Photo: Bruno Cannatelli
Goodwood Stud has downsized its thoroughbred operation in more recent times, but the Manawatu farm remains a breeding force to be reckoned with.
Its latest high-profile graduate is the Per Incanto mare Marble Arch, a hollow last-start winner of Gr.2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained five-year-old’s victory also earned her a golden ticket into this weekend’s Gr.1 All-Star Mile (1600m), should Lindsay Park take the option of backing her up.
“It’s exciting and that would be her toughest task, but she was pretty impressive on Saturday,” Goodwood’s William Fell said.
“We haven’t bred a nice horse up to that level for a little while, so it’s nice to see one come off the farm.”
Marble Arch was offered via the gavelhouse.com platform in 2020 and was knocked down for $3100 while her dam Jonquil was sold for $800 as part of a downsizing approach.
Ill-fated multiple Group One winner Gingernuts and his dam Double Elle were also significant past sales.
“We had a lot of horses on the farm, and it probably took a good five or six years to get down to a more manageable level and more commercial viability,” Fell said.
“It was a process to move on mares and weanlings and from that point we have concentrated on building up the quality.
“It’s inevitable when you downsize that something will pop up and it would be nice to have a crystal ball, but these things happen.
“Peter Wood bought Marble Arch and he’s a local guy whose been involved in the industry for a long time and Margaret Cartwright bought the mare and bred the winner Black Opium.
“Someone else benefits and we’re very happy for them.”
Marble Arch subsequently finished third on debut at Wanganui from Wayne Marshment’s stable before her sale to Lindsay Park and partners.
Goodwood is now operating with a small broodmare band along with client mares and yearlings.
“It works pretty well for us and with about six to 10 mares and Rosie and I can manage that pretty easily,” said Fell, referring to his wife (nee Myers).
“We still have stallions shares, Little Avondale is handy, and we’ve had some luck with Sam (Williams) so Per Incanto and Little Brose are the main two and it’s a good model for us.”
Goodwood also has a handful of horses in training, including home-bred Great Escape who is prepared by Rosie and was third when recently resuming at Waverley.
“She looks like she should have a pretty handy preparation,” Fell said.
