Combining motherhood and a young family with the role of Stud Manager at a leading boutique Hunter Valley nursery means you don’t get much time to watch TV!
This week we find out more about Jade Rossington, Stud Manager at Willow Park Stud.
1/Where are you from, and what got you in involved in the thoroughbred industry?
I grew up at Lower Belford (the lower Hunter) on my parent’s small scale thoroughbred stud. From day dot I loved horses, the sales (the only days I ever had off school was to attend the Inglis mixed sales at Randwick!), pedigrees, organisation and I wasn’t afraid of hard work. I started at Willow Park in 2005 when I came back from America.
2/ What does a workday in the life of Jade Rossington look like?
That varies very much day to day, depending on the time of year. Currently, first thing I do is check in with Brett (my 2IC) to see if there’s been any new additions overnight, and we discuss and plan the day ahead .
I then help get mares in for vet work, vetting can take anywhere from a couple hours to most of the morning to get through. As we go, I organise the covers, transport for covers and updates to the stallion farms. The remainder of the day can involve a combination of farm organisation, client liaising, looking over foals/horses, catching up on office work or helping out on the stud anywhere that’s needed.
3/ Who is your favourite horse and why?
Samantha Miss was the first million-dollar horse I prepared for sale. I led her through the ring and then went to the races and watched her win a couple Group 1’s. She was a champion in my eyes!
4/ Tell us about the best day you had at the races or at the sales, and what made it memorable for you?
I love any day at the races!!
Two sale moments stand out... as mentioned in previous question, Samantha Miss, at the sales I remember parading her for (purchaser) Ron Croghan in his wheelchair, he said to me, if she jumps on me, I won’t buy her! Lucky she didn’t jump on him!....
The other sale moment was a massive personal achievement. It was breeding (in partnership with Lisa Richards) a Starspangledbanner colt that we sold for $150,000 at the Magic Millions a couple of years ago. We have his yearling half-brother by So You Think who is a belter, that we are taking to Adelaide in 2022!
5/ What is your favourite show on Netflix or TV?
I don’t watch TV! Between juggling work and spending as much time with my beautiful family, my next favourite thing to do is sleep!!!
6/ When travel opens again where is the first place you will go?
Haha, well we have a weekend at the end of November booked at Shoal Bay caravan park! Hopefully we can get there!
7/ What is your favourite cuisine and restaurant?
Cuisine is a tough one, maybe Spanish tapas! Or Italian. Favourite restaurant Del Punto.
8/ Name two things on your bucket list?
I would love to swim with whales!! So terrifyingly exhilarating?! And do an African Safari!
9/ What’s the best advice someone has ever given you?
Treat others how you wish to be treated.
10/ Tell us one thing that not many people may know about you?
I led a stallion (Nanutarra) through the sales ring at Inglis Newmarket at age 17.
