Lime Country

by Renée Geelen

Lime Country Thoroughbreds will present their second Australian crop at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Jo and Greg Griffin took on the huge challenge of moving from the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand to run their Southern Highlands base on the property previously known as Think Big Stud.

2018 Gr.1 NZ One Thousand Guineas winner Media Sensation is a graduate of their final draft out of New Zealand, while other Lime Country graduates include Singapore Gold Cup winner Bahana, stakes winner Fascination Street, and 2016/17 Hong Kong Champion Griffin Premiere.

Bluebloods spoke to proprietor, Jo Griffin, about their Magic Millions Gold Coast draft for 2019. What can buyers expect from your 2019 MMGC draft? Super sexy sires. Sires that are current, exciting and can do the job at the top end for a start.

Lime Country has ten yearlings by proven sires, led by two yearling fillies by Media Sensation’s sire, I Am Invincible. Lot 433 is the second foal of the speedy Listed winning two-year-old Cailin Miss, from a good running family, while Lot 427 is out of Bugaboo, a young winning half-sister to group winners Teamgeist and Barbaro. A Written Tycoon colt (Lot 466) is from Climatic who is a stakes placed winner descending from the stallion producing Redoute’s Choice family of Best In Show. Climatic’s first two foals are winners.

After the brilliant performances of Sunlight recently, Zoustar has stamped himself as one of Australia’s most exciting young sires. Lime Country have two fillies by Zoustar on offer, highlighted by Lot 565, the first foal of Gr.3 winner Fancy Feet. A half-sister to Gr.3 placed winner Intriguing Lady, from winning mare Pleats, will go through the ring as Lot 18.

Smart Missile is the sire of sensational Gr.1 Spring Champion S winner Maid Of Heaven, the brilliant Smart Melody and high class winners every single week, and Lime Country will present two yearlings by him. Lot 517 is a colt from stakes placed winner Devils Arcade from the family of Singapore Champion Miler, Better Than Ever, while Lot 65 is a filly who is the first foal of winning Sebring mare Ring Da Belle, a half-sister to stakes winners Karacatis, and Shamillion.

Hinchinbrook’s yearling filly, Lot 885, is the second foal of Gr.1 placed winning mare Our Miss Jones, herself a full sister to stakes winner Marianne, from the family of Dylan’s Promise. Another current leading commercial sire is Not a Single Doubt, and his filly, Lot 726, is out of La Flourescent, a General Nediym half-sister to group winners Savvy Nature, and Addictive Nature. NZ Gr.1 winner Hasahalo is also related to Lot 726. A half-brother to Listed winner Georgette Silk is Lot 364, and this colt by Nicconi comes from the same family as Charge Forward, Sydney’s Dream, and Donna Natalia.

AFTER THE BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES OF SUNLIGHT RECENTLY, ZOUSTAR HAS STAMPED HIMSELF AS ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST EXCITING YOUNG SIRES. LIME COUNTRY HAVE TWO FILLIES BY ZOUSTAR ON OFFER...

We have some top end type yearlings by up and coming young sires, including two fillies by exciting sprinter Deep Field. The first foal of stakes winning sprinter, Cool Trade, is a filly, Lot 473, who gets a double dose of speed from her sire and dam, while the other Deep Field filly, Lot 354, is from two-year-old winner Anjea, from the family of Vanbrugh, Sportsman, Prisoner of Love, Hoystar, and King of Prussia. Fellow freshman sire Brazen Beau is represented by a colt, Lot 544, who is the first foal of winning mare Elegant Machine, a half-sister to stakes winner Astronomia.

Headwater’s first crop are yearlings, and judges will want to inspect Lime Country’s two colts by the young sire. Lot 777 is the second foal of winning mare Magondo, a daughter of stakes winner Magdalena, and closely related to Champion 2YO Filly in South Africa, Entisaar. Out of young mare, The Carnival, Lot 216, is a well related colt from the family of group winners Shelbourne Lass, Elusive Touch, and Temper Tantrum.

Singapore Champion 2YO Super One has a filly from his first crop in Lime Country’s draft, Lot 469. She is the first foal of winning mare Concealment, who is a half-sister to Hong Kong Classic Mile winner Self Flit. Fellow first season sire, Exosphere, is represented by Lot 757, a colt from winning mare Love Her Madly, a half-sister to stakes winner Amphitrite, dam of stakes winner Holy Blade. This is the Allez Wonder family.

Two colts by Gr.1 winner and first season sire Pride of Dubai round out the Lime Country draft. Lot 690 is out of Irish Pipedream, a half-sister to Rain Drum, and Snitzel Spirit, from the Bentley Biscuit branch of the Denise’s Joy family. Leaving a beautiful pedigree for last, Lot 725, is a half-brother to stakes placed Touch of Mink, out of La Dolce Diva, a daughter of triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, herself a half-sister to three other stakes winners.

What do you like best about selling at the Gold Coast?

Probably the same as everyone else - it’s a mix of the quality of the stock, the intense vibe of the first sale of the year, the socialising that goes on after hours in and around Broadbeach, along with catching everyone from staff to buyers and trainers getting in amongst the waves for a freshen up early the morning after.

How has technology and IT affected and influenced your business?

The impact of Social Media and the new demands and opportunities it presents for business today is something we never foresaw ten years ago. It is time consuming, but it allows a direct and immediate channel of communication with a huge range of people from owners and clients to prospective staff and the media. As a medium sized operation, we need to be innovative and authentic with the way we use it to maximise opportunities and minimise what can very expensive from a labour perspective. This year we introduced some new services for clients of yearlings and foals on farm which are technology based which we have had great feedback on from clients.

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

Blake Lively because of her fabulous wardrobe, killer shoes, gorgeous husband and a great rack. So far, I’m on track with the husband part at least…

What’s the first career you dreamed of having as a kid? No recollection but no doubt it was something to do with horses.

Pinnaroo Homestead, 43 Railway Road, Burradoo, Nsw 2576 Jo Griffin m: 0428 960 669 Greg Griffin m: 0429 002 964 e: jo@limecountry.com.au www.limecountry.com.au