Cover image courtesy of Muskoka Farm
Continuing The Thoroughbred Report’s ‘Breaker’s Insight’ series, TTR AusNZ’s next stop was the picturesque Muskoka Farm, where we spoke with General Manager Robbie Hewetson.
The experienced, hands-on horseman shared the proud history Muskoka Farm has in educating the next generation of racetrack superstars and highlighted a few first-season sires that have been impressing him.
Hewetson spoke highly of the farm's facilities, saying, “We’ve got a beautiful track here. You could train a Melbourne Cup winner out of here. It also allows us to drive around in the car and video the horses working, which all the clients love!”
Training track at Muskoka Farm | Image courtesy of Muskoka Farm
Bennett's Southport flying the flag
As recently as last season, a Muskoka Farm graduate was flying the Group 1 flag: Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon), a winner of the G1 Australian Guineas, raced by the Melbourne-based Nathan Bennett of Bennett Racing.
Southport Tycoon | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Nathan hadn’t been in the game too long, and it was at a Coolmore cocktail party looking at yearlings where I met and spoke to him. He asked, ‘Where are you from?’ I said I was from Sydney. He then asked whether I had starting gates and if I could educate the babies.
“I said, ‘They all go through the barriers before they go to the trainers. Everything is done here.’ Since then, we’ve handled all of the Bennett Racing horses.”
Another Bennett Racing colt who has performed with distinction is Stay Focused (Cosmic Force), a placegetter in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) and the G3 HDF McNeil S., and also a graduate of Muskoka Farm.
Stay Focused | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Past graduates of Muskoka Farm include the inaugural The Everest winner Redzel (Snitzel), who won the first two editions of the contest, as well as Hong Kong Champion Able Friend (Shamardal {USA}) and G1 Golden Slipper winners Sebring and Mossfun (Mossman).
Admire Mars and Ole Kirk receive top marks
Among the first-season sires, Hewetson has highlighted Vinery’s Ole Kirk, the winner of the G1 Golden Rose S. and the G1 Caulfield Guineas.
“I’ve only worked with one Ole Kirk colt, but wow, what a lovely horse he was. The colt was out of a mare named Strome and was purchased by Hong Kong interests at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
“He was an athletic, beautiful mover. A very lovely horse, and he broke in really well. He’s now in his second preparation and will be heading to John Sargent.”
Robbie Hewetson | Image courtesy of Muskoka Farm
The Ole Kirk colt is the first foal from the Smart Missile mare Strome, who won eight races and placed fourth in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic. The colt was offered by Kitchwin Hills at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where he was purchased for $70,000 by Sham and Bridle Bloodstock
Another stallion impressing Hewetson is Arrowfield Stud’s Admire Mars (Jpn), a three-time Group 1 winner. The son of Daiwa Major (Jpn) has had an encouraging start in Japan, with eight first-crop winners already.
“I’ve worked with a few horses from the Japanese stallion Admire Mars, and they’ve all got really good minds. They’re very quiet and athletic.
“I’ve worked with a few horses from the Japanese stallion Admire Mars, and they’ve all got really good minds. They’re very quiet and athletic.” - Robbie Hewetson
“I have a filly by Admire Mars who’s heading to Melbourne. She’s out of a Beneteau mare named Bee Neata and is an extremely good mover.
“These weren’t super expensive horses, but they’re nice horses. They’re placid, athletic, and have a really good brain on them.”
Admire Mars (Jpn) will stand for $22,000 inc GST in 2024 | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
The Admire Mars filly from Bee Neata (Beneteau) was purchased for $56,000 by Hayfields Racing and Intel Bloodstock from the draft of Clarke and Croft Bloodstock at this year’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
Hewetson added, “The other thing about the Admire Marses we’ve had is they’ve continued to grow and develop really quickly throughout their preparations.”
Others to watch
Hewetson then highlighted several other 2-year-olds to follow this season. One standout is a colt by Zoustar, out of Atlantic Emerald (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). “He was purchased for $1 million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He’s owned by Hong Kong interests and is currently in pre-training. What a magnificent animal he is.
“Those top-quality horses have something special about them, and Zoustar is just an unbelievable sire.”
“Those top-quality horses have something special about them, and Zoustar is just an unbelievable sire.” - Robbie Hewetson
Atlantic Emerald, an unraced daughter of Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock), comes from an illustrious lineage. Her dam was the Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, winning 10 races, including the G1 All Aged S., G1 Thousand Guineas, G1 Caulfield S., and G1 Memsie S.
Zoustar x Atlantic Emerald (colt) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The Zoustar colt is Atlantic Emerald’s first foal and was purchased for $1 million by Huang Kai Wen and Bridle Bloodstock from Coolmore Stud’s draft at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Hewetson added, “We also worked with a Zoustar filly out of Tilia Rose for Nathan Bennett. She broke in extremely well and was a beautiful filly. Nathan also has an I Am Invincible colt out of Aquamosa; what a beautiful animal. He broke in early, and he was a Magic Millions horse—truly outstanding.”
Zoustar x Tilia Rose (filly) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The Zoustar filly from Tilia Rose (Written Tycoon) was purchased for $250,000 by Bennett Racing, Blandford Bloodstock, and Annabel Neasham from Newgate Farm’s draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January. Tilia Rose hails from the family of the Champion 2-Year-Old Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}) and Ozzmosis, the winner of the G1 Coolmore Stud S.
The I Am Invincible colt from Aquamosa (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}), who was third in the G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic, has been named Jimmy Recard. He was a $350,000 purchase by Bennett Racing and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from Yarraman Park Stud’s draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Jimmy Recard as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
No surprises with Tassort
Hewetson has become well-acquainted with the progeny of Newgate Farm’s Tassort, having worked with both the stallion’s G1 Sires’ Produce S. victress Manaal and his G2 Silver Shadow S. winner Ameena.
The horseman admitted he initially had no idea who Tassort was when his progeny first started coming through the system. “The first time we got a Tassort off the truck, I didn’t know him from a bar of soap,” he said. “We have a close relationship with Emirates Park and so we educate all their runners.
Tassort will stand for $38,500 inc GST in 2024 | Standing at Newgate Farm
“After working with the Tassorts, I’m not surprised he’s produced a Group 1 winner. He’s a very good sire, I think. We had a filly by him out of a mare named Sweet Little Lies, and I believe she’ll trial soon.
“After working with the Tassorts, I’m not surprised he’s produced a Group 1 winner. He’s a very good sire, I think.” - Robbie Hewetson
“She broke in beautifully—she was a really, really nice filly.”
The Tassort filly out of Sweet Little Lies (Elusive Quality {USA}) was bred and retained by Emirates Park. Her dam was a 2-year-old winner and finished fourth in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies).
Sweet Little Lies hails from the family of G3 Thoroughbred Breeders S. winner Dame De Noche (Snippets), Nocturnelle (Elusive Quality {USA}), a Listed Angst S. winner, and Dracarys, victor of the G3 Up And Coming S.
