The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month award winners for May was Rob and Maureen McBryde part owners of Voltage Point. Rob forwarded this application: This storey begins with Summerset Park Stud preparing the eighth foal (by Artie Schiller (USA)) out of More Than Ready mare Voltara for the Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale in March 2022. In the lead-up to the Sales, the Magic Millions Sales Company arranged a bus tour of a number of Adelaide Hills studs for interested local buyers to pre-view a number of stud drafts. Among other attendees was Morphettville trainer, Chris Bieg, who took a shine to the Artie Schiller colt presented in Summerset Park’s parade of yearlings. At the Sales, when the colt was sent for pre-sale endoscopic examination (“scope”), he refused to co-operate, taking a decided dislike to the horse crush, the nose twitch and the whole procedure. Consequently, it was not possible to undertake the examination without the benefit of heavy sedation, whereupon the recorded scope was entirely unsatisfactory due to the sedation reducing any meaningful movement of the throat cartilages. The result of this refusal to co-operate with the scope examination was a decision to not lodge the recorded scope in the MM Repository for visiting veterinarians to view as it was so unsatisfactory. It is said that the colt is the only horse in the 2022 Adelaide MM Sales to not have a scope video lodged in the Repository. Not to be put off by the colt’s refusal and lack of scope video, Chris Bieg was the successful purchaser of the colt at $25,000, having had the previous experience of purchasing a Duporth filly that refused to submit to a scope examination and yet becoming a successful racehorse (Unscopeable) .  Subsequently, Summerset Park purchased back a small interest in the colt and is part of the ownership group of Voltage Point. After Voltage Point’s first win (start number 4), an offer for him came from Hong Kong interests on the back of another Voltara foal (Galaxy Patch) who was starting to make a name for himself in his first season in HK (eventually named Champion 4 Y O in HK for 2023-2024 season). Chris Bieg debated with himself as to whether to proceed with the necessary veterinary examinations that would be required to pass fit for Hong Kong. In the end, Chris agreed to proceed, to see what would happen. Predictably, Voltage Point refused to co-operate once again with the notion of undergoing endoscopic examination. The veterinary review and thoughts of sale to Hong Kong had to be abandoned! Voltage Point has since won 4 additional races, with one 2nd and two 3rd placings, culminating in his last win in the Sportsbet Handicap over 1050m at Morphettville on 3rd May (Derby Day) at his first run back from a spell, with total prizemoney earnings of nearly $212,000, including $22,250 of Racing Rewards SA bonuses. As well-respected race commentator Terry McCauliffe noted in a post-race interview with Chris Bieg after Voltage Point’s win in the Sportsbet Hcp, he was a good investment! Since Rob wrote this Voltage Point has won again and at the time of writing his record stands at 26 runs with 6 wins one second and three thirds with earnings of almost $260,000 including $22,500 of Racing Rewards Bonuses. Voltage Point is by Artie Schiller from the More Than Ready mare Voltara. Voltara, now deceased, has produced eight progeny to race, all have at least one race to their credit. As Rob mentions Galaxy Patch (by Wandjina) is the star of the group with 9 wins from 21 starts and earning of over 30 million HK dollars which converts to approximately $6 Million $AUS. He was awarded the Champion Four Year Old in Hong Kong in 2024. Other progeny of note include Comesaroundsundown (by Not A Single Doubt) Freedom Road (by Good Journey); Creativity (by Master Of Design); and Exaltara (by Excelebration), all of which were multiple winners. Rob served SAROA extremely well as Treasurer for many years and we wish him and Maureen all the best with Voltage Point and their other horses.

The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month award winner for April was Dr John Sinclair part owner of Mine All Mine. John told us his story: I would like to think that I inherited my love for horses and racing from my grandfather, George Badman, who raced and bred horses in the 1930’s and 1940’s. He was very successful with horses like Auries Star and the Gem family of horses which included French Gem, Royal Gem, Beau Gem, and Crown Gem. My racing experiences began with my wife Meredith when we decided to breed thoroughbreds after successfully breeding cross country and dressage horses. She certainly had a good eye for a horse. This all started forty-five years ago and over the years we have enlisted the expertise of trainers that have included Peter Hayes, Ray Taylor, Leon MacDonald, Ryan Balfour and John Macmillan. At this point in time, I have an interest in twenty horses with John. One of the highlights being giving Jamie Kah her first Victorian win on Highness at Moonee Valley. With respect to Mine All Mine, John Macmillan and I were at the Adelaide Magic Millions sales when the yearling entered the ring. We had inspected the horse several times and we both agreed it looked a speedy type. There were a number of bids and John was about to stop but a quick elbow to his ribs and the horse was ours. This was exactly the same scenario when we bought Aiguilette. We both consider Mine All Mine will have many more wins in the future. Mine All Mine is by Overshare out of the Blevic mare Alabama Missile and  has, at the time writing, raced 14 times for 4 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds with earnings of just over $95,000 including nearly $17,000 in Racing Rewards bonuses. So far Mine All Mine is the dam’s only progeny of note but there are two well bred colts yet to go racing. The granddam Crimson Tide (by Marju) has left one multiple winner, also by Blevic in Crimson Tycoon. The third dam a daughter of Miswaki, Our Miz Waki also left little of note. As John mentions he has part owned and bred a number of good horses during his time in racing including Highness (by Dolphin Street) out of the very good producer Fly In Style  a daughter of Flying Spur. She also produced Hurricane Andy (by Kaphero), Mile High (also by Kaphero), and Stryke in Style (by Stryker). Unfortunately Fly In Style’s female progeny have largely been ill-fated but the Palentino mare Velvet Gem is racing currently. We extend our best wishes to John for continued luck with Mine All Mine and his other racing interests.  

The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owners of the Month award winners for March Bevan and Lynette Crowell part owners of Blissful Bay. The Crowells told us this about their lives in racing: We have always had a strong interest in horses which included Bevan being clerk of the course at the Balaklava races for many years. Blissful Bay is a gelding we bred ourselves by a local stallion from a brood mare given to us by Darryl Dodson and we promised to send her first foal to him to train. Darryl trained one of our first racehorses, Polar Sun, which was incidentally Claire Lindop’s first South Australian winner. We have bred or purchased some reasonably well preformed horses including One More Jack, Its Been A Battle, Nasho, Ustinov’s Fury & Blissful Bay. We are also part owners of Sghrippa, Dodd & a number of young horses coming through. We have cut back our breeding program to one or two foals per year but still follow racing closely. Blissful Bay is a four-year-old by Hualalai from Hungry Kiss a Sebring mare. At the time of writing his race record stands at 1 win and 1 second from six starts and earnings of $24,000 including over $8000 in Racing Rewards bonuses. His dam Hungry Kiss has only produced two to race so far with Blissful Bay the best. The granddam Discretionary (by Hurricane Sky) has produced the seven-time winner Magnusificent (by Magnus); and another seven-time winner of over $170,000 in Dangerous Breeding (by Wanted). The third dam Sovereign Ruby (by Sovereign Red) left two black type winners in Doubting (by Redoute’s Choice) who won five stakes races including the Group 2 Kewney Stakes with her six wins earning more than $780,000 and Special Edition (by Umatilla) who won a Group 3 VATC Blue Diamond Preview and was latter exported to Macau. Others of her progeny include Yellow And Black (by Western Symphony) who produced Boudi Woudi (by Easy Rocking) who was a listed winner in New Zealand. The Crowells maintain a strong involvement in SA racing and have had their share of success with several of the horses they mention, perhaps most notably Sghrippa. We wish them continued success in the future. Apologies but we were unable to obtain a photo.

The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month award winner for January is Jo Eltringham with Cork Harbour joins Gary Newton on the At The Barriers podcast – listen here

The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month award winner for February is Sam Scaffidi-Muta part owner of Sabaj. We spoke to Sam about his time in racing. Sam has bred and raced horses for many years tasting early success with three times black type winner Let Him Ride (by Mustin Lake). Other good performers Sam has been involved with over the years include Gamblin Guru (by New Approach) another three-time black type winner and Follow The Ride (by Don’t Say Halo) who won an SAJC Christmas Handicap. Several of Sam’s horses have been owned in partnership with Harry Perks and most have been bred on the limestone pastures of Mill Park Stud. Indeed, Sam bred stakes winner and promising stallion Peltzer (by So You Think). Currently Sam has around fifteen mares at stud including Sabaj’s dam Bouzy Sabaj is a three-year-old gelding by Manhattan Rain from the Uncle Mo mare Bouzy, at the time of writing he has won three and placed second in his four starts earning  a touch over $110,000. He his trained by Richard and Chantelle Jolly with Richard having won on Let Him Ride back in his riding days. Bouzy was unraced and has also produced the handy mare Tipsy Vixen who is by Foxwedge and is also raced by Sam. Tipsy Vixen has won three from 17 and just shy of $150,000. Sam sent Bouzy to Peltzer and that mating has produced the yet to race Bred ‘Em All, she has returned twice more to Peltzer. The granddam is Champagne Jane (by Starcraft) she was very lightly raced for one win but has left Pimm’s Party (by Street Boss) winner of three, and Legless Lady (by Foxwedge) another three-time winner amongst others. The third dam Victory Cry (by General Nediym) is the dam of listed winner Guard Of Honour (by Northern Meteor) and Run Fox Run (by Foxwedge) winner in South Africa. Like most breeders Sam is still searching for that elusive Group I winner, here’s hoping that Sabaj can take him some way down that path.

The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month award winner for January is Jo Eltringham with Cork Harbour. Jo share her racing story with us: My journey with Dean Saxon and the Stormy Park stable started 5 years ago, before I knew that COVID was going to step in and thwart any attempts to actually watch my own horses run for the best part of two years! But it’s a decision I’ll never regret as the stable offered everything I was looking for and prioritising as an owner, kept us fully up to date with excellent communications during that difficult period (as they still do now), and I feel lucky to have started my ownership journey the way I have with this crew. In mid 2022, we acquired Cork Harbour as a 3 year old, having commenced his racing career in Sydney. (Where he had 4 starts with Chris Waller for a maiden win)  Knowing Snitzel’s can be late maturing, we were ready to wait, but he did surprise us all with a win early in his 4 year old season – so we knew the talent was there to work with. As was a lack of luck, with Corky being the expert at consistently drawing the worst barriers possible.  It’s his special talent to date, but he makes up for it by leaving the barriers like an absolute rocket – it’s a joy to watch him fly out as we know he is feeling good and loving his racing. It was however a lean 5 year old season as an owner, while he did some growing and maturing, and Dean patiently went about building him up, tweaking the gear and generally working out how to get the best from him.  Ben (Price) and Alana (Livesey) have also been essential during this period, providing feedback and working with the team to get the best results. And with two wins so far this summer, plus him rarely placing outside the top 4, it’s certainly done the trick – he is our stable stalwart now! I am very much looking forward to seeing what the rest of summer and early autumn brings, both for Corky and for the rest of the Stormy Park family – which I truly love being a part of.  And I value being able to enjoy doing this, with the knowledge that when the time comes for him to stop racing, hopefully not for a long time yet, we’ll also be supporting Racing SA’s ‘whole of life commitment’ as Corky moves onto his next career. Cork Harbour by Snitzel out of a Pins mare Maritimo has a career record of 4 wins, 2 seconds and three thirds from 56 starts and earnings of just shy of $142,000. His wins have all been over sprint distances with the best being a win at Morphettville. His sire, Snitzel, has been a wonder at stud producing at the time of writing 148 stakes winners of 282 Black type races. His dam, Maritimo raced 4 times in New Zealand for 1 win at listed level over 1400 m. As well as Corky she has produced Molly Nails (by Tavistock) winner of 5 races and over $232,000 and three other fillies who are either lightly raced or yet to race. She has unfortunately deceased. The grand dam Miracle Miss (by O’Reilly) also produced Shirley’s Secret (by No Excuse Needed) in turn dam of Spot On Time (by Time Test) who has won 4 from nine starts. The third dam Mandate (by Sound Reason) produced the three time New Zealand Stakes winner Dating (by O’Rielly) a full sister to Miracle Miss. We love to see owners who persist with their horses and get as much enjoyment from them as Jo does. We wish her and the Saxon stable the very best going forward.

The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month award winner for December is Dennis Gardiner with Harley’N’Rose. Dennis told us: Harlyn N Rose is a 4 year old gelding, purchased in March22 at the Magic Millions in Adelaide by Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle from Summerset Park stud. He has had success with 2 wins in 19 starts with a record 2-1-5 with winnings of $146000. His first win was on the 21st January 2023 at Gawler ridden by Lachlan Neindorf in the $55000 2 year old Plate. The second win came in the Happy Birthday Brendan Plate on the 8th December 24 at Murray Bridge ridden by Alana Livesey. Also as a 2 year old he ran 3rd in the Breeders Stakes and 3rd in South Australian. Sires Produce both Group 3 races Harley had time off after this to have surgery on both knees to remove bone chips, his return to racing with his recent win was much more creditable. His journey has had its ups and downs but we all hope he can go on to bigger and better things.  Harley was bred by former SAROA treasurer Rob McBryde and is by Holler out of the Hawk Wing mare Zaraya Rose. The mare won twice up to 2100 m and has left several talented progeny including Saccharo (by Magnus) who has won over $430,000 and eleven races. He raced successfully in Melbourne before being sold to the Phillip Cole stable and going on to win good races in Darwin and Alice Springs and picking up both the Birdsville and Bedourie Cups along the way. The promising, if somewhat enigmatic Knightstown (by Valentia) is also out of Zaraya Rose, he has won three races and run a second and five thirds and earnt just over of $240,000 which includes a very healthy $80,000 in Racing Rewards bonuses. He has now retired The granddam Summer Magic (by Eagling) has produced several handy gallopers including Surmato (by Belloto) and Brewski (by Bel Espirt)   Harley has picked up over $40,000 in Racing Rewards Bonuses along the way and will hopefully bring more good fortune to Dennis and his other connections.

Recently awarded the Order of Australia Medal South Australian owner and breeder Harry Perks talks to to Gary Newton about racing and Goldrush Guru on the At The Barriers podcast. Harry won the The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month award winner for November courtesy of Goldrush Guru, winner of the Victoria Derby. Click here to listen to the interview

Click here to listen to the interview

Nicole Irwin joins Gary Newton on At The barriers to talk about her Owner of the Month win with Vexatious Dancer and her experiences with racing on Kangaroo Island Click here