Silverdale Farm

Steve and Eliza Grant’s beautiful Silverdale Farm at Avoca in the fertile NSW Southern Highlands has achieved extraordinary results in its first few years as a sale vendor. The 2022 Golden Slipper winner Fireburn was born at Silverdale, as was Gr.3 winner Subterranean, while multiple Group placed 2yo Pantonario was a 2021 Silverdale Magic Millions graduate, selling to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. The farm’s reputation is highlighted by being second leading vendor at Magic Millions 2021 in its first year of operation and leading vendor at Magic Millions 2022 when it was also leading vendor on average across all major sales. Silverdale yearlings have been eagerly sought after by the best judges in the industry.

Silverdale’s 2023 draft of seven youngsters underscores the farm’s commitment to excellence with yearlings by no less than three Champion Australian General sires represented, Exceed And Excel, Pierro and Written Tycoon, another three by Champion first and third crop sires Capitalist, Deep

Field and Extreme Choice, while the seventh is from the first crop of Caulfield Guineas Gr1 winner Super Seth to complete a super lineup.

Farm manager Rob Petith takes up the story, “Apart from the sire power in our draft, I’m delighted with the all important mare quality, these seven yearlings are out of young stakes mares and mares by fine broodmare sires. For instance we are presenting the first foal of Group winning and multiple Group placed Sweet Scandal, a colt by the Golden Slipper winner Pierro followed very next lot into the ring by the second foal of the flying Gr2 winner Sweet Sherry, a filly by crack 2yo sire Exceed And Excel. Two superb yearlings out of Group winning mares both by Champion Australian sires, the adrenaline will be pumping in the Silverdale team during those six or seven minutes, that’s for sure.”

The Southern Highlands of NSW has been “rediscovered” in recent years by leading thoroughbred breeders, although truth to tell, there have been some wonderful racehorses produced there over the years including Golden Slipper

winner Tierce. High quality boutique broodmare operations have now been established right throughout the Highlands, in Mittagong, Bowral, Burradoo, Berrima, Avoca, Wildes Meadow and Moss Vale, each one more picturesque than the next.

Steve and Eliza Grant have gone to great lengths to ensure that all the facilities at Silverdale are state of the art, and they have not forgotten the tried and trusted methods that have produced good horses over the years. Rob Petith commented that “Silverdale is designed in such a way as to give our horses every opportunity in life, from the best facilities, to education by top horsemen and women that will serve them well as yearlings, as racehorses and in their stud careers or retirement.”

Bluebloods asked Robert Petith to give us his comments on the 2023 MM draft in order of entry into the ring. His comments follow the description of each youngster.

LOT 122 bay colt

Super Seth – Miss Bling by Golan

From the first crop of Gr1 Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth.

This colt is a half-brother Gr2 Wellington Guineas winner (My) Gold Bracelet from the family of Gr1 Goodwood H runnerup CZAR HERO.

Great shape, strong colt with an incredible action.

LOT 200 bay filly

Extreme Choice – On A Given Day by Fastnet Rock

By Champion Australian 1st season sire, the extraordinary Extreme Choice, sire of Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside and Flight S/VRC Oaks winner She’s Extreme from just 54 runners.

This filly is from a mare by outstanding broodmare sire Fastnet Rock and from the family of multiple Champion Australian sire SNITZEL.

A beautiful filly with a great action, great shape by a sire everyone wants a piece of.

LOT 207 bay colt

Capitalist – Ostentatious by Shamardal

By Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, leading Australian 1st crop sire by Winners and Stakes Winners. A leading sire by Winners and Stakes Winners in each of his first three seasons.

The mare’s first foal to race is a Sydney metro winner of four races and $138k. Dam is by the elite sire Shamardal whose young daughters have already produced 10 Gr1 winners including CONVERGE and IMPERATRIZ. Family of unbeaten Gr1 winning filly UNWORLDLY.

For me, my favourite colt from this crop.

LOT 451 bay colt

Pierro – Sweet Scandal by Sepoy

First foal of the outstanding mare Sweet Scandal, Gr3 winner, multiple Group placed winner of seven races and $493k.

By Golden Slipper winner and Champion Australian sire Pierro first four dams all stakes winners and/or stakes producers.

Unbelievable first foal, strength, shape, action.

LOT 452 bay filly

Exceed And Excel – Sweet Sherry by Bel Esprit

By Champion Australian sire Exceed And Excel, Australia’s leading influence for fast maturing high quality 2yo speed.

Second foal of a Gr2 winning half-sister to multiple Gr2 winner Arinosa. Sweet Sherry, winner of $658k was in front close home in the Golden Slipper, beaten just 3.7 lengths. She is by the sire of undefeated Black Caviar. No words, come see her, she was a star from the moment she was born.

LOT 764 bay colt

Written Tycoon – Cymbalism by Denman

By Champion Australian sire Written Tycoon, sire of crack colts, including outstanding 2yos Capitalist, Ole Kirk, Written By etc.

First foal of a stakes placed winner of five races by Lonhro’s Gr1 winning son Denman from an iconic Woodlands family including Gr1 winners MICROPHONE and YELL.

Another great first foal, he has done nothing but improve. A lovely, quality colt.

LOT 831 bay or brown filly

Deep Field – Endean Rose by Savabeel

By current leading Australian 3rd crop sire by earnings and winners Deep Field, a leading sire of his crop both previous seasons.

Third foal of a Group 2 placed winner of seven races by perennial Champion NZ sire Savabeel whose young daughters include current star mare ICEBATH, Gr1 winner of over $5.2 million and Gr1 Flight S winner NEVER BEEN KISSED.

Family of Gr1 winners WESTMINSTER, SALE OF CENTURY and (KIWI) HERO. Ripper. Tough, forward, great action.

Action, action, action, every one of these horses just feel amazing on the lead. We are very proud of this draft. While it will be difficult to maintain our current trajectory, I can’t help but be optimistic.

1091 Sheepwash Road, Avoca NSW 2577 | 0410 464 345 | rpetith@grantbloodstock.com.au silverdalefarm.com.au