Gold Front Racing and Breeding reaping benefits of state-of-the-art investment
Racing in Western Australia has really started to thrive over recent years. Spearheaded by colossal breeder Bob Peters, as well as the impetus of the breeding scheme Westspeed, racing and sales in the state have seen a steady increase in vibrancy.
Others, as well, have invested heavily in the region, not least Sue and Alan Olive, who a decade ago sold their profitable drilling business to pursue their passion of thoroughbred breeding under their Gold Front Breeding and Racing banner – and it’s an operation that has got bigger than even they could ever imagine.
Based north of Perth in Breera, the Olive’s expansive property boasts the largest stabling complex under a single roof in all Australia, with 48 boxes spread over half an acre.
“We always had an interest in racehorses, but we sold our business and, well, we never intended for it to get as big as this, we were only going to get into a few little mares and things like and like anything, once you’ve started it just gets bigger and bigger,” said Sue Olive to ANZ Bloodstock News.
“You’re always looking for that little pot of gold. We’d like to do a couple of other little things but it’s well established. My next programme is to get a lap pool in or a water walker but I’ve got a fight with my husband on that one!
“Everything is up and running and going well.”
The Olives purchased the property in 2010, which now features a 1400-metre training round track as well as a straight grass track equipped with barriers, while a round yard and 32 day paddocks, which, combined with their state-of-the-art stabling complex, allows for the offering of a wide range of thoroughbred services, from agistment, to sales prep and pre-training to racing.
“It’s the biggest complex under a roof. It’s a half acre of roofing and 48 boxes and they’re beautiful boxes.
“Everyone that’s ever been there just walks in and goes ‘oh my God’,” said Olive.
“It’s agistment and breaking and we’ve rented out boxes for racing. We do all the yearling prep from there, the broodmares go under lights under there, so it’s very well utilised.
“We’ve got a 1400-metre round training track and an 1800-metre straight track and there are a few barriers for the young ones for their barrier jump outs. Two walkers and a huge big round yard.”
A well established presence at the Perth yearling sales for the best part of the last decade, Gold Front have sold yearlings for up to $200,000, and this year sold an Invader (Snitzel) colt for $110,000.
Olive’s ambition: to breed the very best.
“My ambition is to breed a Winx. That’s what I want,” said Olive. “I want to breed one of the best racehorses. We might as well aim for the top!”
In addition, the facility allows for Gold Front to host stallions on the property and in their latest recruit Awesome Rock (Fastnet Rock), whose first two-year-olds have hit the track this year, Olive believes they have an exciting stallion on their hands, with the stallion, who has sired the stakes-placed Diamond Blue, having recorded his second individual winner from just nine runners, as Searchin’ Roc’s landed the 2YO Plate at Belmont on Saturday.
“Hopefully they just really start to shine. He had it all and most of the ones that we’ve seen, they really look the part. You can look the part, but you’ve got to run, too, don’t you?
“There’s a few out there with the trainers that I have spoken to that have got them and they’re really quite happy with them,” Olive said.
At the recent Magic Millions Perth Thoroughbred Sale, Gold Front went to $160,000 to secure the sale topper Mystical View (Canford Cliffs), a three-year-old filly consigned by Bob Peters, who the Olives hope the stakes-placed filly can collect some further wins before retirement in the spring, while they are already looking ahead to next year’s yearling sales, which they hope can continue in the same vein as the record breaking 2021 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
“It’s picked up a lot,” said Olive. “It’s nothing to what is going on over in the east, it’s just gone crazy over there. It’s a bit steadier here, but it’s certainly holding its own. The February sales have shown a bit more strength. A couple of years ago it was looking a bit dismal but now it’s getting stronger by the year.
“People are putting a lot of thought into breeding now, too. At one time people would just throw everything into the sales. But now you’ve got to put a lot of thought and put the quality in, otherwise you’re just wasting your time.”