Australian Top Quality

Australia has the best thoroughbred country in the World.

 1. Darling Downs Queensland

Most of Queensland's thoroughbred studs are located on the Darling Downs, the Tableland area in South Queensland that has Toowoomba as its main city. The country has typically rich basalt soil and the climate is mild. The most famous race horse bred in this area was Bernborough who won 28 races from 37 starts after being restricted to his principal home track in his first five years because his original owner was a disqualified person under the Queensland Turf Club laws. The district has had a significant revival in recent years as a result of the Queensland Incentive Scheme called QRIS

 2. South - East Queensland

A smaller thoroughbred breeding area exists in the area west of Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The major city is Beaudesert and although the climate can be on the hot side in mid summer, horses do very well and the area is often used by southern state trainers to spell their horses prior to the spring carnivals in Sydney and in Melbourne. The area has an added advantage of being very close to the Magic Millions Sales Company and the racetracks on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane

 3. NSW Northern Tablelands

This magnificent rich district of NSW that produces a full range of agricultural products is centered around Tamworth, the Peel Valley and the Breeza Plains and the area south of Tamworth and is outstanding horse country, Tamworth has developed a very strong race club and several annual yearling sales that are well patronised. The most famous horse from this area was Gunsynd, who between 1969 and 1973 won 21 black type races but among the other great horses bred in this area are Inspired who won the STC Golden Slipper, Salaam who won the G1 AJC Galaxy, Sword who won the G1 SAJC Goodwood and Assertive Lad who is still in training in 2001 and who has won three G1 races including the AJC Doncaster Handicap. Of special interest was At Sea who won the AJC Challenge Stakes on three consecutive occasions.

 4. The Hunter Valley and Widden Valley

No thoroughbred district in Australia is as well known or so often visited as the Hunter Valley, which is an area that most people choose to include the adjoining Valleys each as the Widden and Segenhoe Valleys. The district has a diverse economic activity that includes wine growing, coal mining, dairy farming and cattle grazing. For the most part, the soil is rich and the climate is mild and there are studs of all sizes catering for each category of breeder. But it is the infrastructure that first attracts the eye with many studs having world class facilities such as stallion barns, serving barns, yearling barns and many miles of railed fencing. Many champion stallions have stood here such as Star Kingdom, Biscay, Todman, Twig Moss, Kaoru Star, Vain and the current champion sire Danehill. The district has produced dozens of outstanding horses that have raced throughout Australia and Asia.

 5. NSW Southern Highlands

The Southern Highlands based around Moss Vale and the Southern Slopes around Cootamundra and Wagga Wagga have been the growth areas for thoroughbred raising since World War II. The area has magnificent loam soils, a safe rainfall and a climate that is cooler then the Hunter Valley. Although Newhaven Park Stud was the only major stud in the area for many years, there are now at least five large studs with stallions and many medium sized studs as well as spelling farms and breaking establishments. This district has been the home of Golden Slipper winner Tierce, Marauding and Luskin Star, the Triple Derby winner Royal Sovereign and the Champion sprinting sire Wilkes.

 6. North - East Victoria

This area has been developed some decades later than the Central - Yarra Valley area and is thriving as a result of Australia's largest breeders and owners incentive scheme, VOBIS. The area is predominantly flat country with deep soils and superb tall eucalyptus trees. The climate is mild but the season is earlier than the Yarra Valley area. This area has also been boosted by the establishment of Collingrove Stud at Nagambie together with their champion sire of two year olds Rory's Jester.

 7. Central Victoria and Yarra Valley

The oldest thoroughbred area in Victoria is in close proximity to Melbourne, although some of the old famous studs have closed down others have taken their place along side the many properties specialising in spelling racehorses. The area is south of the Great Dividing Range and like Melbourne has a Mediterranean type climate. To estimate the strength of this area two of Australia's greatest stallions, Century and Showdown stood here and the majority of their stocks were raised here. Century was a champion recehorse and was a champion sire against the sires from all the Hunter Valley. Showdown was also a champion sire who had 78 sons also stand at stud.

 8. Tasmania

Tasmania is the smallest of the six Australian states and is an island south of the mainland and on the same latitude as New Zealand’s South Island. It has a cool climate with wonderful soils that are famous for producing magnificent fruit. Because this state has a small population and only a handful of racetracks, the breeding industry is not as large as in the mainland states. Their most famous locally bred horse in recent years is Bow Mistress a beautiful mare that won the VRC J.J Liston Stakes. The oldest and most significant stud is Armidale Stud on the banks of the Liffey and Meander rivers. It has bred many stakes winners.

 9. The Adelaide Districts

Although South Australian breeding is often said to be synonimous with beautiful Lindsay Park there are many other long established studs that have been producing wonderful racehorses in country that is well known for producing highest quality table wines. Several seasons ago the Australian champion first season sire was Made Of Gold and he stood and his foals were raised in the district outside Adelaide. But it was the internationally recognised success of Colin Hayes' Lindsay Park that has led to many overseas-based horse owners keeping their valuable bloodstock in this area. As an indication on how well horses do in this area, Colin Hayes training from Augaston on the Barossa Valley of South Australia trained 5333 winners. Great horses like Tobin Bronze and Special were bred in this area.

 10. Western Australia

Raising thoroughbreds commenced in Perth prior to 1850 so the breeding industry in this state is long established. The climate is considerably drier then the eastern states and of course the rainfall not as high. The Magic Millions Sales Company has recently taken over as the states major auction house, but the yearling prices remain very attractive for owners and trainers. Some wonderful horses have been bred in Western Australia including Black Knight and Rogan Josh who both won the VRC Melbourne Cup, Starstruck who Won the VRC Australia Cup, Palace Reign winner of the VATC Caulfield Guineas, Chanteclair who won the AJC Epsom Handicap and the latest sensation, the magnificent bay gelding Northerly who already has won the G1 Railway Stakes and the VRC Australian Cup.

Copyright © 2001, TBA. All rights reserved.
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia Limited
PO.Box 567, Moss Vale, NSW  2577,  Australia
Phone: (02) 4869-5283 | Fax: (02) 4869-5283
tbaus@hinet.net.au

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