PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Welcome to the latest edition of the Breeders Update Dear Members,

The yearling sales season has begun with a promising outlook. Increasingly, we are witnessing that NSW is the breeding ground of top end bloodstock, as the globalisation of bloodlines continues partly driven by the surge in prizemoney in NSW.

The popularity of the online sales has understandably grown in numbers and revenue which has given the tried horse market a huge lift. In many cases this has given horses that may have retired earlier another opportunity to perform in lesser grade.

It was wonderful to see the Stallion parades back on the farms, bringing people together in person to see Australia’s top Sires lining up in NSW. New sires to the state come from a variety of sirelines and include Acrobat, Captivant, Home Affairs, Palace Pier, Portland Sky, Profiteer, St Mark’s Basilica, Standout, Stay Inside, Tiger of Malay, Victor Ludorum and Wild Ruler.

In particular, St Mark’s Basilica – from a burgeoning sireline in Siyouni - is the first European Horse of the Year to stand at stud in NSW in over 20 years.

The breeding season ran unrestricted by Covid, with rain lingering for most of the season spring which seemed to make a slow arrival, many farms reporting mares foaling late and/or taking several covers to fall pregnant. Anecdotally, it sounds like the wetter end of winter and Spring has meant stronger grass growth with the later than usual sunshine meaning stallions and mares taking longer to get going.

Backing continued from NSW State Government Education Department, broadening our education programs across the state for the NSW thoroughbred workforce development project. Valued at over $2 million inclusive of course fees, facilitators, trainers/ assessors, and wage subsidies. Over 600 new and existing staff have now received free training, to help with the industry’s future workforce and sustainability.

TBNSW produced a series of Breeders’ seminars which were very well received and some presentations recorded for future resources to members via our website. Our thanks to the AgriFutures and veterinarians from CSU and Scone Equine who again very generously gave up their time for these informative seminars.

TBNSW are very grateful for the generosity of our loyal sponsors and would like to thank the Australian Turf Club, G1 Goldmine, Horsepower, HQ Insurance, Carrazzo Consulting, IRT and Breedr for their support.

TBNSW is fortunate to have a very dynamic board of directors and I would like to thank Paddy Power, Caroline Searcy, Peter Orton, Vin Cox, Olly Tait and Trish Egan for their support during my first year as President. It would be remiss not to acknowledge the regret of the TBNSW board that our Vice-President Caroline Searcy has resigned from the board due to her gaining a position as a Director of the Australian Turf Club. We thank Caro for her years of passion and commitment with TBNSW and wish her well in her new racingfocused board role.

And of course, the career move of our valued Executive Officer Julianne Christopher. Since commencing in 2017, she has driven improvements across many aspects of the industry - collaborating at a national level, increasing engagement with breeders, sales companies, racing regulators, governments and sponsors. In particular her work in broadening and strengthening educational and welfare initiatives means she leaves this side of the industry in a much better place than when she started.

On behalf of the TBNSW Board we wish all breeders’ that are participating at the upcoming yearling sales the best of luck this year.

Mr Hamish Esplin, President