A successful spring campaign often has its beginnings in a rejuvenating winter spell under warm Queensland sunshine and so it has been for Annabel Neasham’s Cox Plate contenders Zaaki (GB) and Mo’Unga, who both enjoyed their midyear break at Hinterland Thoroughbreds.
Situated at Canungra on the Gold Coast Hinterland, this picturesque spelling and pre-training farm is run by experienced horsewoman Sarah Gardiner, who has worked alongside many of the country’s top trainers including Peter Moody, Gerald Ryan, Chris Waller, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Annabel Neasham, Kacy Fogden, Steven O’Dea, Tony Gollan, Toby Edmonds, Ciaron Maher, Mick Price and the Lindsay Park team.
A childhood spent surrounded by horses has led to a lifelong passion which has now evolved into a very successful business.
Whilst studying a double degree in Business and Agriculture at University of New England, Sarah worked for racehorse trainers around the Ballina area which led to a job with Aquis.
She was involved in the inception of Aquis Farm and worked across all aspects of the business – breeding, racing and education -for five years before deciding to start her own business Hinterland Thoroughbreds.
“It’s a very exciting accomplishment for our team to have both Zaaki and Mo’Unga running in the Cox Plate,” said Sarah Gardiner.
“They both spelled with us during the winter and did all their pre-training here, so it’s been very satisfying to see them come out and win Group I races this spring.”
Hinterland Thoroughbreds is a one stop shop for spelling, breaking in and pre-training with state-of -the-art facilities ensuring all horses have a safe environment in which to flourish.
Hinterland Thoroughbreds offers:
- 1800m Grass Track
- 1700m Synthetic track
- 1200m Sand Track
- 40 Individual Stables
- Sand Arena
- Covered Round Yards
- Access to an indoor arena
- Ability to ride out on farm
- Over 50 Spelling Paddocks with Shelters for both individualised and group spelling and safe fencing
- Horse Walkers
- Treadmill
“No one horse is treated the same, they all have an individualised program depending on their needs at that particular time,” said Gardiner, who has been entrusted with the care of many of Annabel Neasham’s rising star juveniles including Exceed and Excel colt Nobel, who topped the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when selling for $2.1 million.
“We have some very exciting two year-olds coming through the system this year - being broken in, spelled and then educated at Hinterland in Nobel, Wild Calm, Narnia and Psychiatrist.”
All of the above competed successfully at the official Randwick juvenile barrier trials on September 20 and American Pharoah (USA) filly Wild Calm ran a terrific race on debut to finish strongly for fourth in the Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes.
Given her close connection to Aquis, Sarah has worked with a good number of youngsters by their promising young sires Spieth and Invader and been well impressed by their stock.
“I’m particularly excited about the Spieth progeny as they’re already showing good speed on the track and I have a couple of really nice two year-olds by Invader in the barn at the moment,” Gardiner revealed.
“Annabel Neasham trains the half-sister to Macroura, a little filly by Invader and she does look like a sharp type.”
For those interested in keeping tabs on this little Invader filly , her name is Sunshine in Paris!
