Charlie Ferguson

The 2026 Aushorse Graduate Program officially commenced yesterday at Flemington Racecourse, welcoming 10 outstanding university graduates from across Australia for the opening of the program’s two-week intensive learning block. 

Delivered by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse, the program is designed to attract high-calibre graduates into the thoroughbred industry and provide them with a structured pathway into long-term careers across breeding, racing, wagering and allied sectors. 

Over the next fortnight, participants will take part in a series of lectures, workshops and behind-the-scenes industry visits with some of the sector’s leading organisations and professionals, including Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Troy Corstens from Malua and the Australian Trainers Association, Matt Hyland from the Victorian Jockeys Association, Dr Ben Mason of Crown Equine Veterinary Practice, and representatives from Yulong, Swettenham, Racing Victoria and the Victoria Racing Club. 

The cohort will then progress into their six-week paid internships with host organisations including Racing Victoria, Melbourne Racing Club, Entain, Magic Millions, AlmaVale and Kitchwin Hills, Yulong, and others across the industry. 

Andrew Hore-Lacy, CEO of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse, said the program continues to demonstrate the industry’s commitment to investing in future talent. 

“This program is about attracting exceptional young people into our industry and showing them the breadth of opportunity that exists across racing and breeding,” Mr Hore-Lacy said. 

“The quality and diversity of this year’s cohort is outstanding, and it reflects the growing interest from graduates who see genuine long-term career pathways in the sector.” 

Mr Hore-Lacy also acknowledged the strong support from host employers and industry partners across racing, breeding and wagering. 

“What has been particularly encouraging is the willingness of organisations right across the industry to invest in the next generation, even where the benefits may not flow directly back to their own businesses,” he said. 

“As a peak body for breeders, we see this as an industry-wide responsibility. Creating pathways that open doors for talented graduates into all parts of the sector strengthens the whole ecosystem.” 

The 2026 intake brings together graduates from a wide range of academic backgrounds, reflecting the increasingly diverse skill sets required across the modern thoroughbred sector. 

2026 Aushorse Graduate Program participants: 

• Benjamin Cameron – Bachelor of Biomedicine (Bioengineering) 

• Riley Kennedy – Bachelor of Commerce (Management and Marketing Management) 

• Noah Campbell – Diploma of Business Studies (Digital Marketing) 

• Jett Halls – Master of Intelligence and Bachelor of Security Studies 

• Emma O’Reilly – Bachelor of Medical Science (Medical Bioinformatics) and Bachelor of Arts (Criminology) 

• Erin Menzies – Bachelor of Business (Marketing and Management / Innovation) 

• Will Pfitzner – Bachelor of Advanced Business (Honours), majoring in Analytics and Finance  

• Darcy Wade – Bachelor of Business (Management and Innovation), sub-majors in Finance and Marketing 

• Celsa Bilardello – Bachelor of Animal Science (Canine and Equine Science) 

• Alan Anderson – Advanced Diploma of Equine Business Management 

The Aushorse Graduate Program was launched in 2025 and has already delivered strong outcomes, with 90% of graduates now working in full-time roles within the thoroughbred industry. 

For more information, please visit www.tbaus.com/graduate_program/about/ 

The Australian breeding industry was in the spotlight at Flemington yesterday as Half Yours — bred by Janice and the late Colin McKenna — stormed to victory in the 165th running of the $10 million Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200 m) under a superbly judged ride from Jamie Melham.

Bred at The Union in Woolsthorpe (near Warrnambool), Half Yours was the only Australian-bred runner in this year’s field and is the first Victorian-bred Cup winner since Gala Supreme in 1973. The five-year-old gelding is the 13th horse in history to complete the famous Caulfield Cup–Melbourne Cup double.

Half Yours is by the lightly raced stallion St Jean, who stands at Brackley Park in Avenel for a service fee of $11,000. The Irish-bred St Jean is a son of Teofilo (by Galileo) and was part owned by Colin and Janice McKenna, winning the Group 3 Auckland Cup before an injury ended his career. Now in his eighth season at stud, he has produced just 67 live foals. On his dam’s side, St Jean descends from the legendary broodmare Height of Fashion, one of the most influential producers of the modern era.

For Janice McKenna, the win was deeply personal, coming a year after the loss of her husband Colin who was a passionate supporter of Australian breeding and racing, and of Jamie Melham’s career.

“Colin would have been over the moon to see this,” Mrs McKenna said.

“Half Yours was bred on the farm and to think he’s now a Melbourne Cup winner is immensely satisfying and something Colin was striving to achieve. I know he would be so proud and so thrilled for Jamie, for Tony and Calvin McEvoy, and for all the new owners.”

It was a performance of exceptional timing and composure from Jamie Melham, one of the nation’s most accomplished jockeys. A decade after Michelle Payne became the first female jockey to win Australia’s most famous race, 29-year-old Melham has become the first woman to claim the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double, having combined with Half Yours to take out last month’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup. The historic win also provided the father-son training partnership of Tony and Calvin McEvoy with their first Melbourne Cup success.

Andrew Hore-Lacy, Chief Executive Officer of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse, said the victory was a proud moment for the entire breeding industry.

“This is an extraordinary achievement not just for the McKenna family, but for every breeder who continues to back the local product. Half Yours was the only Australian-bred horse in this year’s field, and his win shows that we continue to produce world-class horses right here at home. For a Victorian-bred horse to win the Cup for the first time in more than 50 years is a great source of pride for our industry.

“Australia is renowned for producing outstanding early sprinters, but yesterday’s result showcased the depth of our middle-distance and staying ranks. In recent years we’ve seen horses like Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip, as well as Cox Plate champions Anamoe and State of Rest, retiring to stud here and earning strong support from breeders who want to produce sound, talented horses capable of matching it with the world’s best.”

Half Yours is the first stakes winner for his sire St Jean, and is out of the Desert King (Ire) mare La Gazelle, who is herself a half-sister to Group 3 Queen’s Cup winner Moudre (by Blevic) and 11-time winner Knock Knock (by Anyone Home). xJanice McKenna was awarded the title of 2025 Leading Victorian Small Breeder by Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria (TBV) in August of this year.

Thoroughbred Breeders Australia is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of George Smith, a respected horseman whose influence on Australian bloodstock spans generations.

Over a career that spanned more than seven decades, George earned a reputation for his exceptional eye for a horse and his unwavering belief that physical type, demeanour and athleticism were always more important than the pedigree on the page.

Among his many roles, George’s time at Stockwell Stud in Victoria under the ownership of Ken Cox stands as one of his most influential chapters. It was there that he oversaw the stud career of Showdown, the English import who became one of Australia’s most successful sires of the 1970s. Under George’s management, Showdown produced a host of top performers — including Tontonan, Dual Choice and Love A Show — and cemented his place in the history of the Australian thoroughbred. George’s intuitive horsemanship and meticulous attention to detail were central to both the stallion’s success and Stockwell’s reputation as a leading nursery of its time.

Beyond his work at the farm, George became a trusted advisor to leading trainers, agents and breeders, and a generous mentor to countless young people entering the bloodstock world. His practical wisdom and humility left a profound impression on all who had the privilege of working alongside him.

George’s contribution to the Australian breeding and racing industry is immeasurable. His legacy lives on in the horses he helped raise, the people he guided, and the standards of horsemanship and integrity he set for others to follow.

On behalf of all breeders, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia extends its sincere condolences to George’s family, friends and colleagues across the industry.

Vale George Smith – a true horseman and a gentleman of the Australian thoroughbred industry.

Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse join the wider industry in mourning the passing of So You Think, one of the modern greats of the Australian turf and a truly elite sire.

From the moment he burst onto the scene, So You Think embodied everything Australians love about the thoroughbred – athleticism, courage, and presence. A dual Cox Plate champion and 10-time Group 1 winner, he captured the public’s imagination under Bart Cummings and later continued his brilliance on the world stage with Aidan O’Brien.

As a stallion at Coolmore, he was the consummate professional: kind, intelligent, and supremely consistent. He has been a fixture in the top echelon of Australian sires for the past decade, and his legacy will endure through his exceptional progeny.

Antony Thompson, Chairman of Aushorse and Stud Principal at Widden Stud, said So You Think’s influence on Australian breeding cannot be overstated.

“So You Think had that rare combination of brilliance and longevity, both on the track and at stud. He stamped his stock with quality, toughness and temperament – the very hallmarks of a great sire.

“His passing comes heartbreakingly soon after the loss of fellow Coolmore stallions Fastnet Rock and Wootton Bassett — three world-class sires whose combined influence has helped shape modern Australian breeding. It’s a reminder of just how fortunate our industry has been to have stallions of such calibre standing on our shores.”

Basil Nolan Snr, Chairman of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Stud Principal at Raheen Stud, paid tribute to the stallion’s enduring impact.

“He was the sort of horse that inspired breeders everywhere – beautifully bred, tough as nails, and able to perform at the highest level season after season. Horses like him don’t come along often, and his influence will be felt for generations to come.”

TBA and Aushorse extend sincere condolences to Tom Magnier and the entire Coolmore team, who cared for So You Think with dedication and affection throughout his remarkable career.

Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2026 Aushorse Graduate Program.

Launched in January 2025, the program is a welcome springboard for young professionals eager to build meaningful careers in the Australian thoroughbred industry. Designed to bridge the gap between university study and full-time employment, it combines structured learning with practical, hands-on experience — and is already delivering results, with 90% of the inaugural graduates now working within the industry.

The 2026 program will commence on Tuesday 27 January, running for eight weeks and beginning with a two-week intensive learning block at Flemington Racecourse. Graduates will take part in lectures and workshops delivered by leading figures across racing, breeding, marketing, wagering and more, before completing a six-week paid internship with some of the sector’s most prominent organisations.

Employers in 2025 included Magic Millions, Widden Stud, Melbourne Racing Club, Stable Financial, Racing Victoria and Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing, providing participants with a rare opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the breadth and dynamism of Australia’s world-class thoroughbred sector.

TBA and Aushorse CEO Andrew Hore-Lacy said that the organisations were delighted to be continuing the program for a second year.

“Through this program we’re investing in the next generation of talent for the breeding and racing industries,” Mr Hore-Lacy said.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to see graduates from the first intake now thriving in full-time roles across the country.

“The level of engagement from employers has also been outstanding — a real testament to the strength and cohesion of our industry.”

Antony Thompson, Chairman of Aushorse and Stud Principal at Widden Stud, said the program is already demonstrating its value to both graduates and employers.

“Hosting a graduate last year was a fantastic experience for our team,” Mr Thompson said.

“90% of the graduates have now secured full-time employment in a variety of roles across wagering, racing and breeding, which highlights the program’s success in connecting talented graduates with meaningful, long-term opportunities in the thoroughbred industry.”

Space in the 2026 program is limited to 12 graduates who completed their degrees in 2024 or 2025. Applications are now open and will close on Friday 14 November.

For more information and to apply, please visit www.tbaus.com/graduate_program/about/