Silverdale Farm

Steve Grant’s Silverdale Farm at Avoca in the fertile NSW Southern Highlands has in its first few years of operation built an enviable reputation for producing horses that perform on the track. Already from this year’s sales they have produced promising 2yos Sovereign Hill and G2 placed Eneeza. These two are following up early Group 3 - 2yo winner Subterranean and 2yo Champion Fireburn. Manager Rob Petith is particularly excited about the farm’s draft of seven, three colts and four fillies, for the 2024 Magic Millions in January.

He spoke to Bluebloods, commenting that ”It’s a privilege to work for Steve, he’s constantly striving for excellence and inspiring us to keep improving and fine tuning everything we do. We are very happy with the overall quality of this Magic Millions draft. They are all very forward types, ideally suited to Magic Millions, and by leading commercial sires capable of siring 2yos. “

These are not idle words, Silverdale has shown itself to be a committed seller with buyers of the farm’s quality yearlings including Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Ciaron Maher, Arrowfield, James Bester, Legend Bloodstock, Yes Bloodstock, Newgate Colt Syndicate, Price Kent Racing and Yulong Stud, just to name a few at prices ranging from $20k to $1.8 million and lots of horses sold in the middle market 200k to 350k range.

The farm is set on beautiful rolling country which now includes the recently added adjoining property Cloudlands. “This gives us even more flexibility, we have big undulating paddocks right through the farm so the horses can grow and fully develop to their full athletic potential “

The infrastructure at Silverdale is second to none, the care and attention to detail evident right throughout the farm, from well ventilated barns to walking machines, round yard, access ways, landscaping through to drainage and land management.

How would you sum up your 2024 MM draft?

“Our draft has Gr1 winners and Gr1 performers on every page, spearheaded by two fillies by quadruple Champion sire Snitzel who is a wonderful sire, and a colt and a filly by hot commercial sire Zoustar who sires Gr1 winners of both sexes, colts by Gr1 sires Capitalist and Deep Field, while our seventh yearling is by the flying race record setting Anders, a son of the great Not A Single Doubt. He is a young stallion throwing beautiful stock.

As with previous years we are aiming to present yearlings that particularly suit this sale.”

Taking the Silverdale draft in turn, Rob Petith offered his comments on each yearling:

Lot 113 ch or gr c Zoustar – Rotator by Not A Single Doubt.

First foal of a multiple winning Gr3 placed mare from the family of the great sire Fappiano and inbred to his family. By the sire of MM 2YO Classic winning, multiple Gr1 champion filly Sunlight and Gr1 Coolmore Classic winning colt Ozzmosis.

“Very good first foal, extremely athletic, great mover, his dam was runnerup in that early 2YO benchmark, the ATC Widden S.”

Lot 161 b f Snitzel – Sense Of Hite by Street Sense (USA)

Half-sister to SP Quintessa from a 100% winner producing mare. This filly has the same pedigree pattern as Silverdale bred Golden Slipper winner Fireburn.

“A lovely scopey Snitzel filly with a good action, from a family on the up and this filly really suits the sale.”

Lot 278 b or br c Capitalist – Tatcee by Foxwedge

Second foal of a five race winner, by Golden Slipper winner and Gr1 sire Capitalist from the family of Gr1 performers Summer Passage and Shania Dane.

“This is a very good colt out of an attractive mare who puts a great shape into her foals. She’s done a fine job here.”

Lot 297 ch f Anders – Think Icon by So You Think

Half-sister to winner of five races bred on the same Danehill son/So You Think cross as Silverdale bred Golden Slipper winner Fireburn.

“We loved this filly as a weanling and she’s fulfilled our expectations. She’s a lovely mover.”

Lot 386 b or gr f Snitzel – Zighy Bay by Tapit

Investment quality filly who is a 7/8th genetic relative of Gr1 SAJC Derby winning filly Qafila. Half sister to three winners.

“Wow, this filly is a belter, forward, athletic, tough. I love her and she will have great residual value.”

Lot 471 ch f Zoustar – Bella Rosa by Snitzel

By the sire of Magic Millions superstar Sunlight from the family of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Catnipped. A magic pedigree.

“This filly will go early, she’s very athletic with a huge action. Her dam won the Gr3 Ottawa S. as an early 2YO and she’s very similar.”

Lot 931 b c Deep Field – Merited by Fastnet Rock

Bred on a similar cross to Deep Field’s Gr1 winners Portland Sky and Al Muthana and Gr1 placed Quantum Mechanic. Out of a mare by Australia’s leading active broodmare sire.

“He’s a ripper, a terrific colt out of a talented mare. I’m reluctant to pick a favourite, but love this bloke.”

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“After we have all worked so hard through the season, it’s such a great place to go for a sale. The atmosphere is fantastic, the beaches and restaurants are out of this world, there’s a great holiday feeling. And of course there’s a horse sale with terrific race incentives. We catch up with clients and friends, meet new people. Where else would you rather be?”

Which past champion do you wish you could have seen at the races?

“Vain, the great son of Wilkes. I’ve heard so much about him and he’s such a great name in our pedigrees.”