The Magic Millions/Atkins Photography SA Owner of the Month award winner for August was David Brook part owner of Ferivia.
David Brook – Outback Cattleman, Lifetime Breeder
David Brook, 77, is best known as an outback cattleman with five Queensland stations covering 30,000 square kilometres, but for more than half a century he has also been a dedicated racehorse breeder and administrator. As long-time president of the Birdsville Race Club, Brook and his family have played a central role in maintaining one of Australia’s most iconic race meetings.
A passionate student of pedigrees, Brook often studies bloodlines going back as far as 15 generations, preferring to breed racehorses from affordable matings rather than purchase expensive yearlings. He owns around 12 broodmares and has purchased just one yearling in the past two decades that being the Tivaci colt Matahga a listed winner. His approach has delivered winners across multiple levels, including Terbium (Zeditave Stakes, Gr 3) and seven Birdsville Cup victories, most recently with Neodium the cup winner in 2023 and 2024
Brook’s methods highlight his belief in thoughtful in-breeding and reinforcement of proven lines. His decision to send Streetcar Express to Astern produced Ferivia, winner of this year’s Quezette Stakes (Gr 3, Caulfield). The mating combined duplications of Danehill and Rory’s Jester through Exceed And Excel and Not A Single Doubt, reinforced by Sadler’s Wells and recurring lines of Mahmoud. Brook regards such in-breeding as key to both speed and stamina influences, with Ferivia showing the potential to progress beyond 1200 metres and toward Guineas targets.
For Brook, the challenge has always been to breed competitive horses through knowledge rather than cheque book. His family syndicate, Saddlers Knife, continues to race homebred stock nationwide, underlining the depth of his contribution to Australian racing as an owner and breeder.
The Saddlers Knife syndicate has experienced a great run in recent months exemplified by the two Group race wins by Ferivia. The filly by Astern out of the Not A Single Doubt mare Streetcar Express has currently raced five times for 3 wins and a second and earnings of $346,600, having recently added the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude.
Streetcar Express was lightly raced before heading to the breeding barn where she has also produced Effline (by Terango – David’s stallion) winner of one at Charleville and Effusiv (by Pride Of Dubai) winner of one from three starts.
The granddam Streetcar Stella (by Blevic) was also lightly raced with one win from her eight starts with a further 3 minor placings. She has produced amongst others, Streetcar Heaven (by Stryker) winner of two races; and Belle Reve (by I Am Invincible) also a two-time winner.
The third dam Stellar Fille (by Filante) left two stakes winners; Streetcar Isabelle (by Danerich) who won an Oakbank Stakes and is the dam of a stakes winner in Streetcar Stranger (By Stratum) and also Streetcar Magic (by Blevic) winner of a DC Mckay Stakes and a total of seven races and more than $300,000.
Other progeny of Stellar Fille include Streetcar Valour (by Lion Heart) who won four and was placed in eighteen other starts netting more than $210,000) and Streetcar Illusion (by Stratum) winner of three and more than ($140,000)
Ferivia looks set to extend the success of the Streetcar family which began with Stellar Fille.
The contribution of David Brook and his family to racing both in South Australia and in outback Queensland is undeniable and we wish them continuing success.