In the forthcoming November issue of
Breeding & Racing (Australia) I write about the Queensland Stud that's challenging all the rules - Glenlogan Stud.
"I could just as well be standing 700 kilometres south. The surrounds are idyllic, the glossy corporate brochures distributed by uniformed staff adopted by many in the crowd as makeshift shields against the midday glare. The entrance and evaluation of the first stallion demands a shift in focus; as if defying the attention the horse rears against the lead that restrains him. Minutes later a mare whose name conjures memories of black type success and her 5 day old foal enter the parade ring. To complete the scene, further along the raked drive, crisp table cloths in stud colours flutter idly in the marquee luncheon area.
"There are, however, a few variations between this stallion parade day and similar events being played out south of the border..."Photo (C) Athlone & Associates Ltd 2004
In the forthcoming November issue of
Queensland Racing I write about Raheen Stud.
"
Mention ‘Raheen’ to anyone involved with thoroughbred horses in England and they'll immediately know what you're talking about. Well, okay, maybe they'd be under the impression that you are, in fact, referring to a stallion of the same name that stands at the uniquely named Nant Loyw Stud in Ammanford, Carmathenshire rather than a stud farm on Queensland's Darling Downs. To make your conversation with this hypothetical person even more interesting, the UK Raheen is by Danzig ex Belle De Jour – but not the Belle de Jour that won more than $3 million in prize money and was owned and raced by (amongst others) John Singleton and Australia’s ex-prime minister Bob Hawke.
Confused? Good – so am I. So let's forget about baffling everyone in Carmathenshire for the moment and focus instead on the Raheen Stud that we are all more familiar with".
Photo: Basil Nolan ((c) Athlone Assoc Ltd 2004)
The second article in the Qld Stud Series is now available in the October edition of
Queensland Racing
One of Australia's only Dynaformer fillies (Dynaformer ex Demure's Pride)
