Allie Umoff our vice president shown here with husband John Girvan, son Awgie and Jerry Chau after Danger Deal’s recent win. ABOUT SAROA Committee Vice President – Allie Umoff Occupation: Lawyer First Horse Owned: Miss Identified (Hussonet – More Than Fair), trained by Travis Doudle at Morphettville, and she has the distinction of being the first and only horse that I’ve ever strapped (so far!). Favourite Horse Owned: All of them!  If I have to choose, my top two are Miss Identified and Danger Deal (Rebel Raider – Queen’s Kiss), trained by Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas at Morphettville.  I can’t choose just one! Biggest Win: Miss Identified in the Triple M Provincial Super Series Final at Morphettville on 11 May 2019, 1800m, BM80, with Damien Oliver riding.  Miss Identified came from way back (as was her racing style), took the lead at the 200m mark, and dug in to hang on in a thrilling photo finish.  Best Horse you have seen: I got to see Black Caviar both times she raced at Morphettville and Winx in her final race in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on 13 April 2019. Favourite Race or Racetrack: The Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs.  It is a lifelong dream of mine to go to the Derby. Favourite Jockey: Glen Boss and Irad Ortiz Jr  Interests Outside of Racing: All horse sports (but particularly show jumping), yoga, and wine tasting. Reason for Joining SAROA Committee: I wanted to work on behalf of owners with other industry stakeholders to make sure our voice is heard and our interests are vigorously pursued.

Read More

Photos from the recent SAROA tour. Coffee on arrival   Morning Tea at Mill Park Mill Park Snitzel Filly Another Filly getting ready for the yearling sales. One of the horses in the agistment section of Mill Park   On the bus with Chris Watson at Mill Park In one of the agistment barns. Lunch at Finniss General Store   Another shot at lunch. The track at Finniss Lodge with some of their hay crop On the training track at Finniss Lodge One of our chauffeurs at Finniss Lodge  Wayne Francis Wayne’s vehicle.

Read More

  SAROA is distressed and appalled by the footage of thoroughbreds being slaughtered in a Queensland abattoir as shown on the ABC’s 7:30 Report. The practices within the abattoir were inhumane and disgusting. This is a matter for the Queensland authorities to deal with and it is the responsibility of animal authorities in each state to ensure that this sort of practice is condemned and that animals are protected from such cruelty. The issues for racing lie in the enforcement of tighter controls over the fate of horses when they are retired from racing. The health and well-being of racehorses is an issue that SAROA takes very seriously and considers to be of paramount importance. As reported at the AGM our President attended a horse welfare seminar during the year and we will continue to work with interested parties to ensure that the welfare of horses is a high priority for the industry. While it is true that once a horse leaves the control of industry participants the rules of racing no longer apply, as an industry we are clearly failing our horses. Industry-wide action is required. Policies and procedures are fine but they need to be enforced. We refer you to an article written by Tom Reilly CEO of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia which discusses the issues in some length http://www.tbaus.com/2019/10/18/tba-calls-for-a-national-task-force/ In particular we believe that the Senate inquiry into establishing a national traceability scheme for all horses is an important way to allow a horse’s whereabouts to be tracked. HorseSA in their submission to Senate have strongly supported the scheme and suggested that the ID records should include an “opt-out” of slaughter provision for the horse. We also refer you to TRSA’s Equine Welfare Policies https://www.theracessa.com.au/industry/retirement-of-racehorses

Read More

Long time committee member and treasurer Rob McBryde  (photo – Rising Sun Photography – Makoto Kaneko.) Treasurer – Rob McBryde Occupation: Partner, Summerset Park Stud; Gumeracha.  Semi-retired Town Planning Consultant First Horse Owned: Summer Magic, bred by Summerset Park, trained by John Barnes, won 2 Y O Hcp at Morphettville 1992 at second start. Favourite Horse Owned: Stralia (by Stratum out of Duchess Cara) – Sold from our Summerset Park Stud draft as a yearling at the Adelaide MM Sales in 2011 and we retained 10%.  Won first two starts as a late 2 YO at Flemington, then ran 2nd to Snitzerland in Danehill Stakes G2 at third start as a 3 Y O, then sold to Hong Kong interests for a large sum and raced as Lucky Double Eight. Biggest Win: Banderilla in Star of Christmas Series Final Holdfast Insurance Hcp at Morphettville, Boxing Day 2010 (the last time my mother attended the races with us).  We raced her on our own, trained by Jon O’Connor, ridden by Todd Pannel. Best Horse you have seen: Danehill, when he stood at Coolmore Stud, Hunter Valley, NSW. Favourite Race or Racetrack: any race or racetrack when our horses win! Favourite Jockey: Jamie Kah Interests Outside of Racing: Aviation – gained Private Pilot Licence 1969 and have since flown over large parts of Australia as far as Melbourne to Darwin, much of Northern Territory and South Australia. Reason for Joining SAROA Committee: Concerned to contribute to the advancement of the benefits, privileges and prizemoney for South Australian racehorse owners.  

Read More

We will progressively add some information about each of our committee members to the website – starting with our president Ken Cock. President – Ken Cock Occupation Involved in education all my working life. Started teaching science at Kadina High School, Ended up as principal at Christies Beach High School before heading off to Jakarta for 13 years to work in the area of teacher development across Indonesia.  Now retired from all that First Horse Owned Wow going back in history now; about 50 years. The first horse was a filly by the name of Solsplash trained by Ron Dini. Don’t think she ran a place. With a group of friends we raced a couple of other horses with Ron…..unfortunately with very limited success Favourite Horse Owned After returning from Jakarta about 7 years ago contacted Leon MacDonald and took a share in a horse called Snip’n’Run. He won his first race start and went on to be quite successful but my favourite horse to race is Wasabi Bob that with a group of good friends is giving us some great thrills in racing. Biggest Win. We won the Lealani Stakes, a Group 3 race at Morphettville with C’est Beau La Vie. Again trained by Leon. Over time my wife and I have developed a great friendship with the MacDonalds. Through the stable we have met many others who are passionate about racing and in time become friends. This is one of the great things about racing meeting a wide range of people from all sorts of backgrounds. Best Horse you have seen As a kid I remember being at Cheltenham to see Tulloch race. I remember the day so well. He was in my eyes a magnificent looking animal. But then there has been Black Caviar and Winks both of which I saw racing several times.  But Wasabi Bob is the best Favourite Race or Racetrack Every year we head off to Melbourne for the Cup carnival. Love the 4-day Flemington meeting with all the colour, glamour and champion horses, jockeys and trainers. Why did you join SAROA committee? From the time I was in short pants I have followed horse racing and getting enormous enjoyment from the sport. With time on my hands after retiring I believed it was time to give something back to racing. Joining SAROA and getting onto the committee was a way I saw to do this. Love the passion for racing amongst the committee members.              

Read More