A LIFETIME AMBITION WILL BE REALISED AT THE MAGIC MILLIONS WHEN FERNRIGG FARM PRESENTS ITS FIRST EVER YEARLING DRAFT.
By Kristen Manning
The name “Fernrigg” holds a special place in the heart of stud principal Rae-Louise Farmer as it was used by her and her late grandfather for the horses they bred together during her youth. “I was very close to my grandparents growing up, they encouraged me to follow my horse dreams which has brought me to this point in my career and the establishment of Fernrigg Farm.”
There were only two weanlings on the Denman property when Rae-Louise took over in May but numbers have steadily grown. “I am delighted with how the weanlings thrived and developed into strong, athletic yearlings. The condition the horses were in leading into the beginning of this sale preparation is testament to the quality of the land.” Dual Group One winner Yankee Rose and Group Three winner Acatour, together with stakes winners Tawteen and Well Sprung have all graduated from the property in recent years.
“I feel extremely proud to present such a strong draft for our first sale. Every horse is here on its merits and I am grateful to our clients and friends who have entrusted us with preparing them.”
First up for Fernrigg is a “very athletic, racy” Shooting To Win filly out of a 3/4 sister to stakes winner Whisper Bay and half to Group One mare Hurtle Murtle. A “strong, well balanced early looking type with a great hip and action” by Exceed And Excel is out of the stakes placed Procrastination, daughter of dual Group winner Dilly Dally.
Three yearlings by Dissident are also highlights including a “quality eye-catching, lovely moving” half to stakes winner Everage and a “very neat, correct, good boned” colt out of Terrenora, Group Three placed dam of stakes winner Ghost. The third Dissident is a “magnificent” colt out of Djinda, half to stakes winner Litter from the prolific Almahmoud family. “He is well-grown with great scope and exceptional strength. He has always been a stand-out.”
Also impressive is an “eye-catching real powerhouse” filly by Rubick out of Tuscan Haze whose dam is the triple Group winner Halibery. “She has a great temperament and stunning athleticism.” Meanwhile “a very strong first foal” by Hinchinbrook is out of winner Arabian Beauty, daughter of Listed winner Marchelle Belle. “He has exceptional bone, good conformation and an amazing attitude.”
“One of the most athletic colts I have seen by Sebring” is one out of city winner Arrowette, half sister to Jersey Lily. “He is well-grown with plenty of scope and strength, a big shoulder and a deep girth.” Then there is “a very classy filly” by Wandjina out of Bright Heart, dam of Group Two placed Volpino. “She is a very classy filly with a huge motor, a beautiful action and a balanced stride. She will certainly catch the eye.” As will a Smart Missile half to Group placed Kinaan from the family of Danehill. “This colt has a very strong pedigree and he is a stunning, well-balanced individual with the strength and scope one would expect to see from this family.”
Star Witness has been in great form and Fernrigg has two at the sale starting with a “quality” filly out of city winner Dollhouse, half to Group Two winner Unpretentious. “She has good bone and scope, a big hip and shoulder and a beautiful action.” The colt out of the Galileo mare Just Incredible “has great presence and is always a gentleman. He reminds me very much of Star Turn as a yearling.”
Another in-form stallion is I Am Invincible whose “racy, correct, athletic” filly out of city winner Epic Faith is a 3/4 sister to Brazen Beau.
Describe any recent developments at your farm.
Major developments have been undertaken in preparation for our first Magic Millions draft. The new 20 box stable complex looks fantastic; the yearlings love the large, cool boxes, which provide plenty of air-flow. New post and rail turn-out yards have been built in close proximity to the new barn. All our yearlings get an opportunity to have a buck and kick for a few hours daily which I feel is paramount for their mindset and demeanour during what can be a stressful time. We also have a new walker which complements the lunge ring. Our top quality facilities allow us to prepare client’s yearlings to the very highest of standards.
What is your personal Magic Millions ambition?
I cannot wait until yearlings sold under the Fernrigg banner start competing and hopefully winning at the highest level. It would be so exciting to watch one of our babies win a Group One.
Who do you follow on Twitter?
@drpadraigkelly. We have very similar interests and he is always reliable for a retweet!
What do you wish more people would take notice of?
The dedication and hard work stud staff put in many months prior to the actual sales. So much skill and attention-to-detail is required but unfortunately this often isn’t recognised. We are extremely lucky to have a fantastic team at Fernrigg and while these yearlings are at the Magic Millions another group of future athletes are being prepared back home for the next sale.
