Attunga Stud

by Renée Geelen

Brian is still searching for the right farm to replace Attunga, and told Bluebloods that he is yet to find anything quite suitable. Having the right piece of land is part of the reason Attunga has a long list of top quality graduates. Already, Attunga’s 2018 Gold Coast draft has a stakes graduate with two-year-old Sun City (by Zoustar) who ran second on debut in the VRC Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (Listed). Other Magic Millions graduates for Attunga in the past couple of seasons include Gr.2 winner Son of Maher, Gr.3 winner Ellicazoom, Listed winners Rubira, Qafila, Champ Elect, and stakes placed Princess Pierro.

ELLICAZOOM - Attunga graduate Ellicazoom, the recent Spring Carnival

Cockram S Gr3 winner of almost $500K has been a fine advertisement for the farm.

Having sold the original Attunga property to Yarraman Park, proprietor Brian Nutt is currently preparing his 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast draft from the Lincoln Farm property.

What can buyers expect from your 2019 MMGC draft?

The draft is a small one compared to previous years but consists of a quality offering, probably headed by the Written Tycoon filly from winning mare Pinova (Fastnet Rock). Pinova is a daughter of group winner Golden Delicious, making her a half-sister to Star Turn. Her first foal is a winner in Singapore, so she has begun her stud career in strong fashion.

Both Deep Field and Wandjina have already shown they are highly promising stallions and we have two by Deep Field and one by Wandjina. The Deep Field colt from Magical Belle is a half-brother to Listed winner Enchanted Dream, and stakes placed Mystic Maid; while the other the Deep Field colt is the second foal of stakes placed Freezethemillions. The Wandjina colt is out of Fantasy Lady, a winner who has left four winners of eight races.

Kermadec was a fantastic racehorse and his first yearlings should be highly sought after in 2019. The filly out of Previous (Commands) is a filly with great scope and like her sire, we will probably see the best from her as a late two year old and three year old. She is particularly athletic and moves well. This is the first foal for Previous, who is a daughter of stakes winner Yesterday, from the Donna Cara, Maizcay, Fitting, Catbird family.

Ever popular stallion, Choisir also has a nice filly represented. Out of city winning mare Xaaranthe, this filly is a half-sister to million dollar earner, and Gr.3 winner Target in Sight. Herself a half-sister to stakes winner Stringmaster, Xaaranthe is out of a Zabeel full sister to Gr.1 winner Our Unicorn.

Winning imported American mare Prevalent has a Hinchinbrook colt, her second foal, and Prevalent is a half-sister to French stakes winner Stern Opinion, and Dr Arbatach, the incredibly tough stakes winner of thirty races (yes, 30 – including five as a two year-old).

Target in Sight winning the $1m Magic Millions Sprint in 2017.

His half-sister by prolific Gr1 sire Choisir in Attunga's 2019 MMGC draft, is not to be missed.

Which particular yearling in recent years gave you the most pleasant surprise with the sale price and what did you put it down to afterwards?

We had great satisfaction in selling a yearling by Not A Single Doubt from Scenes last year for $750,000. The filly was bred by the Atwell family from Darling View Thoroughbreds in WA, who have been great supporters of Attunga Stud over recent years. The same vendors are represented with the Magical Belle yearling in the current draft.

What are the main factors you take into account when planning matings?

Matings? The most difficult part of the process! The proven stallions are often out of reach of the smaller breeder, so we have to try and find the “stallion on the up”.

The physical match is important, and we also look for proven nicks, and duplications of dominant females in the pedigree. We do use some first season sires that have been highly rated on the track, that should also be commercial amongst buyers, not forgetting the physical match up in the first instance. Over mating is something to be avoided, but at the end of the day it is all a process that involves a fair bit of luck as well as good judgement.

What’s your hidden talent? My hidden talents are a distant memory, however I do make a mean margarita.

If you could spend a day in someone else’s shoes, whose would they be and why?

I would like to spend a day in Winx’s shoes when winning her 4th Cox Plate and look at all those silly people going “Nutt”s.

What’s the first career you dreamed of having as a kid?

As a kid, I loved sport and to be a professional sportsman would have been amazing, but back then, the money wasn’t viable. l

Brian Nutt: 0418 264 012 attungastud@bigpond.com Scone, NSW