Photo: Race Images
In this weeks edition of Dunstan Horse Feeds Meet the Breeder, we catch up with Ashburton-based breeder, Sarah Green of Barneswood Farm who has had a dream few days, starting at Ellerslie on Saturday evening and ending at the Karaka Complex on Tuesday.
Tell us the history/story of Barneswood Farm & how did you get into thoroughbred breeding?
It started with a conversation with business partner and racing partner Ger Beemsterboer of the Netherlands who is now a great friend so the early investment started not long after with a purchase of a property now named Barneswood Farm. Our horses are either bred or raced under this banner.
You really support the industry through raceday sponsorship – how did this start and why is this important to you?
Over the last few years stakes money is not supporting the investment required by all participants and this has just been a way we can support it in a small way.
Tell us the story of Orchestral?
We started buying fillies that hopefully would do well on the track. Pedigree was all important. Our aim is to have a smallish band of high quality mares and Symphonic fitted this criteria and being an O’Reilly mare, the cross fitted well with Savabeel hence this decision was made for a first foal. We have just sold the full brother to Orchestral and Symphonic has a filly at foot to Savabeel and is back in foal again to Savabeel, foetal sexing shows another filly.
How many mares do you breed from?
Approximately 10 or 12 at the moment.
What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio (youngstock, racehorses, stallion shares etc)?
Youngstock, broodmare, racehorses and a small stallion share.
Do you breed to trade or breed to race? How do you decide on what to keep and/or sell?
Mainly breed to trade but will keep the odd filly that is from our very best mares.
Do you have a favourite cross?
At this moment it would appear to be Savabeel over an O’Reilly mare.
Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions?
Yes always and it is something my husband Chris & Ger love to research too.
Who do you admire in the thoroughbred breeding industry?
Difficult question to answer as everyone has different theories and who knows where the next winner will come from.
What advice would you give someone entering the industry as a breeder?
It’s a long hard game but take advice from everyone, and put in the research .
Proudest moment as a breeder?
Breeding Orchestral.
The best part of being a thoroughbred breeder is...trying to breed horses that get the best sales and racing results.
