VINERY and breeders the calibre of John Singleton are leaving no stone unturned in support of American wonderhorse and Vinery resident Big Brown, feeding the Kentucky Derby winner an endless supply of high-class mares.
Singleton’s Strawberry Hills Stud is home to arguably the best boutique band of mares in Australia and many of them are about to deliver foals by the former champion galloper this spring.
“To have successful breeders like John behind one of our stallions is a huge advantage,” says Vinery Stud’s Conor Phelan.
“The mares at Strawberry Hills are second to none and few stallions would have served a better quality book of mares in their first season than what Big Brown covered.”
Big Brown covered 131 mares in his first season, a number that is right for the horse, Phelan said.
“That affords him opportunity to get the runners in his first year, but it also gives breeders a chance in that it doesn’t flood the market.
“It’s an ideal scenario. We are eagerly awaiting Big Brown’s first southern Hemisphere crop this Spring.”
Most of those horses will more than likely find their way to the stables of Gai Waterhouse, who is hoping to emulate her stunning success by combining with another Vinery tenant, More Than Ready.
To that end, Waterhouse is certain Singleton’s investment in Big Brown will pay similar dividends.
“Everyone has ‘Singo’ down as a lucky owner,” Waterhouse said recently, “but he’s not lucky, he’s just very good at breeding topclass racehorses.
“I don’t think ‘Singo’ gets the credit he deserves.
“He has got the best boutique band of broodmares in the country that goes right back to a wonderful mare my father trained, Denise’s Joy.
“He puts his mares to the best stallions like More Than Ready and the results are phenomenal.
“More Than Ready is a super sire and ‘Singo’ is on to another winner with his new stallion BigBrown.”
