Swettenham Stud Breeders Profile – Mayberry Racing

Mayberry Racing’s Gayle and Kim have lived and breathed horses their entire life, and now they are looking forward an exciting future thanks to some very promising homebred’s from Swettenham’s two imported stallions, Americain and Puissance De Lune.

A traditional a middle distance and staying stable, the husband and wife breeding and training operation are based in the Pakenham Upper hills on 37-acres of undulating, lush pastures.

Kim and Gayle have been training in partnership for around four years, with Kim training solo for 30 years previously, along with being a master farrier and committeeman for the Australian Trainers Association.

Gayle’s equine background includes being a talented event rider and professional equestrian instructor. She has brought her extensive experience to the union, and although her riding has now taken a back seat, Gayle is enjoying juggling training with looking after the broodmares and educating the babies.

“Horses have always been big part of our family. My daughter, Stephanie was a talented picnic jockey, successfully riding our stable star, King Can Sing for ten wins while she was at university, studying to become a paramedic.”

The training team had great success in 2015, winning the Cranbourne Small Trainers Award and shortly after they retired their multiple winning staying mare Vin De Vie (Viscount).

“Swettenham Stud had approached us, and we were thrilled to send her to Americain. She has produced a lovely colt and a filly, and she will be on her way back to Americain this year as well.”

“We have really stuck with Americain and Puissance de Lune and thanks to Swettenham we have some exciting horses for the future. If these horses run as well as they look, we have winners,” Mayberry said.

“I want to congratulate Adam Sangster and the entire team for using their initiative to stand staying stallions. As the horses currently winning the Cups are all imports, its tough, as small trainers can’t afford an imported galloper, and the big owners are not going to offer us their import to train. Therefore, thanks to Swettenham, they give us the opportunity to have a crack by breeding one ourselves.”

The Mayberry’s Golden Snake mare, Lyn’s Gold has had two Puissance de Lune colts and will head back to him this season.

“Her previous foals by other stallions were nice, but Puissance De Lune has definitely upgraded her, he has given them ‘legs’.”

“The Lyn’s Gold colt received big wraps by some very good judges, with brander, Tony Carter-Smith commenting that he has not seen a nicer type of foal. Even equine veterinarian, Dr Hugh Cathels, a regular around well-bred horses, was impressed by how nice a foal he was, if not, one of the nicest foals, he had seen.”

Along with the Americain colt being born out of their race mare Vin De Vie, Mayberry Racing was lucky to have two promising colts on the ground last year.

“The Americain was such a precocious colt and they have both grown into cracking yearlings. Except for a bit of a winter coat, they could go straight into a yearling sale. They have prepped themselves by being typical boys, racing each other and playing on the hills. They keep each other on their toes, and they keep us on our toes too — and with spring here, they are feeing great.”

This year Mayberry Racing has added another mare to their broodmare band, the General Nediym mare, Empowering from Lauriston Farm.

“We purchased her Americain weanling from the sales a couple of years ago from James O’Brien, and as he knew we had a very high opinion of the colt, he let us know that she was for sale. She will be heading off to Americain this week.”

Empowering has also produced an outstanding Toronado colt that was sold by Lauriston Farm as a weanling at this year’s Magic Millions. O’Brien was impressed throughout his preparation, stating that he was a strong, correct colt that would no doubt develop into a lovely horse.

Additionally an Iffraaj mare, Ms Raaj that the Mayberry’s are breeding in partnership with friends, visited Puissance De Lune last week.

“We breed to race ourselves, and by training out of the paddocks, we keep the environment as natural as possible. I believe our hills are a really important part of producing well-developed, muscled strong foals and racehorses and our training track on site, known as the famous “Mayberry Hill” is fabulous for conditioning and fitness work.”

“We are very lucky, as we have great owners involved in our horses, both first time-share holders, along with old friends. We make a percentage of our foals available to outside owners, so that they can get involved in the ownership experience from the very beginning.

“They can follow their education, see them being weaned and being broken in. We even went as a group to visit Swettenham Stud’s open day so they could see the stallions, and they are always welcome to visit the stable, the property and come to trackwork.”

“We believe it is important that we nominate all our youngsters in VOBIS and VOBIS Gold, and the stallions are VOBIS Sires. It’s a great opportunity to get amazing prize money, and being able to earn $35,000 for a maiden is brilliant for the small trainers.”

Mayberry Racing happily houses equines at all lifespan stages, including foals and retired racehorses, broodmares and jumpers.

“Our equine gang is looked after at every phase of their life, to say thank you for the great ride they gave us on the track.”

For more information on Mayberry Racing, follow Mayberry Racing on Facebook and stay posted on their open day in February, where they will be parading their broodmares, foals, yearlings and young stock available.