Annual Report from the President for the Year ending 30 June 2022
It is with pleasure that I present my first report as President of TBNSW.
The yearling sales season has been lucrative for commercial breeders with an increase of up to 30 percent over the previous year. Increasingly, we are witnessing that NSW is becoming the home for valuable bloodstock imported from overseas as the globalisation of bloodlines continues partly driven by the surge in prizemoney in NSW.
The popularity of the online sales has understandably also grown in numbers and revenue which has given the tried horse market a huge lift. In many cases this has given horses that may have retired earlier another opportunity to perform in lesser grade.
It was wonderful to see the Stallion parades back on the farms, bringing people together in person to see Australia’s top Sires lining up in NSW. New sires to the state come from a variety of sirelines and include Acrobat, Captivant, Home Affairs, Palace Pier, Portland Sky, Profiteer, St Mark's Basilica, Standout, Stay Inside, Tiger of Malay, Victor Ludorum and Wild Ruler. In particular, St Mark's Basilica – from a burgeoning sireline in Siyouni - is the first European Horse of the Year to stand at stud in NSW in over 20 years.
The breeding season opened unrestricted by Covid, with rain lingering for most of the season spring which seemed to make a slow arrival, many farms reporting mares foaling late and/or taking several covers to fall pregnant. Anecdotally, it sounds like the wetter end of winter and Spring has meant stronger grass growth with the later than usual sunshine meaning stallions and mares taking longer to get going.
Our Executive Officer Julianne successfully continues to gain support from the NSW State Government Education Department and has broadened a series of education and training programs across the state as part of a five-year plan for the NSW breeding industry workforce development. The 2022 project stage is valued at $1.1 million inclusive of course fees, facilitators, trainers/assessors, and wage subsidies. To date over 600 people have received free training, which is greatly appreciated to help with the industry’s future development as we will always be reliant on a skilled workforce.
TBNSW in collaboration with AgriFutures produced a series of Breeders’ seminars which were very well received and some presentations recorded for future resources to members via our website. Our thanks to the veterinarians from CSU and Scone who again very generously gave up their time and supported these very informative seminars.
TBNSW are very grateful for the generosity of our sponsors and would like to thank the Australian Turf Club, G1 Goldmine, Horsepower, HQ Insurance, Carrazzo Consulting and IRT for their ongoing support.
NSW Champions were celebrating at ‘Run to the Rose Day’ at Rosehill Gardens, Congratulations to the 2022 season winners.
Champion Broodmare – Mull Over
Presidents’ Award for Breeder of the year – Mr Matthew Irwin
Champion Broodmare Sire – Redoute’s Choice
Champion Sire 2 YO – Rebel Dane
Champion First Season Sire – Russian Revolution
Champion Sire – I Am Invincible
A charity auction was held during the awards race day event in support for Thoroughbreds competing off the track, raising a total of $16,000 distributed to Thoroughbred Sport Horse Association National Championships for competitor prize money and Thoroughbreds Are Go rehoming program, to cover the stories about the versatility and suitability of Thoroughbreds off the track for young equestrians and the success they have competing them.
TBNSW is fortunate to have a very dynamic board of directors and I would like to thank Paddy Power, Caroline Searcy, Peter Orton, Vin Cox, Olly Tait and Trish Egan for their support during my first year as President. While it occurred after 30 June, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the regret of the TBNSW board that our Vice-President Caroline Searcy will resign from the board due to her gaining a position as a Director of the Australian Turf Club. We thank Caro for her years of passion and commitment with TBNSW and wish her well in her new racing-focused board role.
My thanks also to our very capable Executive Officer Julianne Christopher who continues to evolve our organisation and again accomplished a great deal for breeders’ in NSW. Too often the board take compliments for work done when in reality it is the executive who not only made it happen but saw it to the very end. In TBNSW’s case that is completely true as Julianne is our only employee and works part time in a job which demands full time attention. The progression of our educational and welfare causes is largely down to Julianne’s dedication to her role.
We wish all breeders’ that are participating at the upcoming yearling sales the best of luck and on behalf of Julianne and the board, wish you all a happy and safe Christmas and all the best for 2023.
Mr Hamish Esplin
TBNSW President
12 December 2022
