Steve Speaks To Attunga Stud’s Brian Nutt
ATTUNGA STUD’s Brian Nutt tells Steve it will be ‘business as usual’ despite confirming the sale of his property to Yarraman Park Stud.
Brian Nutt will hand over the keys, in June next year, to Attunga Stud to Harry and Arthur Mitchell of neighbouring Yarraman Park after more than 20 years at the 220 hectare property.
“Harry and Arthur (Mitchell) have allowed me to lease the farm until next June so nothing has changed in the short term. Longer term, I’m certainly not retiring but the $64,000 question is where I relocate and whether I buy or lease a smaller place,’ said the respected horseman.
Nutt managed the property, then known as Wakefield Stud, for four years before buying the farm from Brian Agnew in June 2000.
In its previous guise, it was well known as the birthplace of arguably Australia’s best known horse, Subzero (Kala Dancer) who won the 1992 Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) and who subsequently made numerous appearances on television, at charity functions, and at schools under the care of Graham Salisbury.
The prominent horses to emerge from the property, under the Attunga banner, include War Artist (Orpen), a stakes-winner in four countries; Fighting Warrior (Magic Albert), a Grade One Two-Year-Old winner in South Africa; Sacred Star (Flying Spur), a winner of Telegraph Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) in New Zealand and Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner and now Vinery Stud stallion Press Statement (Hinchinbrook), who was raised there.
The farm, under Nutt’s guidance, has probably been best known for it’s yearling preparation – it’s accolades include the Inglis award for the best presented draft at the 2014 Easter Australian Yearling Sale – agistment and for it’s stallion selection and client advice across the board.
Amid re-location plans, Nutt will be keenly monitoring this season’s two-year-old racing having purchased the half sister to Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain) at Inglis Easter earlier this year.
A filly by Shamus Award (Snitzel) Courgette (Charge Forward) was knocked down, for $425,000, to Nutt who secured her on behalf of long time Western Australian client John Squarcini. The filly, yet to be named, is in training with Bjorn Baker at Warwick Farm and is due to soon commence her second training preparation.
“She’s back in pre-training now and is probably only a couple of weeks away from coming back to the stables,” said Baker. “She coped well with her initial orientation here at Warwick Farm and she’s a lovely athletic filly who looks fast.”
Baker, who claimed an important winning double last Saturday at Rosehill with stakes bound Bonny O’Reilly (O’Reilly) and potentially outstanding colt Addictive Nature (Savabeel), has a strong link with Nutt including winning two city races with Attunga’s Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) mare To Be Sure.
“Brian’s been a great supporter of the stable virtually since we started and hopefully we can continue to have a bit of luck together,’ Baker said.
In a further twist to their association, Baker said that the Northern Meteor (Encosta De Lago) gelding Pray To The Sky had just come back into work in his stables. Pray To The Sky was a debut winner, when prepared by Gai Waterhouse, early in 2016 but was sidelined soon after.
Pray To The Sky was sold for $575,000 to Tomohiro Sekiguchi at the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was the first yearling sold, by Attunga, for Agnew since the farms previous purchase.