosmetic concerns were no issue. He remains unbeaten and has already banked over $100,000 in prizemoney.
“We knew we had a nice horse, so we brought him home. Our new property has several hill paddocks, and we turned him out for about six months to let him strengthen up and grow into himself. He responded well to that extra time.”
Ceiling yet to be reached
The Kellys were confident they had a quality horse in Wanaruah, but this wasn't immediately apparent to trainers Waterhouse and Bott. Kelly described Wanaruah as "a laid-back horse who only does what he has to."
Despite his relaxed nature, there is clearly talent beneath the surface. Winning two races as a juvenile in metropolitan Sydney is no small feat.
Rae-Louise and Padraig Kelly
“It wasn’t really until he got to the racetrack that we knew he could run. He’s such a relaxed horse, and if you’ve seen him at the races, you wouldn’t think he was a colt.
“The reports from Gai (Waterhouse) and Adrian (Bott) were always that he's a laid-back character who hasn’t really been challenged yet. He gives as much as he needs to give.
“So, we don’t actually know how good he could be. Gai and Adrian have never really talked him up either because he just does what he needs to.”
Sentimental purchase
Wanaruah's story begins in 2019 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Mill Park Stud presented Mella Maria, in foal to the late Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice, in its draft on the Gold Coast that year.
Mella Maria, a daughter of G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Star Witness, was purchased for a mere $2500 by Michael Azzie at the 2014 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale from the draft of Widden Stud. Sent to South Africa, Mella Maria won three races, including the G2 Johannesburg Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge Stakes.
She is a daughter of the Keep The Faith mare Sayahailmary, who was placed in the G2 Angus Armanasco S. and the Listed Morphettville Guineas.
Mella Maria, carrying a cover to Redoute's Choice, at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The Kellys were impressed with Mella Maria and went to $340,000 to add her to their growing broodmare band. Kelly explained there was some sentimental motive to purchasing her: “I actually prepared Mella Maria as a yearling when I was at Widden. So, there was a little bit of sentimental value there.
“She was also in foal to Redoute’s Choice, which would be his last crop. There were a few things that made her appeal to us. But she’s not a big, strapping, outstanding-looking mare. The cover was obviously something we were interested in, and she was well-performed compared to the mares we had at the time.”
“The cover (by Redoute's Choice) was obviously something we were interested in, and she (Mella Maria) was well-performed compared to the mares we had at the time.” - Rae-Louise Kelly
Mella Maria’s first foal, a filly by Golden Horn (GB) named Bella Maria, raced once, foaled a filly by Ghaiyyath (Ire), and was served by Sejardan last season. The Redoute’s Choice cover Mella Maria was carrying at the time resulted in a filly named Miss Passion, who won twice and was sold for $760,000 at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to Moody Racing and Tasman Bloodstock.
“The $760,000 we sold for Miss Passion was a record price for us at the time. She was a beautiful filly, and she was picked out at the sales by Peter Moody. Miss Passion was actually quite talented but just had a couple of issues with her, she kept kind of kicking herself, and it was just bad luck. We never really got to know how good she could have been.”
Next came Dunloe, a gelding by Fastnet Rock, who was sold for $180,000 to Lindsay Park Racing. He has raced thrice and has won twice this season. After Wanaruah, Mella Maria foaled a colt by Darley’s exciting prospect Bivouac and was served by Acrobat.
“Mella Maria does seem to be doing the job, and the Bivouac colt on the ground is pretty typical of what she throws. She puts everything she has into her progeny. This colt is very neat, well put together, and will likely head up to the Gold Coast for the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“Mella Maria does seem to be doing the job, and the Bivouac colt on the ground is pretty typical of what she throws. She puts everything she has into her progeny.” - Rae-Louise Kelly
“We are hopeful Wanaruah can give him a couple of pedigree updates before then.”
Spring ambitions
There is no definite plan yet for where Wanaruah may go in the spring, with Waterhouse and Bott set to make a decision this week for the promising colt.
“We’re not sure at the moment. He’s a bit of an unknown still, and we don’t actually know how good he is. He’s pretty reserved.
Wanaruah cleared away in the 2YO H. at Randwick on Saturday | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“It’s just a really exciting time for us, especially since we’ve stayed with him and always loved him as a horse. We weren’t prepared to just give him away.
“Hopefully, he can add further to our tally of winners. We’re on a bit of a roll at the minute. We have left the plans with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. He is going to have a little freshen up for a couple of weeks, and they will put together a few targets for the spring.
“We’re just going to sit back and enjoy the ride.”
