Cressfield

by Renée Geelen

Promising Listed winner Granny Red Shoes sold from Cressfield’s 2017 draft for $280,000. Other recent Magic Millions graduates from the farm include Gr.3 winners Egyptian Symbol, and Missrock. It is also worth mentioning that Cressfield is where the Gr.1 winning sprinter Clearly Innocent was bred and retained as a homebred in the farm’s ownership going on to win over $1.5 million, and became a wonderful advertisement for the Scone nursery.

With a draft of ten yearlings on offer at Magic Millions Gold Coast 2019, Cressfield once again offer yearlings from their superior broodmare band. Bluebloods spoke to Cressfield’s Liesl Baumann about the draft.

What can buyers expect from your 2019 MMGC draft?

Variety - both in terms of sires represented and in the types of yearlings, all of whom are well-grown, mature horses suitable for this early sale. I expect there to be a number of two year-old runners amongst them. One of the highlights is the first foal of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Real Surreal. This filly by Snitzel has a speedy family, with her dam also being a half-sister to Gr.3 winner Benny’s Buttons. The Real Surreal filly is squat and strong and looks to have all the sprinting attributes that her parentage would proffer. Gr.1 winning sprinting mare Mid Summer Music is represented by an athletic filly by Not A Single Doubt. Like so many of the good ones by the sire, this flaxen maned filly is eye catching but not overly big. In contrast, we have two yearlings in the draft by Deep Field. The colt out of Dove Lake, a threequarter sister to Headwater, is a big striding strapping colt, while the filly out of Gr.3 winner Isibaeva has a masculine like depth to her. The Hinchinbrook colt out of Dezign, is a half brother to Gr.3 placed The Chairman and is sure impress with his great hip and excellent attitude. A half-sister to Listed winner, Granny Red Shoes, is a lovely looking balanced individual. She is by emerging sire, All Too Hard, from two year-old stakes winner Shoboard.

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?

At the 2018 yearling sale we sold a gorgeous Deep Field filly out of Shoboard for $650,000 to China Horse Club and Allan Bell Racing. The filly has been named Just Field. When you consider this was a $20,000 service fee, a first season sire, and the mare had only had a Listed placegetter at that stage, then it’s a huge result. Granny Red Shoes is now a Listed winner, adding to the residual value of this filly. She was a glorious type and a personal favourite from a foal. She had the most beautiful swinging, push from her hocks action when she walked and was very difficult to fault. It shows that a standout type, and good buyer competition is a magic combination.

CRESSFIELD’S REPUTATION AS OWNER OF ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S FINEST BROODMARE BANDS IS AGAIN REFLECTED IN THEIR 2019 MAGIC MILLIONS GOLD COAST DRAFT.

CRESSFIELD’S REPUTATION AS OWNER OF ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S FINEST BROODMARE BANDS IS AGAIN REFLECTED IN THEIR 2019 MAGIC MILLIONS GOLD COAST DRAFT.

What are you reading currently?

As I write this it is the middle of the breeding season. Being eight months pregnant with a two year-old toddling about the place, I am mostly reading the back of my eyelids any chance I get. However, Kelly Skillecorn at Gilgai and Robyn Whishaw from Armidale both recommended “Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts to me which I finished a couple of months ago and thoroughly enjoyed. Currently, I am churning my way through something called “The Cows”, which contrary to the reviews is neither particularly clever or funny…

If You Could spend a day in someone else’s shoes, whose would it be and why?

My husband’s. Imagine how terrific it would be to be totally blind to house mess! No, in all honesty I think that a glimpse from your partner’s perspective would be an incredible gift to the relationship. One day might not quite be long enough though.

Who was the biggest influence in your life?

It’s a dull answer for which I will not apologise but it would have to be my parents. How can it not be? On the flip side of that, my year twelve English teacher said to me once, “Liesl, if one is not truly conscious, one will repeat the patterns of heredity”, and I have never forgotten it. While we are all products of our upbringing, a good dose of self-awareness can be life changing. l

www.cressfield.com.au 02 6545 0500 Parkville, NSW