Tsar

Tsar is a 15-run racehorse who earned almost $380,000 over his three year career. His last few runs were for our valued owner Marc Chan in Hong Kong and he came from there to us at Lindsay Park in Euroa to be assessed as a potential retirement candidate. After a spell and treatment for his foot abscesses, we sent him to our accredited rehomer Jade Willis to be re educated and find his forever home.

Tsar’s story
by Alana

On April 22 2023 my 15YO daughter Alice said she had seen a horse for sale that she really liked and she wanted to go and look at it. A whole 260km away in Barnawatha! So to save us the chance of a second trip, we took the float along just in case.  

Finally arriving at Jade Willis’, Jade told Alice she felt that the horse she wanted to look at wouldn’t actually be suitable for her. But she had  selected two others that were better suited and in the stalls waiting to be tacked up.  

Off Alice went on the first one out to the arena. I stayed in and said hello to the other horse who was waiting patiently in his stall. I’m not a horse person as such but this fellow took a step towards me to be patted. My gut said this was the one.  

I went outside to the arena to watch Alice ride the other horse. I could tell by her face that she wasn’t keen on it.  ARROW-ALT-TO-RIGHT

Arrow-Alt-To-Left  So back inside they saddled up the other one and out we went again. Walk, trot, canter and she looked at me and if she had nodded any harder her head would have dropped off.  So money paid, literally shoved the horse on the float and we drove the three hours home.  

On the way home she named him Zebedy. As it turned out his birthday was the next day on the 23 April. I thought wow, we just bought and are bringing home a 6YO green ex racehorse.

Alice has Autism with a mild intellectual disability, ADHD, anxiety and she is severely dyslexic. Horses are her passion.  

The last 19 months with Zebedy have consisted of joy, laughter, anxiety and tears. 

The first thing Alice started working on was float training. It was taking an hour to get him on the float which was crazy and I had to deal with an overwhelmed teenager. Recently Alice found out that he’d had two barrier incidents so this probably contributed to his reluctance to go into the small float we had. Now we have a fabulous angle load which he tolerates much better and things are going well. 

Ground manners around food was another thing she worked on as he would swing his back end around at her when she brought him food. With the challenges Alice faces this behaviour was never going to be tolerated. She is a feisty girl at times and Zeb quickly learnt that if he wanted his food he would need to behave.  

Both have been having regular riding lessons with Colleen Waddell. A wonderful instructor who understands both rider and horse so well. Zeb loves to jump and has come such a long way in such a short time from falling over trot poles to jumping 80cm. They have competed in show jumping, combined training, eventing and attend monthly pony club rallies.  

At one stage Zeb was put out to spell for 4 months. He has terrible feet and dropped soles in both his front feet. Alice was devastated to say the least. Luckily a friend introduced us to a fabulous farrier who spent months correcting his hooves. He also started treatment with the super amazing Dr Sabine Ware of Equine Health Spine and Dentistry, for his back and neck as they were very tight and this wasn’t helping every other aspect of his recovery.  

With these treatments and now a different farrier who does amazing corrective shoeing Zebedy is looking and feeling a picture of health. 

At the end of October Alice and Zeb competed in the Yarrambat Horse and pony club Horse trials. They placed a very respectable 10th out of about 28 riders.  

Alice now 17 and Zebedy 7and ½ have come further together than I could have ever imagined! They just adore one other.

Frank

Frank out for a trail ride.

It’s family life for Frank, after racing

Jasmin Williams works for Lindsay Park as a Racing Admin and truck driver. In 2018, she adopted Mutamayel (stable name Frank), when he retired. He’s been a member of her family for six years now and is deeply loved by the Williams clan.

“Mutamayel was purchased from the 2016 Inglis Easter yearling sale by Shadwell Stud  for $900,000. He had ten starts for three wins over 1400 and1500. He travelled across the world to have three starts in Dubai and then sustained a minor tendon injury in his last win at Sandown. Lindsay Park trainers and his owner made the decision to retire Frank. Luckily for me, I was in the right place at the right time and Frank joined our family only a couple of weeks later. 

Mutamayel, or Frank The Tank as he is now affectionately known, may not have been the most exceptional horse on the track but is definitely worth his weight in gold to us.

Doctor’s orders were for him to have a good spell and be given time to let down. However he enjoyed his time out a little too much which is how he got the name Frank The Tank.

 Since becoming part of our family, Frank and I have spent four weeks with the wonderfully talented Tracey Johnson (trackwork rider from Lindsay Park) to do some initial re-education, soften and learn a little. We have since been camping and trail riding at Fryer’s Hut and around the Strathbogie area. Frank gives plenty of pony rides for the kids and enjoys lots of swimming time in Seven Creeks in Euroa, where he lives.

 We do have plans to one day get him into the show ring at the local shows but until then he is quite happy with the occasional stroll, a sand roll and swim before dinner. Frank has a home with us for life and we all just love him to bits.”

Confectioner

Love at first sight
by Veterinary & Spelling Manager Yvonne Divers

This is a story of two journeys through the thoroughbred world. Mine and and a bay gelding’s named Confectioner. In 1999, I was a high school student wondering which path I was going to take after graduation. I had studied the VTAC guide, and studied and studied it, and landed on the only horse course listed, Diploma of Horse Studies with a major in Breeding. As a horse-mad kid, this was stuff that dreams were made of - a career path with horses.

Jump to the breeding season of 2000. As part of my studies I arrived at Chatswood Stud in Seymour, just south of Lindsay Park in Euroa, to commence my placement. 

A mare that stood out for me there was Princess Blue; a beautiful dapple grey mare, with marked stringhalt to both hind legs from a previous injury evidenced by marked scarring to both hind legs. Beyond her altered gait, was her gorgeous dark leggy colt by Bubble Gum Fellow.  An eye-catching, curious and bright foal, he was a well put together good-looking colt and one I’d always look for at vetting and on feed run. Breeding season came and went, and I was asked to stay on at Chatswood through the Christmas break, an opportunity I grasped with both hands. 

Early 2001, the unthinkable happened, Princess Blue was found dead in her paddock, seemingly having suffered a bout of colic through the night. Her sweet foal had become a weanling and an orphan overnight. He took to this abrupt change well, and soon enough his paddock mates were weaned and joined this brave colt in the paddock. 

The Christmas break came to an end and in turn so did my stay at Chatswood. Returning to my studies, the Bubble Gum Fellow colt was often in my mind and I wondered how he was going. I travelled overseas working for Coolmore America, and during a period of homesickness, the little guy popped into my mind.  I jumped on the Australian Studbook and found him. He had been named Confectioner, an ode to his sire. 

When I returned to Australia from my travels, I returned to the stables of Brian Mayfield-Smith at Flemington.  I followed Confectioner’s career from afar, he had popped up in neighbouring Flemington Stables of Lindsay Park, racing in the famous Devitt & Gordon colours and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Mummify, Makybe Diva, Elvestrom, Grand Armee, El Segundo and champion stablemates Niconero and Fields of Omagh. 

I would occasionally see the now gelding around the Flemington track, he had grown into a strong tall horse, and was still just as eye catching.

In 2007, I was fortunate enough to commence working for the stable vet of Brian Mayfield-Smith, Dr McKellar, who was also the stable vet to Lindsay Park. On occasion, I would visit their Flemington stables and see Confectioner, with his baby face and nonchalant nature he had a regal air about him. After 39 starts with 8 wins, 4 seconds, 5 thirds and prize money over 1.3 million dollars, he retired to the Lindsay Park Angaston property in 2008.  

In 2010, with Lindsay Park opening their operations in Victoria, I joined them in the small town of Euroa. Shortly thereafter, the retirees in Angaston relocated to Euroa too, including Confectioner. He was much rounder and fluffier than I remembered, having settling into retirement like a champ. 

A couple of years later, I asked if I could adopt Confectioner and have him live out his days with me and my family on our property. I was so happy when he unloaded off the float and went straight into grazing, like he had been there all his life. Not a care or worry in the world.

Now, rising 24 years of age, he moves much slower than his Group One performances, though he still enjoys a comfortable canter up to his feed bin if he’s late to his meal. He spends his days pretending he needs no-one, but he is never too far from his paddock mate ex-lead pony, 23 year old Cody. Be it grazing, eating carrots, rolling in the dam (sometimes with his rugs on) or basking in the sunshine, Confectioner has a home with me for the rest of his days. I love to look out the window every day and see him happily grazing in my paddock and remember the brave little colt I met at Chatswood Stud all those years ago.

Finlander (Finny)

Sporting Horse Heaven
Dr Lauren Bryde

Finlander (or Finny) came into my life in February 2022. I’d been searching for my next Off The Track (OTT) horse to compete in ‘Sporting’ events for some time with no success when a dear friend of mine got in contact with Yvonne Divers from Lindsay Park for me. After seeing his sweet face and his pedigree, I thought I’d finally found the one. A few white lies were told so I could skip out of work early to meet him and indeed it was as I’d hoped – love at first sight. Very soon after, he was headed home with me.

As soon as he’d got off the float at home, I was straight on him bareback and six hours later he was on the float to our first sporting event together at Barastoc. With absolutely no preparation and everyone thinking I was insane, that day Finny cemented his place in my heart handling a big show environment like the champion he is and placing second in three events. 

Sporting is a small discipline comprising of four main events - bending race, stake race, flag race and barrel racing. I’d had great success competing my previous OTT horse and wanted to continue with another. Riding OTT horses is really close to my heart as I’ve grown up in the racing industry on King Island and wouldn’t be where I am without racing. Finny has continued my success in the sport and exceeded my wildest dreams.

After competing for only half of the season in our first year, he managed to place third in the OTT Sporting Horse of the Year and followed that up with being runner up the following season as well as being overall runner up Second Division Open Horse of the Year - beaten by the narrowest of margins, only one point. He qualified to compete at the Australian Championships at the Melbourne Royal Show as well as the Equitana Sporting Championships placing in races at both of these premier events.

Possibly the biggest highlight of his short but extensive career so far was being invited to be part of the Equitana Mane Event feature show. I had a rude awakening in terms of exactly how much I was asking from him at the dress rehearsal experiencing the bright lights and loud audio of the show in an empty stadium - let alone one packed with thousands of people! Despite this next level challenge, Finny handled it all like he’d done it every day of his life, and while he makes me proud every time we step out to do something, I’ve never been prouder of him than I was that night.

I can’t believe how lucky I am to have such a kind, willing enthusiastic horse in my life. Finny has made me feel young and fearless again. There is absolutely nothing he can’t do - he’s a superb and fearless horse on the trails, is kind and gentle enough to let beginners ride, he’s the sensible horse that can lead more nervous horses along (or my retired old horse). He’s clever and bold over obstacles, has potential for dressage (if only his rider could get enthused for this) and as we’ve discovered absolutely loves jumping. With his newfound enthusiasm for jumping, we’re now chasing his passion and focussing on some showjumping. Like all I’ve done with him, we haven’t taken it easy and again I’ve thrown him in at the deep end competing at local ag shows with limited preparation. However as always, Finny has thrived and has already brought home some placings from a limited number of shows.

I can never thank everyone at Lindsay Park who have worked with Finny enough, for both entrusting him to me in his retirement and the obvious excellent start to life he has been given. Finny is everything I needed in my life, but just didn’t know it at the time. 

He’ll be with me for the rest of his life now.

Jacquinot Bay

The story of Fiona Blair and Jacquinot Bay

Our family is so blessed to have Jacquinot Bay spending his retirement with us in Strathbogie. He is the OG La La Land of Lindsay Park and he set the bar pretty high for all of his younger brothers and sisters. He had 82 starts of which he won 15 and placed in 20. Winning over $1,000,000 in prize money for the Woods family. Just like his little brother Gentleman Roy, Jacq was a front runner and ultra consistent running in the top three in 42% of his starts. Jacq retired sound and well at the ripe old age of 11. 

The only thing that stopped him was his age, and if it was up to Jacq he’d still be in work now. It’s not uncommon to see him fanging it around his paddock at home and loving it. He likes to keep himself fit and ready just in case the call comes in that it’s time to go back into work.

Since retiring, Jacq has spent most of his time chilling in his paddock with a menagerie of animals as his mates.

He did compete in the first instalment of Jump Off where Tracey Johnson (of Lindsay Park) took Jacq on and in three months took him from an off the track thoroughbred to jumping 90cm. I believe if we had more time up our sleeve Jacq could have been quite competitive and I was so proud of how far he got and the amazing work that Tracey did with him.

I am a novice rider but whenever I feel the urge to chuck a saddle on him, Jacq is the perfect gentleman. Although he can be an A-grade weirdo on the ground and requires payment in carrots every time he is caught, he is absolute magic when under saddle. To be able to pull him out of the paddock after six months and just jump on knowing he is going to look after me, makes Jacq a one in a million horse in my eyes. 

I count my lucky stars that I own a horse like him, my Quirky King.

Niconero

A horse very close to the team at Lindsay Park Racing is resident retiree and living legend, 21-year-old Niconero. By Danzero out of star producer Nicola Lass, Niconero raced under the Devitt and Gordon ownership with Lindsay Park Racing. Nicola Lass’ produce includes Lindsay Park Racing graduates Nicconi (Bianconi x Nicola Lass 2005) who was Australia’s most popular stallion in 2016, and a lesser-known stallion in Niconoise (Redoute’s Choice x Nicola Lass 2008) who still holds the 1700m track record at Flemington. Niconero is one brilliant big brother!

Having a total of 55 starts for 13 wins he amassed $3,442,944 in prizemoney, which in 2009 is HUGE winnings! 49 of those starts were in Group or Listed races, where he won and placed 10 times.

Travelling to Dubai in 2009, after taking out the Gr.1 Australian Cup three weeks earlier, travelling companion Bim Fennessy fondly described the champion gelding as ‘the grumpy old horse’. Niconero ran a strong 4th in the Gr.1 Dubai Duty Free and then travelled over to Hong Kong to contest the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, where he sustained a career ending bowed tendon, closing out his career with an impressive 5 Group 1 wins! He returned to Australia and retired to the Lindsay Park Angaston Property.

When he came to Lindsay Park Racing in Euroa from the retiree paddock in Angaston in 2011, Niconero was initially trialled as a lead pony, one of the few things he failed at, purely because the drive to race was still very much in him with a case of ‘white rail fever’ - he was too strong. This forever reserved his place as a professional lawn mower and companion. Famous for his big nose “only a mother could love”, Nico, as he’s fondly referred to, spends his days relaxing in the paddock behind Criterion with fellow living legend retiree 25- year-old All Thrills Too. At 21, Nico has lost all his upper incisors (teeth), not that it’s holding him back in any way, just makes smiling for the camera a bit more challenging.

Ayton

Ayton (Nicconi x Merridance 2015G) last raced in July 2020. By this stage, the dark gelding had already caught the eye of Euroa farm Vet Nurse Heather Mayall, who had fallen for the little guy with a big heart. Following his last race, the ownership group, which included Euroa Vet Dr McKellar elected to retire and rehome the gelding, an opportunity Heather jumped at with open arms.  

The Nicconi gelding now spends his days in total luxury, and is best described as ‘the cheekiest diva pony ever’ by new owner Heather. Ayton had three outings to local shows last show season, and Heather is proud of her boy’s progress, looking forward to the upcoming show season which kicks off in October. 

Ayton has well and truly come out of his shell; he is very vocal about when he expects dinner to be delivered, loves his workouts and keeps Heather on her toes with his ‘racehorse’ moments and innate hypersensitivity to small ponies.

Nothing better than a successful rehoming.