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How to Fly. Brad Sheppard with his winning syndicate. Brad Sheppard with his winning syndicate.
How to Fly.
Galloping for gold Galloping for gold S S ince he was a little boy, Brad Sheppard has always been amazed by horses, with ince he was a little boy, Brad Sheppard his family involved with horse ownership has always been amazed by horses, with for a number of years. his family involved with horse ownership for a number of years. came along for Mr When the opportunity Sheppard to follow in his family’s When the opportunity came alongfootsteps for Mr and become an owner through a syndication Sheppard to follow in his family’s footsteps group about four yearsthrough ago, he jumped at the and become an owner a syndication opportunity. group about four years ago, he jumped at the opportunity. “I’ve always wanted to be involved,” he said. “I used to gowanted down totothe as a he young “I’ve always be track involved,” said. kidused and to collect the form at the end of “I go down to theguides track as a young every race and the pretend was studying the of kid and collect formIguides at the end form because just loved reading aboutthe the every race andI pretend I was studying races and specific so I’ve always had a form because I justhorses, loved reading about the strongand passion for horses, it. races specific so I’ve always had a strong passion for it. “Horses are such majestic creatures; the way they present themselves, and prepare for “Horses are such majestictrain creatures; the way competition so interesting.” they present is themselves, train and prepare for competition is so interesting.” Mr Sheppard’s passion has seen him become part owner of two horses, Merrijig andbecome How Mr Sheppard’s passion has seen him to Fly, and he the most exciting aspect part owner of said two horses, Merrijig and How about owner was the opportunity to Fly, being and hean said the most exciting aspectto do so with a close group ofthe friends. about being an owner was opportunity to do so with a close group of friends. “Being an owner is a great excuse to get out to “Being anwith owner is amates greatand excuse get out to the track your havetosome fun,” thesaid. track with your mates and have some fun,” he he said. “Whether you own one per cent or 50-100 per “Whether youget ownthat oneadrenaline per cent or 50-100 per cent, you still rush when cent,horse you still get that adrenaline rushtowhen your is running, and to be able share your horse is running, and is tosomething be able to share that with your best mates I love that with your best mates is something I love doing.” doing.” This is one of the reasons Mr Sheppard has This one ofas theanreasons Mr Sheppard has beenischosen ambassador for a new been chosen as an ambassador for a new competition called Own the Dream, which competition called Own Dream, which gives one lucky team thethe opportunity to win a gives one lucky team the opportunity to win a 20 per cent share in a race horse and benefit 20 per cent share in a race horse and benefit
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Most commonly known for his Most commonly known foras hisa exploits and achievements exploits and achievements as a defender for the newly crowned defender for the newly crowned AFL champions, the West Coast AFL champions, the West Coast Eagles, Brad Sheppard has another Eagles, Brad Sheppard has another string to his bow he is extremely stringof,towrites his bow he isThurmott. extremely proud Chris proud of, writes Chris Thurmott. from having two years’ worth of training paid for. having two years’ worth of training paid from for. “This competition is a great chance for the general public to gain better understanding “This competition is aagreat chance for the of the racing here in WA, general publicindustry, to gain aespecially better understanding and have some fun at the same time,” heWA, said. of the racing industry, especially here in and have some fun at the same time,” he said. “To be able to attend the training sessions, visit theable stud getsessions, to see what “To be tofarms attendand thereally training goes on behind the scenes is fantastic, visit the stud farms and really get to seeand what to do on it with yourthe mates really adds thatand extra goes behind scenes is fantastic, something to do it withspecial.” your mates really adds that extra something special.” ALL THE BENEFITS, NO NEGATIVES ALL THEaBENEFITS, NO acknowledging NEGATIVES a Keeping clear head and Keeping a clear a Mr horse won’t win head everyand timeacknowledging is the mentality horse won’t win every time the mentality Sheppard takes with him toiseach race and isMr Sheppard takes with him to each and is why he feels he hasn’t faced manyrace challenges why hehis feels he as hasn’t faced many challenges during time an owner. during his time as an owner. In fact, the biggest challenge he said he had In fact,also theturned biggestinto challenge he said he had faced his biggest success faced also turned his biggest story. Shortly afterinto taking a stake success in his story. Shortly after to taking stake in his second horse How Fly, itawas discovered she second horsethat Howpotentially to Fly, it was discoveredthe she had an injury jeopardised had an injury that mare’s chances ofpotentially ever racing.jeopardised the mare’s chances of ever racing. “She came from a really good blood line, but “She came fromifashe really goodever blood we were unsure would getline, out but on we were unsure if she would ever get out on the track” Mr Sheppard said. the track” Mr Sheppard said.
“In the end the trainer worked really well with her the andend gradually built worked her up. really well with “In the trainer her and gradually built her up. “She came back as a three-year-old and started to show good promise and and won “She came backreally as a three-year-old a coupletoofshow Saturday coming started reallyraces goodbefore promise and won second Magic Millions three-year-old a coupleinofthe Saturday races before coming race. second in the Magic Millions three-year-old race. “Coming off the back of thinking she would never be able to back race, of to thinking still be racing and “Coming off the she would showing promise something I will never be excellent able to race, to stillisbe racing and always proud of.” showingbeexcellent promise is something I will always be proud of.” Another proud moment for Mr Sheppard was Another proud moment for Mr Sheppard first horse Merrijig’s maiden victory underwas his first horse Merrijig’s maiden victory under his ownership. ownership. “That moment when she crossed the line was “That moment crossed the line unbelievable, it when really she lit the fire inside me was to unbelievable, it really theracing fire inside me tohe get more involved withlitthe industry,” get said.more involved with the racing industry,” he said. “The thrill I got was incredible and the “The thrill I got was incredible satisfaction to be able to shareand thatthe will my satisfaction to be able to look shareback thaton willwith my mates is something I will mates is something I will look back on with great joy.” great joy.” Although he would love to be at every race Although would love to be sessions, at every race meet and he attend the training due to meet and attend the training sessions, due to
