Ballarat Turf Club Showcase Sunday

The Sangster family will proudly sponsor Swettenham Stud Showcase Sunday at Ballarat on the 20th September.

Breeders, owners and their families are invited to the first AFL free Sunday racing for nearly 6 months. To gain your free family ticket to admit you on the day please print the ticket below.

What better way to welcome in the Spring as you get a taste for one of Victoria’s Premier Stallion lineups.
» Win a Mitsubishi Colt or a 2YO Hold That Tiger ex Colt in a competition for all attendees.
» Get you, the children’s or a family photo taken and emailed for free with a Melbourne Cup or a Golden Slipper trophy.
» Watch the special showcase events named after the eight stallions on the Swettenham Stud roster.
» Attend and enjoy the information booths and displays provided by Swettenham Stud.
» Participate in a silent auction for a Swettenham Stud stallion service in 2009 to the stallion of your choice.
» Let your children enjoy the many activities provided by the Ballarat Turf Club.

Note: The train leaves Southern Cross (the old Spencer Street) Station at 10.28am and rolls into Ballarat at 11.55am. A bus will get you to the races and return for you to catch the 5.07pm train that arrives back in the city at 6.26pm. If you wish to travel on the special carriage (room for 80) then
we need to know by Tuesday 15th, ring 0357 942 044 and let us know
your numbers. Cost is a discount special $10.40 return.

Special Bonus for 2009 Clients
Win a Corporate Box overlooking the track for you and nine of your friends to the Ballarat races on Sunday week (see above). Three course sit down lunch, race course entries, racebook and train fares (if required) plus all drinks valued at $1000. To be eligible you need to have made a booking to a Swettenham Stallion for the 2009 season. You must register to be in the draw, so we know you are available to use the box. Please email: ian@swettenham.com.au to be in the draw which will be held on Monday 14th September at 12noon.

Foals are foals, but then every now and then FOALS ARE REAL FOALS!!

Soldier’s Tale got the ball rolling producing five foals before we saw a single one first crop foal for Host, despite Host serving a bigger book than Soldier’s Tale.

Well the nervous wait was worth it because both horses have really stamped their foals. As well known breeder Sean Dingwall remarked of Soldier’s Tale foals they are replicas of Stravinsky foals. Well I am no expert on that, but Sean has certainly backed up his convictions with six quality mares booked to Soldier’s Tale the week after. We thank him for such a serious vote of confidence in our Group 1 winning son of Stravinsky.

As for Host while they may have been a touch slow arriving they certainly have a rear end that suggests they will be like him and not late arriving at the end of a race. Power is what we were hoping for and he has fulfilled his part of the bargain with some really cracking chips off the old block.

While on Host it was interesting to have a plane load of Western Australian bloodstock persons arrive en-route to Perth after being in the Hunter Valley. It was a great compliment to have them agree to a man that Host is the best son of Hussonet that they got to see during their extensive travels. Make no mistake we knew that he was the best performed entire as he went to three continents and performed at the highest level. Yet you still are very interested to see how your stallion is viewed by independent persons. Importantly, now his foals can do the talking for him.

Family and Friends, Clients, Breeders, Horse Lovers, Press and Bloodstock Agents.

Just about covered the whole gambit there. Swettenham has entertained over 800 people with the 4 lunches and two public stallion parades, plus a bevy of private parades including 34 press people and agents on a 24 hour junket over the last two months.

The stallion parades and lunches allowed many past Collingrove clients to return to Swettenham and mix with the client base built up over the last three seasons as Swettenham Stud. It was particularly pleasing that these lunches have regenerated old clients who have booked to the stallions in 2009.

The two most pleasing stories involve a husband and wife who fell in love with a stallion that much that they went out and bought a mare to go to him from one of their old families. They return to racehorse breeding after a break of approximately five years. While we also welcomed back a former leading bloodstock identity and his daughter with two mares for 2009 after enjoying each others company on one of the colder days.

In August we took on 34 Press personnel and Agents who together form some of Australia's most talented racing minds. Their 24hrs indoctrination began at Southern Cross Station where the Swettenham train carriage was awaiting them. The best laid plans were soon awry when we were off loaded at Wallan station as some enterprising farmhand had tried to jump the tracks in their 4x4, only to end up straddled over the train lines. Normally, the Wallan publican would expect record profits, but alas he is still ruing his decision to open later that day as we congregated at the door of the pub with no beer.

We made up good time when the bus arrived and after a quick tour through Gerry Ryan’s well appointed Limerick Lane we were on the way to drinks and a longest drive competition on the terrace of Adam’s home at Swettenham Stud. Everyone was certainly relaxed as lefty Matt Stewart played some Tiger Wood’s like drives with the right handed club. The winner was deemed to be Andrew Eddy for consistency with his driving.

A stallion parade was next which some of the diehard punters particularly Tony Rickards enjoyed immensely as they remembered the gallant deeds of Dash For Cash and the freakish ability of Keep The Faith. The new boys Host, Soldier’s Tale and Kaphero were also well received.

A wine tour of the Mitchelton cellars followed before the 24 hour proceedings took on a very serious note. Facing each other in a Poker tournament in the Mitchelton Tower it took 2 hours before Steve Moran finally outlasted Tanya Fullarton for the first Swettenham Stud Poker Title. The margin was narrow and went down to a final chip count.

The Swettenham Staff led admirably by Fiona, Brooke and John Hurley (the vet who was particularly proficient at cutting the steaks), cooked the meal for all guests before we all set off down the Goulburn River for a cruise which took us to our overnight digs at the Nagambie Leisure Park. Many night owls were sighted or heard that evening (or were they grey owls?).

The following morning after a large breakfast participants attended a power point presentation on the Breeding Industry before heading back to Melbourne amid a bevy of Group 1 wins by those famous Sangster racing colours. The knowledge of the audience on the bus was astounding as race after race tested their memories. Next year the trip seems assured of more starters as the apologies were many.

Winners Galore, But Some Of the Comments Hit Home

By now most breeders who have used Swettenham Stallions are aware that the website includes a list of winners by the active sires that is updated regularly. It is a great way to keep abreast with the sires you used and to follow the Swettenham stallions results, or even to find future winners.

Two winners that drew comment include:

22-08-2009 Streetfighter
By Bianconi from Super Rhythm(by Voodoo Rhythm (USA))
Randwick A$70k Rating 0-91 2400m
Tough. 7th run in 58 days in 3 different states. Obviously connections hate home cooked meals. Munce feels capable of a good staying race later on.

Editor: Streetfighter won next start at $5.50 again in Sydney over a staying trip. Shaun and Terry ate at home all that week.

22-08-2009 Coronation Diva
By Bianconi from Zephyrit (by Zephyr Zip (NZ))
Moonee Valley A$70k F&M 2040m Jason Warren - supreme trainer of Bianconi's with 7 wins from 8 starts in 10 weeks with his two fillies. This mare controlled race again for city double.

Editor: Jason Warren produced Rhythm in Paris to win at Sandown eight days later to make it 8 wins from 9 starts with his Bianconi runners.

Facebook

Recently launched was Swettenham Stud on Facebook. Hence we can now keep Facebook users in touch with everything that goes on and around the farm. We have all our trainer’s reports from David Hayes, Shane Edwards and others, plus all the latest news and updates on the racing progeny. The site is also a good source for information, with detailed pedigree, progeny and type analysis as well as many photos and video's. Mating services such as G1 Goldmine and Tesio are also available there.

Foal Gallery

Stallion Updates

Bianconi
Top 10 stallions in Australia by earnings this season with 21 winners to-date. 6 city winners. Best value in Australia.

Court Of Jewels
Upgrading his mares and has some promising horses to step out soon. Remember Commands started slowly at stud.

Dash For Cash
One of the leading stallions in Australia last year. Good reports out there for his stock keep us buoyant with his big crop of foals to sell in 2010.

Hold That Tiger
Leading 3rd season sire in the US. Last week had a first time stakeswinner by 14 lengths and a Grade 1 placed 2YO. Week previously a Grade 2 winner in Canada. Really need dry tracks in Australia.

Host
First foals are getting the phones ringing again. Last year booked out in five days and served an absolutely wonderful array of mares.

Kaphero
Let down very well. Improving each time you look at him and taken to new career with relish. Assembling a very good book in a very tough year.

Keep The Faith
One trial winner away from being full. Oldest 2YO’s. The wraps just keep coming. Had two solid burst of bookings - after they were broken in and the last ten days as they return to stables.

Soldier’s Tale
Still very highly regarded and exceptionally well priced. Foals have been very good as stated earlier.

For more information please contact Ian Rimington
Mobile » 0419 887 184  Email » [click here]
Web » swettenham.com.au   Swettenham Stud PO Box 210 Nagambie Vic 3608

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