In this week's Dunstan Horsefeeds Meet the Breeder, we catch up with Leon Casey on behalf of Sir Peter Vela who bred Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes winner, Star Of Justice.
How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?
Sir Peter became involved with racing early in life. His father had a strong interest and had friends who were actively involved. Sir Peter worked his way through university as a starting stalls attendant in the Waikato area. While teaching in his first job out of university he met his great friend Laurie Laxon. They were soon racing horses together which led to many successes later on. Joe Walls and Sir Patrick Hogan were also early friends who helped with establishing Sir Peters farm and broodmare band.
Tell us a bit about the history of Pencarrow Stud?
Pencarrow Stud was established in 1981. Sir Peter and brother Philip had visited yearling sales and purchased some fillies to race and later breed from. They included Noble Heights (Champion 3yo filly 1981 ), Our Lafite (Wakeful Stakes and second in VRC Oaks) and Richebourg (Gr.3 Tranquil Star Stakes). With the new purpose-built property completed these fillies were retired to stud and formed the nucleus of the future broodmare band. Insouciant, Romanee Conti, Ethereal and Supera are some of the great fillies who have descended from this group of foundation mares. Also included are successful stallions Darci Brahma and Burgundy.
How many mares do you breed from?
Pencarrow Stud foals approximately 40 mares per season around 25 are offered for sale and the balance retained to race in the stud colours.
Roughly how many does PS prepare for the various sales each year and how are the decisions made on what to retain or what to sell?
Our sale focus is the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling sale. We try to offer a range of high-quality fillies to buyers but retain some from key families to develop our broodmare band. A good example is Zourion sold for $475,000 to Cambridge Stud, recent winner of Matamata Breeders Stakes Gr.2 and Star of Justice sold to Te Akau for $190,000 the recent winner of Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes. On the other hand, we retained Pearl of Alsace and her older half-sister to secure the development of Zourions family. Pearl of Alsace has now won 6 races including the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes and placed in the Gr.3 Livamol Stakes.
Has standing stallions ever been a part of Pencarrow Stud? If not, why not? (or why not anymore?)
Pencarrow Stud does not stand stallions but we are shareholders in stallions who are managed by studs that have particular expertise and specialised properties to suit that enterprise. We have been shareholders in Sir Tristram, Star Way, Grosvenor, Zabeel, Kaapstad and most leading sires to have stood in New Zealand. We bred and raced Darci Brahma and Burgundy and retained breeding rights to both horses when they retired to stud. Turn Me Loose was bred from the Pencarrow Stud mare Indomitable while leased by George and Maryanne Simon. Pencarrow Stud supports him at stud and recently foaled a colt by Turn Me Loose out of star mare, Supera. Mana Park will offer a half-brother to Turn Me Loose in this year’s draft.
Pencarrow Stud have been involved in the Coolmore syndicate that races Home Affairs and Shinzo. We currently have Home Affairs foals on the ground out of Rasa Lila and Sopraffina.
Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions or how do you come to make your breeding decisions?
Sir Peter has a passion for pedigrees and spends many hours each year planning matings. He has developed his own patterns but enjoys nothing more that talking to other breeders around the world and sharing ideas on mating programes. Knowing the horses and the families having been operating for so many years is helpful when considering the physical aspects of the matings. The stud races fillies because they believe in their product, those racemares form the nucleus of the broodmare band. They are therefore well known to their breeders and every little personality or physical trait is considered in the mating. Last year in a draft of 20 yearlings, 15 were the product of blacktype mares bred and raced by Pencarrow stud. Those mares are supported by international purchases eg Scintillula and Marsden Cross.
Who do you admire in the thoroughbred breeding industry?
When Sir Peter started, Sir Patrick Hogan set the bar for excellence. Sir Peter always admired Fred Bodle’s property and aspired to have one of such quality and a similar operation one day. In modern times anyone who can achieve excellence and sustain it for a prolonged period has to be admired. In that view, John Magnier and family, Te Akau Stud Principle David Ellis, and The Chittick family of Waikato stud stand out.
What advice would you give someone entering the industry as a breeder?
Brace yourself for a wild ride…Invest well, know your stock, work hard and be prepared to persevere.
