News

Owner-breeder mad about his strapping filly on the rise

27th Sep 2009

Sydney Morning Herald - Craig Young - Saturday, 26 September 2009

HOW do you breed a world champion? Ian Smith put foundation mare Jade Tiara to a stallion named El Moxie. Smith was just starting out in the breeding game, and sent the yearling to the Inglis Classic sale, and was happy to snap up $55,000.

The youngster ended up in Hong Kong. His racing career didn't start until December of its three-year-old year but what a start it was. The horse, Silent Witness, won at its first 17 starts. The hero of Hong Kong was deemed the best thoroughbred on the planet.

''It was a dream for us,'' Smith said yesterday while inspecting horses at the Inglis Bloodstock complex at Newmarket. ''It was our first lot of horses going through a sale. It was a great promotion.''

A second foal from Jade Tiara ended up in Hong Kong. It was stakes-placed, while a couple more were city winners. Smith said the drop from world champion breeder to a producer of a stakes-placed horse was a big plunge in grade.

''Maybe people think she can't do it,'' Smith said. ''Maybe this one will turn out not too bad.''

''This one'' being Sister Madly (pictured as yearling). A daughter of Jade Tiara that Smith sent to the Inglis Easter Sales with a reserve of $800,000. Why not? She is by super sire Redoute's Choice. The Hong Kong Jockey Club was the underbidder, and it does not buy fillies.

Smith took Sister Madly home, and the wife of trainer Anthony Cummings, Bernadette, now figures in the ownership with the breeder.

Sister Madly created an impression and landed some nice wagers when scoring as favourite at Rosehill a fortnight ago. It was start No.2, and the third will be in the Reginald Allen Quality at Randwick today. Those involved with Sister Madly have a big opinion of the three-year-old.

''No use standing up and beating your chest until they do it on the track,'' Smith said.

He wasn't interested in rushing Sister Madly to the races despite the temptation. ''I bred the whole family, I knew the recipe and I wanted to follow it,'' he said. ''You start rushing around in the sandpit too early, you might lose a few wheels.

''She is a big, strong thing that just needed time to grow. You push too early, you blow them up.''

And Smith's Edinburgh Park Stud up Taree way is growing, too. Smith, who said, ''I have always had a driving passion'' for breeding, has just bought another 100 hectares alongside the Manning River. The plan is to develop the private stud into a commercial operation.

''We cut our teeth on this,'' Smith said. ''If we do it right, we make money; do it wrong … that's why we are very particular in what we do.

''We've slowly built it up. We've been in the top 10 vendors at the major yearling sales for the last three or four years. I hope we can continue to grow, and with a horse like Sister Madly it helps.''

Going commercial meant tough decisions. When the world-renowned Coolmore Stud rocked up with a seven-figure offer for Jade Tiara three years ago, Smith signed the mare over. He had a couple of fillies to continue the family.

''The money was excellent, and the deal was done,'' Smith said. ''We're all here to make money. If it's a hobby, it costs lots of money.''

And Smith doesn't mind a gamble. The owner-breeder, who is very much hands-on when it comes to working with thoroughbreds at the stud, has a mare called Rose Of Cimmaron with Cummings.

''She is in foal to Fastnet Rock and is back in work now,'' he said. ''We hope to get some black type with her before she fully retires.''

A bit of black type wouldn't do Sister Madly any harm. If the three-year-old does what is expected today, thought will be given to aiming for next Saturday's group 1 Flight Stakes at Randwick where the likes of class fillies More Joyous and Melito await.

''The main goal has been the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield,'' Smith said. ''We hope she runs well. Good luck in running tomorrow and her ability will get her home.''