News

Darley's Horses To Fly Flag For Australia

16th Jun 2009

Aushorse - Press Release - Tuesday, 16 June 2009

In light of the current debate on the merits of Darley’s decision to race several of its Australian horses overseas, I thought it timely to place on the record the views of the body charged with the responsibility of promoting Australian horses both domestically and internationally.

It needs to be properly understood that the Australian breeding industry with 10,000 breeders and 28,000 broodmares is the second largest in the world behind only the United States. This model of mass participation is the industry’s greatest strength leading to a highly competitive environment at every level and building the critical mass essential for the massive investments in world class bloodstock. As a result, Australia offers the most diverse and affordable bloodlines in the world including numerous Northern Hemisphere stallions on offer. There is a point of entry for everyone in the Australian industry no matter the size of the budget which is in stark contrast with many other breeding industries around the world.

Critical to the continuation of the open nature of the Australian industry is the ability of breeders to sell weanlings, yearlings, broodmares and other stock. Whilst some breed to race horses only, a great many more breeders need to sell to maintain and expand their businesses. They have after all, very significant investments in the riskiest form of livestock known. Critical to their success are the overseas buyers who now underpin the major yearling sales often accounting for 30% of purchases and underbidding on a great many more horses. The Australian industry would not be anywhere near as vibrant and successful as it is today without international buyers and investment.

Whilst Aushorse has had great success in attracting buyers from markets such as Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa and Malaysia, it has not made inroads into the Middle East. This is primarily because Australian horses do not regularly compete in Dubai unlike South African and South American horses that flock there chasing the bigger prizemoney than is on offer in their own countries. The brilliant success of Sunline, Elvstroem and Australian bred champion South African mare Sun Classique in feature races in recent years have showcased Australia in the best way possible. However, apart from the huge prizemoney and status of the International race days, there is no such incentive for most Australian owners and trainers with only Tony Noonan and Danny O’Brien making limited forays in recent years. As a result, owners and buyers from the racing Emirates of Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar and Abu Dhabi are purchasing our competitors’ horses in the absence of any Australian presence.

Without Australian-breds racing in the region we had little or no chance to successfully market Australian horses. Now that is about to change.

With the Darley horses racing in Dubai Australia now has its chance to promote its wares and capitalize on any success they have. You can be assured that Aushorse will be there to highlight the value and benefits of Australian stallions and horses to the region’s buyers. And if they go on to also compete in America or Britain, we’ll be there right alongside them.

If Sheik Mohammed’s unprecedented investment in Australia’s breeding and racing industries wasn’t enough, his latest decision opens the door on an important market previous closed to us. This is another reason to be thankful for his presence in Australia.

As millions of Australians take pride in Takeover Targets’ astonishing success and cheer him home at Ascot on Saturday, it’s worth reflecting on the value and importance of Aussie horses competing on the international stage. They stir the emotions of the general public and racing enthusiasts in a way that money can’t buy. The international success of Australian horses benefits everyone in racing and breeding. The Darley horses may race in the famed maroon colors, but they carry the proud stamp of Made in Australia.