Swettenham Stud

Victoria's North Eastern Thoroughbred Breeders will be holding their Awards Night Of Knights on July 31st at Shepparton.

A special attraction will be the opportunity for guests to be photographed with the 150th Melbourne Cup, currently on a promotional tour around the country.

The North Eastern Thoroughbred Awards have been held for over 25 years and showcase the value of the premium horses bred in the region by the thoroughbred community.

Sponsored by Swettenham Stud, Darley Stud and Blue Gum Farm, a feature of the evening will be an Auction of nominations to Bianconi, Domesday and Elvstroem, the proceeds of which will go towards ongoing promotion of the North East Thoroughbreds industry.

Guests will enjoy the facilities of the Eastbank Centre in Shepparton, with a promise of fabulous food and wine and sensational entertainment including a "Surprise Act".

Bookings for the event can be made by going to the web site at www.northeastthoroughbreds.mygv.com.au.

Having her first run in 46 weeks for a new stable, Tonic won her first Saturday metropolitan race in the $70,000 Glasshouse Café Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield yesterday.

Now trained at Ballarat by Darren Weir, Tonic remained rock solid at $12 with the bookies in a competitive betting race.

The grey mare was restrained by Steven King to settle in a midfield position from barrier 12 before being brought into the race on the home bend.

Live In Sin and fellow on-pace runner Big Spirit weakened prior to the final furlong pole while Altitude inherited the lead with only a moderate closing sprint.

That paved the way for Tonic to surge into the lead with 150 metres remaining with Rhythm In Paris rattling down the outside when it was all over.

Tonic ($12) defeated Rhythm In Paris ($6-$7.50-$7) by a head with Glaze ($8.50-$10-$9) a further 1-3/4 lengths away in third.

Tonic is a four-year-old mare by Swettenham Stud sire Dash For Cash who is one of many sires with a service fee under $10,000 this season.

She was purchased for $80,000 at the 2007 Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sales out of the draft of Northern Lodge Stud at Eden Park.

Well all good racing folks’ have seen the trouble one can get into by “cheering in the run" or as our forebears liked to state “going the early crow”.

As a victim of backing many a horse cruising to victory that has been so cursed, by some inexperienced fellow supporter - I am fully aware of the ramifications of cheering in the run.

So it was in trepidation that I made the call for 500 wins for the 12 months ended 31st July 2010 by our resident stallions. In fact, I never even considered having to worry about past Swettenham stallions who have provided many winners this past season like Perugino, Jeune and Halo Homewrecker to name, but a few to get me over the line.

Well how fitting that the 500th winner in this period comes up on 18th July in the form of OLD MAN BUCK. This horse was the first stakes winner by Hold That Tiger (he was also Grade 1 placed as a 2YO) and his career just went horribly astray. The wheels really fell off when his trainer elected to bypass the US$1m 2YO Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Turf where he was short priced favourite to run in the richer US$2m 2YO Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Dirt (his first start on that surface).  

Over the last year Old Man Buck has been confronted with many a challenge, including a few hurdle starts, as connections tried desperately to get the horse back on track. His last few starts suggested that this win was not far away and what a satisfying win it was by a widening 4.75 lengths at the prestigious Belmont Park.

However, back to the resident stallions who performed so admirably for this milestone:

• Bianconi has enjoyed a very good season. 165 wins by his stock. These wins have been assembled by 105 individual horses. Over 25% (43) were on metropolitan tracks incl Sha Tin and Singapore. He is currently in the top ten stallions in Australia by winners. After Nicconi won his second of two Group 1 races this season the headline acts coming through appear to be Balzoni and Rhythm in Paris (a very good mare) with Tumbulgum set to be one of Singapore’s stars.
• Court of Jewels does not enjoy great numbers of runners despite his impeccable bloodlines. However, he is making his mark. 32 wins by his stock. Achieved by 19 individual horses. Over 28% (9) were on metropolitan tracks. Adaline a Group 2 winner in NZ and Alittlebitofmonica look certain to keep him in focus this Spring.
• Dash For Cash has racked up 119 wins from 78 horses. His season is just starting to blossom late with 11 new season winners in the last six weeks. Interestingly, his stars in the new season will be his 2YO’s. Never before has he had the numbers of the bigger stallions and 173 rising 2YO’s ensure he will really come under notice. Hide ‘N’Dash may be a looming star in Sydney as she returns for the Spring and Black Jack has everyone talking in Singapore.
• Hold That Tiger is set to surprise everyone. He continues to build an impressive record with 178 wins since August 1st 2009. 50 in Australia from 29 individual horses and a staggering 128 wins overseas from 85 horses. He has two star 3YO’s in the US Smiling Tiger a Grade 2 winner and Grade 1 placed and That’s A Heckofacat with 5 wins from 6 starts including 4 Stakes wins. In Australia 6 wins in two weeks in early July was the signal that there is much more to come here. It is worth noting he was a top 3 third season US sire last year on earnings and the leader on winners.
• Keep the Faith whose oldest are 2YO’s provided 6 wins for the season. All were metropolitan races and came from 2 horses In Faith and Socks. Incredibly he has 5 placegetters who have been spelled immediately after their placing suggesting trainer’s have recognized they will be best at three. Faith No More is a very unlucky galloper who with normal luck could be the winner of 2 or 3 starts. He got no room in a $100k Listed 1200m race in Queensland beaten 2.4 lengths, and looks a really likely 3YO miler.

SO WHERE WILL YOU BOOK IN 2010?

Soldier’s Tale and Host only have rising yearlings and Kaphero is expecting his first foals this coming season so there are still plenty of guns still yet to fire for Swettenham Stud – YOUR source of winners!

Isn’t it time you rewarded your mare with a racetrack winner. (IR).