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Ultra Thoroughbred Racing

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Ultra Thoroughbred Racing Pty
Company typeThoroughbred Racing &
Horse breeding Farm
IndustryThoroughbred Horse racing
Founded2002
HeadquartersAustralia
Key people
Sean Buckley owner

Ultra Thoroughbred Racing Pty Ltd are breeders of thoroughbred racehorses based in Melbourne, Australia. The company is owned by Sean Buckley, with land holdings in Victoria and the Hunter Valley in New South Wales. The business has racing interests primarily in Australia and New Zealand.[1]

History

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The company was first located at the 400 acre ‘Barree Stud’ in Willowmavin, NE Victoria, which served as a breeding, spelling and pre-training centre. As development progressed, Barree was turned into a pre-training, spelling and rehabilitation centre. During this process, the company's breeding operations were relocated to the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, where other major Australian and international breeding operations are based. Facilities include a 2000 m sand-based track for workouts, equine water walker and swimming pool, high-speed treadmill, hyperbaric chamber and hydrotherapy equipment.[2]

In the early days of Ultra Thoroughbreds, the company focused on the purchase of race mares, and mares already at stud for breeding.[3] This included the purchase of stock from around the world, notably South Africa and New Zealand, as well as domestically in Australia.[4]

Over the years, Ultra Thoroughbreds diversified, purchasing stock at all stages of development, including a recent focus on ‘two year old in training’ sales. This is in addition to the company's interest in the purchasing and sale of weanlings, yearlings, tried horses and broodmares.[5] They have had broad success with a variety of winning thoroughbred horses throughout Australia, as well as success in South Africa, New Zealand and at Royal Ascot in the United Kingdom.[6][7]

In 2014, Ultra Thoroughbreds moved its entire breeding operation to the Hunter Valley, where it purchased Golden Grove Stud (Denman) with G&C Pastoral Company owner Vivian Oldfield.[8] With the growth of the breeding operation, Golden Grove Stud expanded in the 2016 season to nearby Riverslea Farm, with views to develop this into a centre of excellence for the stud's young produce. Recent stakes winning graduates of note include The Barrister (Listed Fernhill Handicap, Royal Randwick),[9] Captain Duffy (Listed Geelong Classic, Geelong), Crown Witness (G3 Quezette Stakes, Caulfield)[10] and the exciting Nature Strip (Inglis Dash, Flemington).[11]

In August 2020 Senior Trainer Danny O Brien won the Fred Hoysted Medal for Victorian trainers after a superb year in which he trained 100 winners for the season at a strike rate of more than 17 per cent.[12][1]

Group 1 winners

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Shamus Award – 2013/14 Timeform Champion Australia 3yo and the highest, most successful and best credentialed son of Snitzel.[13] He is the first horse in history to win the Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas after winning the Group 1 W. S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse. A multiple group performer at two years old, running an exceptional third in the Caulfield Guineas, this exceptional colt raced only in stakes company for the entirety of his career.[14][15]

Miss Andretti – Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year in 2007 and is the only thoroughbred in racing history to simultaneously hold a total of five track records in Australia and England.[16]

Feature career wins include:

Perfect Promise - first South African-bred horse to win a Group 1 in Australia or New Zealand;[17] being a victory in the Group 1 C F Orr Stakes on 11 February 2006, also winning the Emancipation Stakes in 2005.[18] Other feature wins included the Group 1 Cape Fillies Guineas, Group 3 Diana Stakes, as well as second in the Group 1 Fancourt Stakes (all in South Africa prior to her arrival in Australia).[19]

Her sister Iridescence was South Africa's Equus Champion 3YO Filly of 2005 and notably won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong.[20]

Culminate – New Zealand-bred star, whose feature wins include the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield in 2010, as well as the Group 2 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes, Group 1 Otaki-Maori Weight for Age, Group 2 Rich Hill Mile, all in New Zealand prior to her success in Australia.[21][22]

Dane Julia – A multiple Group 1 winner in both New Zealand and South Africa, before winning and multiple performances at stakes level in Australia.[23] Winner of the Group 1 NZ Bloodstock Breeders Stakes WFA and Group 1 South African Fillies Classic, as well as numerous other stakes performances in Australia and New Zealand.[24][25]

Noble Heir – winner of the Group 1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein Racecourse in South Africa, amongst numerous other stakes level performances for a total of 8 wins and 9 placings from 29 starts.[26][27]

Group 2 winners

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Hooked – purchased for $600,000 in 2014 at the Spring Thoroughbred Sale, Magic Millions.[28][29] He went on to immediate success for Ultra Thoroughbreds, running third in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at Royal Randwick Racecourse, before winning the Group 2 Schweppes Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley in dominant fashion.[30] On 5 September 2015 the entire son of Casino Prince won the Group 2 Tramway Stakes, again at Royal Randwick (beating the likes of Lucia Valentina).[31] He returned to racing on 15 April 2017 after injury to win the Group 3 Victoria Handicap at Caulfield Racecourse.[32] Special note has been given to the resilience that Hooked has demonstrated, performing at the top level of racing from his two-year-old career, continuing as a rising seven-year-old in 2017 with this being a particular focus in the Australian racing industry, where a lot of credence is given to the "colonial bred" thoroughbred and its hardiness.[33]

Group 3 winners

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Addictive Nature (Savabeel x Generous Nature 2014) was acquired by Ultra Thoroughbred Racing at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale in January 2016. He was purchased for $775,000 NZD and registered a class-record at Warwick Farm in his first start as a two-year-old, breaking a 13-year-old record, set by champion thoroughbred Eremein.[34] The full brother to stakes horse Savvy Nature, the colt ran second at his next start at Royal Randwick, before registering his first stakes win as a three-year-old in the G3 Ming Dynasty over 1400m at Royal Randwick.[35] The colt has subsequently placed in the G2 Stan Fox Stakes (third)[36] and G2 WFA Expressway Stakes (third).[37] As of 2018, Addictive Nature is one of the outstanding three-year-old prospects of his generation, with a future at stud beckoning if he can fulfill the high expectations placed on the colt over the remainder of his three-year-old season.

Other stakes successes

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Captain Duffy (gelding) (King Cugat x Miss Encosta) – Listed Geelong Classic over 2200m – bred, born and raised by Ultra Thoroughbreds.

Grand Chancellor (gelding) (Savabeel x Mont Fay) – Listed Port Adelaide Guineas winner over 1800m and subsequently sold to George Moore for clients in Hong Kong, where the gelding has entered the stable of his father John Moore.[38][39]

Crown Witness (filly) (Star Witness x Noble Heir) – G3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield – bred born and raised by Ultra Thoroughbreds at Golden Grove, before being offered as a yearling for sale at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.[40]

The Barrister (gelding) (Star Witness x Strikeline) – winner of the listed Fernhill Handicap at Royal Randwick over 1600m, before subsequently making the move to Hong Kong, where the gelding has won multiple races at Happy Valley Racecourse.[41]

Nature Strip (gelding) (Nicconi x Strikeline) – exciting stakes prospect, unbeaten in all but one start as of February 2018 and winner of the Inglis Dash at Flemington in January 2018.[42] In August 2020, Nature Strip was named Victorian Racehorse of the Year, having won the Moir Stakes and VRC Sprint Classic.[43][44]

Ultra Thoroughbred Racing stallion interests

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Shamus Award – currently standing at Widden Stud, NSW. Owned in partnership with their breeding associates G&C Pastoral Company, with whom Ultra Thoroughbreds raced the stallion during his record-breaking career.

Star Witness – currently standing at Widden Stud, Ultra Thoroughbreds have a significant interest in the Australian Champion 3yo of his generation, who also won the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes as a 2yo, with a syndicate of breeder owners. His first foal was born on 6 August 2016.[45]

Savabeel - multiple champion New Zealand sire, residing at Waikato Stud on the North Island of New Zealand. Ultra Thoroughbreds purchased two Savabeel colts at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka in 2016 for over $1million.[46]

Monaco Consul – dual Group 1 winning son of High Chaparral, who made the move to new operation Kingstar Farm in the NSW Hunter Valley in 2016.[47]

References

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  1. ^ a b Watts, Kate (26 August 2020). "O'Brien wins Hoysted Medal". www.racing.com.
  2. ^ Ultra, Racing. "About Us". www.ultraracing.com.au.
  3. ^ Garvey, Andrew (23 February 2007). "Car-service big gun now expanding his breeding interests". The Age Newspaper. Fairfax Media.
  4. ^ "South African mares Ultra competitive". Thoroughbred Express. 25 August 2010.
  5. ^ Nowell, Mark. "Dream start for Ultra Thoroughbreds". www.teraparacing.co.nz.
  6. ^ Racing Desk, NZ (10 December 2016). "Ultra Happy with Nicconi Filly". Breednet.
  7. ^ Sharkie, Michael (20 June 2007). "Miss Andretti sweeps Ascot in race record". The Age Newspaper. Fairfax Media.
  8. ^ Honeysett, Stuart (28 October 2013). "Shamus to return in bid to join the greats". The Australian.
  9. ^ Thomas, Ray (11 April 2015). "Fernhill Handicap 2015: The Barrister announces himself with dominate performance". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. News Corp Australia.
  10. ^ Betting, Horse Betting (19 August 2017). "CROWN WITNESS TOO STRONG IN THE QUEZETTE". www.horsebetting.com.au.
  11. ^ Manley, Michael (18 January 2018). "Inglis Dash: Ryan Maloney settles in for ride of lifetime on Nature Strip". www.news.com.au. News Limited. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  12. ^ Racing News, Horse (27 August 2020). "Danny O'Brien wins his first Fred Hoysted Medal". Just Horse Racing.
  13. ^ Arrowfield, News (4 September 2014). "Arrowfield's strong hand in Horse of the Year awards". {{cite news}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
  14. ^ Lewyn, Myra (1 March 2014). "Shamus Award Dominates Australian Guineas". Bloodhorse.
  15. ^ Asgari, Ben (2 October 2014). "Shamus Award voted best three-year-old". racing.com.
  16. ^ Miles, Daniel (21 September 2013). "Aussie girls in racing – Top 5 Female Horses". Just Horse Racing.
  17. ^ Tonkes, Peter (13 February 2006). "Perfect Promise First South African Group I Winner in Australasia". Bloodhorse.
  18. ^ Burnet, Rob (30 March 2005). "South African mare Perfect Promise wins Emancipation". Thoroughbred News.
  19. ^ "VISITORS TO STAR IN FILLIES GUINEAS". SAH Racing. 30 November 2016.
  20. ^ Club, Cape Breeders. "Caesour's star daughter makes headlines in Russi". www.capebreeders.co.za.
  21. ^ Henderson, Lucy (16 October 2010). "Culminate 2010 Tristarc Stakes Winner – Caulfield Cup Day Race 9 Results". www.races.com.au.
  22. ^ Profile, Culminate. "Culminate". www.punters.com.au.
  23. ^ "Sire legend's South African legacy". Sporting Post. 8 April 2014.
  24. ^ Dore, Jeff (4 April 2009). "Dane Julia Wins Breeders Stakes". Thoroughbred News.
  25. ^ Windmill, Robert (11 February 2011). "Dane Julia has Classic in her sights". The Daily Telegraph.
  26. ^ Racing, SAH. "NOBLE HEIR'S FINEST HOUR IN COMPUTAFORM SPRINT". www.sahracing.com.
  27. ^ Thiselton, David (25 August 2010). "Noble Heir Heading For Australia". Cape Argus.
  28. ^ Burnet, Rob (1 October 2014). "Patinack Dispersal Comes to a Close". Thoroughbred Daily News.
  29. ^ World, Bloodstock World (1 October 2014). "Hammer comes down on final Patinack horses". Bloodstock.
  30. ^ White, Tracey (25 October 2014). "Hooked speeds to Crystal Mile Victory". Thoroughbred News.
  31. ^ Thomas, Ray (5 September 2015). "Hooked saves the day for trainer John Thompson with victory in Tramway Stakes". The Daily Telegraph.
  32. ^ Tzaferis, James (15 April 2017). "Hooked catches another feature win". www.racing.com.
  33. ^ Hackett, Thomas (15 April 2017). "2017 Victoria Handicap Results: Hooked Wins". www.horseracing.com.au.
  34. ^ Betting, Horse (22 August 2017). "NATURAL PROGRESSION FOR ADDICTIVE NATURE". www.horsebetting.com.au.
  35. ^ Thomas, Ray (26 August 2017). "Addictive Nature has Group 1 potential, says trainer Bjorn Baker". www.news.com.au. News Limited.
  36. ^ Mazzaglia, Mark (7 September 2017). "Addictive Nature On Trial For Golden Rose In Stan Fox Stakes". www.horseracing.com.au.
  37. ^ Burnet, Rob (3 February 2018). "Rose winner Trapeze Artist returns to win the Expressway Stakes". www.thoroughbrednews.com.au. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  38. ^ Moore, Lincoln (25 April 2017). "Noel Callow booked to ride Grand Chancellor in Chairman's Stakes at Morphettville". www.adelaidenow.com.au. News Corp Australia.
  39. ^ Aitken, Alan (18 December 2017). "New blood: John Moore unveils future winners at Sha Tin". South China Morning Post.
  40. ^ Brennan, Craig (19 August 2017). "Crown Witness too strong in the Quezette". www.espn.com.au.
  41. ^ Bishop, Brad (15 July 2015). "Top Vic colt sold to Hong Kong". www.racing.com. Racing Victoria Limited.
  42. ^ Manley, Michael (18 January 2018). "Inglis Dash: Ryan Maloney settles in for ride of lifetime on Nature Strip". www.news.com.au. News Limited. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  43. ^ Watts, Kate (26 August 2020). "Nature Strip wins Vic horse of the year". www.racing.com.
  44. ^ Roots, Chris (4 September 2020). "How some calm - and cardboard - turned Nature Strip into Everest favourite". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine News.
  45. ^ Buckley, Sean (9 August 2016). "First Foal Born out of Star Witness in the Hunter Valley". www.seanbuckleyracing.com.au.
  46. ^ Edmunds, Richard (26 January 2016). "Big money for Savabeel pair". The Informant. Racing Media NZ Limited.
  47. ^ Horse, Aus (9 May 2016). "Kingstar Farm – The Numbers Add Up". www.aushorse.com.au.
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