The Collingrove’s tradition returns to Premier

Swettenham Stud, Adam Sangster and the entire team are thrilled to announce that the former highly successful brand, Collingrove, will re-launch into the bloodstock marketplace this March at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sales at Oaklands with Daniel Brash at the helm.

“It is with great pleasure to announce that as part of Swettenham’s Stud’s future plans, we are delighted, with the blessing of the Hayes Family, to restore the Collingrove brand after ten years as a bloodstock preparation operation in its own right. Collingrove will be reinstated into a market, that has fond memories of past sales ring successes,” Sangster said.

The name Collingrove Stud conjures up many wonderful memories for people with thoroughbred breeding and racing in their blood having been established by Adam’s father, the late Robert Sangster and the late Colin Hayes. Having stood the champion foundation sire Rory’s Jester, along with Bluebird, Scenic, Danehill Dancer, Jeune, Dash With Cash and Bianconi to name but a few. While, for over 20 years, numerous elite level racehorses were reared and prepped to go through the sales ring under this trusted and rewarding banner.

“This decision was made partly through the need to focus on our core business, and that is breeding and providing high-quality stallions to mare owners nationally. With the season incredibly busy on-farm, compounded by the popularity of our stallions, resident and client mares, foaling down and rearing young stock, we believe that the preparation of yearlings is an intensive enough undertaking to warrant standing alone,” Sangster said.

“We were waiting for the right man, and he came to us through my operations manager Jason Robinson, in Daniel Brash. Under his guidance and experience, we are re-launching the brand Collingrove, so that it can once again offer bloodstock to the commercial buying bench. Brash will continue the tradition of presenting exceptional quality bloodstock with commercial pedigrees and outstanding physical types.”

There is no doubt that Daniel Brash’s passion for succeeding as one of Australia’s premier yearling consignments is a journey he is fully committed to. A stand-up start, Brash’s bloodstock preparation property is ideally located in Longwood East, at Michael and his wife Siobhan Miller’s Longwood Thoroughbred Farm.

“I feel both honoured and privileged to return the “Collingrove” name into the sales ring in 2020. I will continue where they left off, by presenting top-quality yearlings that succeed on the track as top quality racehorses.”

Daniel Brash has amassed over 25 years in the industry. Beginning in racing, he was employed by respected mentors Lee Freedman, Gai Waterhouse and Gerald Ryan, while as a foreman he oversaw the stables of Greg Eurell.

However, his inquisitive nature got the better of him, and he began to explore the breeding and sales side of the industry. Fortunate to work at experienced studs, he spent time with The Liston’s at Three Bridges and Rick and Christie Woodard at Yallambie Stud, where he fine-tuned his expertise for the sales circuit.

Recently, Brash was yearling manager for Bowness Stud and Sun Stud where he oversaw the preparation of over 130 individual winners of nearly 300 races, including Group 1 winners Trapeze Artist and Youngstar, and stakes performers in Anjana, Think Bleue and Chapada.

Swettenham’s Sales and Nominations Manager, Sam Matthews, comments on the stand-alone bloodstock operation, emphasising how this will allow growing support to their loyal client base.

“Once the breeding season is over, rather than focusing on our own draft, we will be attending every sale to support those breeders and vendors who have supported us. We will inspect every horse by our stallions, and we will endeavour to find and source potential buyers, trainers and syndicators. We will align our large network of contact throughout the buying bench, to give every yearling by a Swettenham stallion the very best opportunity to shine,” Matthews said.

“We are delighted to see Dan relish this opportunity, and the Swettenham team will encourage, and lend a hand with advice and connections.”

“Swettenham’s Premier yearlings will be in Collingrove’s draft and it is wonderful to see the brand be reinvigorated back into the commercial marketplace, whilst allowing the Swettenham team to be on the complex and visiting the farms, working for each and every one of our vendor’s and yearling owners,” Matthews said.

“We will uphold the philosophy, that when we do something, we do it well – and that is why we will now focus on our core business of top quality stallions, and assembling brilliant producing and performed books of mares to achieve the best breeding results for our clients.”

Committed to excellent client communication, in the form of videos, photos and progress updates, Brash also offers an open-door policy, inviting all clients to inspect their yearlings at any time prior to the sales at the Longwood East property.

If you have any questions or further enquiries, please contact Daniel Brash directly at Collingrove on 0439360266.