This week we chat to Sam Williams from Little Avondale Stud, breeder of Roch ‘N’ Horse (Per Incanto x Rochfort) who won the Gr.1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on the weekend.
How many broodmares are there under the Little Avondale Stud banner? 62 in total
When selecting broodmares what do you think is more important - pedigree, race performance or conformation? Pedigree is the key thing for us, then type, then race performance.
What are your criteria when looking for new sires to add to your stallion roster? Obviously, the hard thing for us when buying stallions from here in New Zealand is competing with the most aggressive country in the world, which is Australia on performance. So you’re not always going to end up with a performed horse when you’re buying. But once again it’s going to come back to their pedigree page and type. They are the two key essentials - they’ve got to have pedigree and they’ve got to have type and then the performance can come into it. For example, if you look at the American sales, just last night 21 mares made over $1m, with one making $7m. It's so hard to compete. Especially after COVID. With so many new people that have wanted to get into the game, that have got all this outside/new money, you can’t compete commercially with some of these guys.
What is the process for making mating decisions? I've got to look at what I’m looking for the mating for that mare – what does she require in terms of type, then we look at the pedigree match up – so it has to match up on type then pedigree, and finally it must be a commercial option. Then if in doubt I just send them to Per Incanto!
Do you breed any with the intention to retain to race? I like to retain 2 or 3 of our best fillies each year and that is very much from the pedigree page and type yet again.
What is it about New Zealand-bred horses that makes them successful? I think our growing environment, we have been at a big advantage. There’s no doubt about it. But then you can see that Australia have been getting more rain. We are also breeding a more patient bred horse, New Zealanders aren’t here to breed out and out two-year-olds, we don’t focus on that. We breed horses that do need a bit more time, and because they are given a bit more time, I think we see the benefit of it on the track as they are not pushed too early.
How many yearlings is Little Avondale Stud preparing for the 2023 sales? 46
Do you have a favourite cross? I have several at the moment - Per Incanto mares across Time Test is producing stunning types. I love the Danehill line through Redoute's or Savabeel mares across Per Incanto/ Street Cry as well.
Best breeding advice you have received? If you don’t put semen in it won’t get in foal!
Who has influenced your career in the thoroughbred industry? My father Buzz Williams and I also learned a lot at Cambridge Stud in my early days too
If you could own any broodmare (past or present), who would it be? I think my favourite broodmare to this day is a mare by the name of Sound Lover (Sound Reason – Country Flower), she was a mare that we had. She had 13 foals, 11 winners, between them they’ve won approx. 60 races and a few stakes races as well.
If you could spend a day learning the tricks of the trade on any Stud farm in the world where would you go? It wouldn’t be England or Ireland, I’d actually like to go to J apan to Shadai Stallion Station. I’d really like to see how differently they do things there as they are in the snow in the winter, it’s a completely different environment and it would be really interesting to see.
Proudest moment as a breeder? Last Saturday!
What do you think contributes to Little Avondale Stud’s success? Keep It Simple Silly (KISS). We are very much a family business, we don't want to be too big, or too commercial, we are trying to keep it how we have it now, don’t want to be any bigger than we are now.
Is there a race you would love to win with a Little Avondale Stud-bred horse that hasn’t been won before? Cox Plate
What are Little Avondale Stud’s goals for the future? Breed another winner, you’re only as good as your last winner.
Finish this sentence. The best part of being a thoroughbred breeder is … being lucky enough to be involved with such a wonderful animal
