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A retired racehorse that is similar to a ‘Formula One car’ may not sound like he has the best temperament to make the transition to the dressage arena. But it has been the journey of former galloper Refero that shows persistence pays off, according to Queensland Off-The-Track Acknowledged Retrainer Danielle Hess. The gelding had two wins from just 10 starts at the track under the guise of leading Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan. Retiring from racing in November 2022, Refero was moved to the Gollan’s spelling facility at River Junction. It was there that he came to the attention of Danielle who was looking for a new addition to her Kobble Creek retraining stable. “We know Tony and Jane Gollan quite well and I'd asked Jane to keep an eye out,” Danielle said. “Jane said to me that he was a horse with a lovely temperament, and to come and have a look at him - I didn't even go and have a look. I just said, ‘I'll come and pick him up!’ “Refero was meant to be a project…but he definitely wasn't my first pick to be a team member when I first had him in the stable. “He's been with us now for two and a half years, and we sort of started getting it together about this time last year, and I started seeing the promise in him.” The thoroughbred out of I Am Invincible/Ella Listo is known as “Roy” around the Bunya Springs Equestrian facility, which Danielle runs with partner and fellow eventing rider James Ferrier. Danielle admits it had been a challenge initially to bring Roy up to speed with his new life. “He's quite a hot horse due to his breeding, they're quite known for their life after racing being a little bit trickier,” Danielle said. “My partner refers to Roy as a Formula One car, specifically a Red Bull car, in that he's quite touchy and he's finicky. "He has ridden him a little bit and he said he's very twitchy, and your balance in your seat has to be very quiet but very adjustable. “You've got to get him right, but if you've got him driving forward, he's the most incredible horse.” Danielle engaged the help of QOTT Subsidised Lessons Program Coach Rebel Morrow to help bring Roy up to speed with eventing. The 31-year-old said the challenge of taking on the six-year-old gelding had helped her in the development of her own skill set. “It took a long time for us to put it all together, and I've had to really work on myself and find more tools in the toolbox for him,” Danielle said. “He's not how I trained horses in the past, but that's why I went and got a bit of help from another QOTT Approved Coach to help along the way, especially in those early days with him. “I've known Rebel for many, many years, and she's had great success on thoroughbreds, and it was just a no-brainer for me. “I think there has been a big change in my riding - not every thoroughbred is going to be the same, and he's opened my eyes into how to school them in another way. "Without Rebel saying, 'Keep this horse, he's going to be really cool,' I may have had him more as a project versus now a horse that is on my team." Roy has since gone on to become a star in in the dressage arena, winning the QOTT high point award at the RM Equestrian Centre Mike Williams CC & QLD OTT ODE in April. With the thoroughbred recently moving up into the one-star class, Danielle is now eyeing off the Equimillion event hosted by Racing NSW in October. “He was brilliant last year down there, and finished fifth in both his classes…we are trying to get to more interstate events,” Danielle said. "Because they are up against performance-bred horses, getting a bit more acknowledgement for the thoroughbreds in these classes and getting up in those places is really exciting. “He's got a really good gallop on him. I think that as an eventing horse, especially at a higher level, making time on cross country and having a thoroughbred that can be fit is such a necessity, because it does put you above the warmbloods. “It gives you that little bit of an advantage against the warmbloods – thoroughbreds may not always compare to performance-bred horses when it comes to movement, but speed and agility is something they do have, and it's something that I can see that Roy is going to have up the grades. “It looks really promising that he's going to be quite a quick horse on cross country, and that's a really important phase in our sport to get right.” Danielle first teamed up with an OTT thoroughbred as her first horse as a teenager while part of the Hendra Pony Club. Prior to becoming a full-time professional rider, she worked for the Education Department at Racing Queensland, before heading to work at Belcam Stud to pursue her dream to ride and coach as a profession. She eventually created Bunya Springs Equestrian, and now has six horses in total at her property, including four horses within the QOTT Program. Who Da Kid, formerly trained by the late Pat Duff, was Danielle’s first success story, being her first horse to reach the two-star class in eventing. Chris Waller and the Corey & Kylie Geran team are among other trainers who have sent their former racehorses to be trained by Danielle. Joining the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer Program in January 2024 has further confirmed her love and passion for her profession. “The best part is getting to do this every day of the week…the amount of people that I've met throughout the QOTT Program has been great and I've met so many new trainers,” Danielle said. “Just building such an understanding of that link between the racing industry through to the equestrian industry, being that in-between person is so special. “I think a lot of people forget that we are extremely lucky to have those contacts, and I love hearing from them, and they love hearing about how their horses are going. “I spoke recently with Corey Geran about two of the horses that I've got here from him and he's based up at Toowoomba. “I think that's really lovely - there's been a big change in the industry with how we can meet these two different sports and have these beautiful relationships with people.” Danielle will also be looking for further showjumping success with former galloper Lockheed Lightning. The pair finished 15th in this year's Queensland Off-The-Track Cup Final at the Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping Day. Determined to climb up the standings in next year's Final, Danielle and Lockheed Lightning finished inside the top ten at the recent QOTT Queensland qualifier at Caboolture, booking their spot at the 2026 event on the Gold Coast. Danielle said the increase in the prize money pool to $100,000 was also providing plenty of motivation. "It's really, really exciting. I think that sort of money, it is life changing for a lot of us, especially who are doing it full time as our living," Danielle said. "That sort of money can go into supporting thoroughbreds even more. And I'm just so excited that we get to be part of it, it's just an absolute pleasure."

WANTED - Mares over 15 years of aged being bred this season to participate in an aged broodmare fertility study. Mares can be dry or with a foal at foot to be enrolled. The trial will involve administration of an oral supplement to improve fertility outcomes. If your stud has 10 or more mares that fit this category – please get in touch! jeclulow@csu.edu.au Project summary: Improving Fertility in Older Mares: Can the Effects of Aging be Reversed? | AgriFutures Australia

We’re excited to share the very first episode of the AgriFutures Unearthed podcast — a series exploring innovation, research, and transformation across rural industries. Kicking things off, we spotlight the Thoroughbred Horses Program. Join Dr Josie Hardwick and Craig Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock as they dive into the latest findings from project PRO-015572. From breeding strategies to future-focused insights, this episode unpacks key outcomes set to shape the future of Australia’s thoroughbred industry. 🎙️ Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation — tune in now and discover what’s next for the world of thoroughbred horses. Endoscopy of the upper respiratory tract at Australian thoroughbred yearling sales: can we do better? 👉 Listen to the Episode below: on Spotify on Apple Podcasts

The TBQA and TBA are rallying against Racing Australia’s hardline compliance with foal registration deadlines. This legislation presents a major welfare concern and could leave a significant number of the 2025 foal crop banned from racing and sitting idle in a paddock.  Racing Australia is taking a very harsh stance in enforcing these Rules of Racing regarding the lodging of foal declarations in stipulated time frames. The lodgement costs are - up to 30 days is $155, 30-60 days is $305 after 60 days it is $500 and be heard by a tribunal for eligibility. Australian breeders risk having their horses permanently banned from racing if they fail to meet these foal registration obligations. I feel that this impost on breeders will have a very detrimental effect on horse welfare because people may not be able to afford the fees and as a result the horse will be left in the paddock. These stipulations will adversely affect the foal crop and race fields which will in turn eventually have an impact on wagering; however, the welfare of these horses is the most immediate and pressing concern. Added to these ridiculous fees, Racing Australia’s IT registration program is archaic, and the foal ownership return system is time consuming for both large and small breeders. Along with arguing against the registration fees, the TBA has asked RA to upgrade their IT system; however, at this stage there’s been no positive progress on either matter.

In a heartwarming coincidence, four of Queensland’s long-standing studs shared the spotlight on the final day of the Brisbane Winter Carnival - Tattersall’s Tiara Raceday on June 28, which also marked the last Group 1 event of the season. The Group 3 Eureka Stud W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) was won by Metalart, a four-year-old gelding trained by Kelly Schweida and ridden by Jason Collett. By Better Than Ready out of Exquisite Art, Metalart now boasts an impressive record: 14 starts, 8 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, and $432,800 in prize money — including $31,000 in bonuses. Better Than Ready was purchased and syndicated by Richard and Joanie Forster of Yarramalong Stud, who remain the major shareholders. He stands at Lyndhurst Stud, managed by Jeff and Griff Kruger. The dam, Exquisite Art, is owned by the Nolan family at Raheen Stud, while the race itself was sponsored by the McAlpine family of Eureka Stud.  It was a fitting celebration of Queensland’s breeding strength - a true shared success for four of our most respected studs.

TBQA Committee Member Paul Knight proudly represented the TBQA at The Industry School (TIS) Rookies Celebration and Careers Expo in June. This event was a valuable opportunity for students and their families to connect with industry leaders, engage in meaningful conversations, and gain insights into future career pathways. The TBQA works in close partnership with The Industry School’s Equine Academy to provide students with practical training opportunities on stud farms. The aim is to inspire graduates of the three-year Equine Academy course to pursue careers in the breeding industry.  With a continuing shortage of qualified stud staff, this collaboration plays a vital role in strengthening the industry's future workforce. The TBQA is proud to support this initiative and extends sincere thanks to Paul for volunteering his time to represent the breeding industry at the Expo.

Lauren Abbott has tasted success with hundreds of race wins as both a jockey and a trainer but now she is in line for an accolade of a different sort. Abbott is one of two finalists for the Queensland Off-The-Track Thoroughbred Care and Welfare Award at this year’s Australian Stud and Stable Staff Awards. The 45-year-old juggles training around half a dozen horses for racing, along with retraining 12 former racehorses, as part of her role as a QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer. Abbott said the nomination came as a bit of a shock after she only recently joined the QOTT Program to make her retraining endeavours official. “I was actually pretty humbled and I was surprised actually, because I’ve only been a QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer since May last year,” Abbott said. “It was great to be nominated - my friend (jockey) Georgie Cartwright actually nominated me and it was great to make the final two. “I’ve been in the industry since I was a teenager as a jockey but doing the off-the-track retraining officially…it’s been less than 12 months since I began in the program.” Abbott had a strong equestrian background as a teenager before starting her jockey apprenticeship as an 18-year-old. She rode over 300 winners throughout Victoria and Queensland in the saddle, before retiring from race riding in 2011. Abbott switched to helping run then-husband Brad Herne’s stable at Eagle Farm before deciding to set up her own operation in 2018. While racing on the track kept her extremely busy, she has always found the time to retrain retired racehorses off it. Rather than sending her horses off to be retrained elsewhere, Abbott decided she would take on the retired thoroughbreds herself. “In May last year, I had two beautiful horses retire…they just got to the stage where they weren't competitive, and I couldn't find anyone to take them,” Abbott said. “I used to just have my stables at Hendra which was a bit hard to do any retraining at, but my partner and I moved to Logan Village to acreage and I thought, I will do it myself. “Trainers started ringing me because I'm familiar to them, and it really has got to the stage now where you know at least one trainer a week will ring me and want me to take their horse. “So it’s just sort of snowballed from there and now I've never been busier!” Abbott has retrained several of top Brisbane trainer Kelly Schweida’s horses, with Boomster and Magic Conqueror coming on board after their recent retirements, and Grandma’s Love rehomed last year. Trevino, a gelding who was previously under the care of Chris Meagher, has also enjoyed success in dressage under Abbott's tutelage. The retrainer said she will often send the trainers photos of former racehorses as they adapt to their post-racing lives, something the conditioners get great satisfaction out of. “Kelly is quite funny - he doesn't say much when I send him a photo, but then I might go to the races or trials the next week and his staff will all tell me about how Kelly showed everyone the photos and how he's quite proud of how his horses are going,” Abbott said. “The Meagher family as well - they've won races all over the world and get much larger thrills than having an off-the-track horse, but I sent Chris a couple of videos and a photo of Trevino after he won a dressage competition. “The absolute delight in Chris' voice, it still makes me laugh that he was just so happy to see how well one of his horses was going. “I think that's what I love the most - trainers get a bad rap for thinking that we are just heartless, and we don't really care about the horses, and once they finish racing, we just want to see them gone. “A lot of the time, it's more so just logistics and it's not that the trainer wants to just hurry up and get rid of them, they need the box to bring the other horses in. “I laugh about the thrill that the trainers actually get out of seeing these horses going on and competing and doing other things.” Abbott credits the QOTT Subsidised Lessons Program coaches Gary Lung and Rebel Morrow for helping hone her craft. Having enjoyed a 16-year career in the saddle, it is also that experience as a hoop that Abbott believes has helped her retraining. “As I started when I was 18, there's not much that they could do that would surprise me and as a jockey, we don't get a list of what the horse does or doesn't do before we get on them in the mounting yard - we just get on and we go,” Abbott said. “I guess I have that sort of approach - once they get here, I just go and work it out from there. “You just know how they behave and I'm a bit casual and a bit relaxed with them, and it makes them a bit casual and relaxed. “I have been riding them forever so there’s nothing that they do that would shock me.” With almost 20 horses in total that are at different stages of their racing career or post-racing life, Abbott admits it can be tough to juggle the dual roles. She has already thought ahead to wrapping up in the race conditioning and concentrating on full-time retraining. “I've got a couple of young racehorses here, but I've got a few that are in their last preparations now so I'm definitely scaling down my training,” Abbott said. “I've got a lot more off-the-track horses, and I feel like I'm providing trainers with a good service. “I try not to say no and I try to be the port of call for the trainers, so that they don't have to stress about what's going to happen to their horse. “But it is tough because there's only one of me and trying to fit them all in, it is a bit of a challenge. Abbott is also keen to encourage more people with an on-track background to become involved in post-racing endeavours. “I think racing people are probably a little bit more like me, where I'm a little bit unorthodox with my approach,” Abbott said. “I might have a horse for a couple of weeks, and I'm quite happy to take them to a competition straight away. “I really think education is the most priceless thing we can give them - the more educated we can make them when they leave here, they more chance they are of having a happy, healthy life. “I think if we had more racing people taking on retraining, it would help the industry a lot.” The winners of the 2025 Australian Stud and Stable Staff Awards will be announced on the Gold Coast on Monday, May 26. Click here to see the full list of finalists.

Aquis Stallions is proud to announce Prost - the explosive, Group 2 and 3 winning son of Snitzel – as the latest addition to our stallion roster for 2025. A $650,000 Magic Millions yearling, Prost boasts one of the most powerful juvenile sprint pedigrees in the Australian stud book. He is a three-quarter brother to Golden Slipper winner Shinzo and Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Exhilarates, and out of a half-sister to Samaready, winner of the Blue Diamond and the Champion Female Sprinter of 2013/14. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Prost was all class on the track from day one. At 2 Prost was an ultra-impressive winner of the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes, setting a class record and becoming the fastest winner over 1100m in the race’s history, eclipsing past winners like Not A Single Doubt and Sebring. As a 3YO, Prost again showed his quality by capturing the time honoured and historic Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes over 1600m at Randwick, adding his name to an honour roll featuring stars like Lonhro and General Nediym. “Prost had unbridled speed, Group placed as a Pre-Christmas two-year-old, he then returned to win a major Golden Slipper lead up (in a record time) and had the underlining class to win a Group 2 over the Randwick Mile at 3.” said Aquis Director of Sales Jonathan Davies. “I strongly encourage breeders to inspect Prost, his race record and pedigree are impressive and fully transparent, but it’s the exceptional quality and type that separates Prost from others in his price range”. Prost will stand at Aquis Stallions, Canungra QLD for a fee of $13,200 (inc. GST). The 2025 Aquis Stallions roster offers breeders an incredible mix, proven results, Group 1 sprinters, all combined with the best national and international bloodlines at fees that are all priced (and supported by a package of incentives and breeder benefits) with the reality of greater economic challenges and the specifics of the breeding market firmly in mind. 2025 Roster Stallion 2025 Fee (inc GST) Prost **NEW $13,200 Kobayashi $13,200 Jonker $12,500 Lean Mean Machine $8,800 Officiating (USA) $8,800 Stronger $8,800 Glenfiddich $4,400 Please contact our sales team at Aquis Stallions for more information or to arrange a private viewing of our new stallion Prost or any of our other stallions. • Jonathan Davies (Director of Sales) - 0423 033 858 • Paul Knight (Business Development Manager) – 0410 683 469 • Penelope Crowley (Nominations) - 0427 857 788

The Australian thoroughbred breeding industry, the second largest in the world, delivered a solid economic performance in 2022 – 23, contributing $1.68 billion to the national economy and supporting 9,268 full-time equivalent jobs, according to new independent research released today by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and AgriFutures Australia. The report, released to coincide with the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date snapshot of the industry’s impact – equipping breeders and state-based associations with critical data to support long-term planning, funding applications and policy engagement. Conducted by economic consultants IER and commissioned by the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program, the study reveals the industry has grown by 45% since 2016-17, underscoring its vital contribution to regional economies, job creation and community life. Speaking ahead of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, President of TBA, Basil Nolan (Snr), said the figures provide compelling evidence of the industry’s strength and increasing importance to Australia’s rural economy. “These results confirm what many of us in the industry already know – thoroughbred breeding is not just thriving, it’s a major economic engine for regional Australia,” Mr Nolan said. “We contribute more than $1.6 billion to the economy, support thousands of jobs, and sustain local communities across the country. This industry is built on passion but powered by people, investment, and long-term vision. “This research gives us the facts we need to advocate confidently – for funding, infrastructure, and recognition of the vital role breeding plays in Australia’s racing ecosystem and rural prosperity.” Key highlights from the 2022 – 23 season include: 510 active stallions and 12,585 foals registered from 19,454 broodmares 6,130 individuals involved in breeding or owning broodmares or foals 16,711 employees and 10,603 volunteers supporting the industry nationwide $1.43 billion in direct industry spending 1,410 thoroughbreds exported, reflecting Australia’s influence in global bloodstock markets 62% of economic activity concentrated in New South Wales. General Manager of Levied & Emerging Industries at AgriFutures Australia, Samantha Beresford, said the report provides critical insights to shape the future of both the industry and regional Australia. “This data doesn’t just reflect past performance – it’s a launchpad for the next chapter of growth in Australian thoroughbred breeding,” Ms Beresford said. “The thoroughbred breeding industry uniquely combines economic firepower, community connection, and rural jobs. It sustains thousands of livelihoods, develops career pathways, and brings global attention to our regions.” “With credible, high value data, both industry and government are empowered to make informed decisions that support long-term investment, workforce development, and stronger, more resilient regional economies.” The report also highlights the industry’s strong community value. Thoroughbred breeding drives volunteerism, fosters multigenerational involvement, and provides education and training opportunities across Australia. Notably, more than 40% of breeders have increased their involvement in thoroughbred breeding over the past three years, and over half intend to maintain or grow their roles in the years ahead. To explore the full findings and gain a deeper understanding of the industry’s economic and community impact, stakeholders and interested parties are encouraged to read the full report and snapshot , available on the AgriFutures Australia website.