Jo McKinnon Column
Byzantium: the thoroughbred leading two very different lives
A brown gelding by the name of Byzantium (All Too Hard) is doing what no other thoroughbred is. Having won his past four starts around western NSW, he’s in career-best form but what stands him apart from any of his rivals is the fact that away from the rigours of racing he’s taking all before... Read More
More from Jo McKinnon Column
Jelfs a refreshing addition to the bloodstock world
Scrolling through my Twitter feed something so refreshing and authentic bobbed up. It was a video post by Annabel Neasham Racing featuring an interview with former Sky Racing presenter Lizzie Jelfs standing alongside a Hellbent (I Am Invincible) filly she had purchased at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. For a number of reasons,... Read More
Marketing moves up a gear as Gold Coast sale edges closer
This week we have seen marketing geniuses at work in the lead-up to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, which begins tomorrow. Taking the prize for the best stallion promotion is Tom Magnier and the team at Coolmore Stud. A red Ferrari will go to the owner of the first Justify (Scat Daddy) foal... Read More
McDonald showing wisdom beyond his years in overseeing Harvey’s empire
Luke McDonald is a young man with a big job. At just 28-years-old he’s in charge of the bloodstock portfolio for Australasia’s biggest owner – retail giant Gerry Harvey. “The bloodstock I manage fluctuates throughout the year but in Australia, we currently have 228 racehorses on the books, 159 of them being owned outright by... Read More
Irwin enjoying riding the wave of his novel idea
How many people that have worked long and hard enough in the racing and breeding industry, have said to themselves “I should write a book about this one day”? Such are the experiences and stories, I’d say there’s plenty who dance with the idea but there are very few who make the time or actually... Read More
On welfare, racing needs to achieve where it has been unsuccessful before – with a national, co-ordinated approach
The much anticipated thoroughbred welfare report released last week by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Welfare Working Group (TAWWG) was outstanding. Appropriately entitled “The Most Important Participant’, the 46 well-thought-out recommendations within it were absolutely spot on. A number of the report’s concluding statements came as no surprise to many, with welfare challenges facing the industry labelled... Read More