Wingate Farm has wow factor in two new sires

Wingate Farm principal Jake Stockton has every reason to be beaming after two new stallions arrived at his NSW property last week in readiness for the coming harness racing breeding season.

“I thought I’d won the lottery. I’ve seen some lovely horses over the years, but these two are absolute stunning,” Stockton said.

Pacing sire Father Nuno (Somebeachsomewhere) and his square-gaiting counterpart Fast As The Wind (Cantab Hall) will join Wingate Farm’s established sires TinTin In America (Mcardle) and Be Happy Mach (Mach Three).

“We are so excited and already there’s been a good list of early bookings.  Fast As The Wind is getting a lot of interest from Victorian breeders, who are looking to cover all bases,” Stockton, who runs Wingate Farm with his partner Jessica, said.

Read more about Fast As The Wind here.

“There’s uncertainty over the border and with the successful Breed NSW Scheme, where breeders receive payments with the notification of a live foal, I’ve got great confidence.  I think we’re the best place to breed and own standardbreds at the moment,” he said.

Stockton said the two new horses to arrive at his 150-acre farm, at Alfredtown, near Wagga Wagga, were in quarantine for four weeks in the USA and then a further fortnight in Auckland, New Zealand.

“We’re rapt and really excited for the new season.  Father Nuno is a full brother to the number one sire Captaintreacherous (standing at stud for $30K), offers the best bloodlines in the world. There are none better than that family,” he said.

“Father Nuno was a $360K yearling and won 15 races, all paced in 1.50 or better, with a best time of 1.48-3.”

Stockton said fresh and chilled semen will be available and there will be discounts for multiple mares.

“We’ve been offered a few trotting sires in recent years, but didn’t think it was the right time,” he said.

“But we’re thrilled to have Fast As The Wind.  He’s from an outstanding family in the USA. Warrawee Michelle, a product of his half-sister, is the best trotting three-year-old this season and recently took out the Hambletonian, running quicker time than the colts and geldings’ division.”

Be Happy Mach is now in his third season at stud.

“He’s done a full circle with us,” Stockton said.

“We bred him and then sold him. He was trained by Clayton (Tonkin) and Emma (Stewart) and was an outstanding race horse, winning 10 of 12 (over $340K) and taking out the Australian 2yo of the Year award.

“He broke down and after he had an unsuccessful rehab program, we bought him back. We love his first crop of yearlings and they’ll be offered at the sales this year.”

The final stallion in the Wingate roster, Kiwi-bred Tintin In America, is noted as sire of the world’s fastest ever mare in Shartin (46 wins from 68 starts).

“Tintin just keeps going from strength to strength and no doubt he’ll be well patronized again,” Stockton said.

“We’ll be breeding from 30 mares of our own this coming season. We’ve got a great studmaster in Roger Strong, who will be having his third season with us, but has over 30 years’ experience behind him.”

Stockton was born into harness racing, but lost touch with the industry when his father Wayne died and went on to become a bricklayer.

“I was only very young when he passed away. Dad was a hobby trainer at Wagga. My grandfather Les was also involved in the sport, having a stud in the Riverina and at Shepparton,” he said.

The young tradie made a life-changing decision when in 2003, at just 19, he bought broodmare Mataranka Molly in foal to Panorama for $6000.

The granddaughter of champion mare Hyperstat would produce five winners of more than $600,000 and set the foundations for Stockton’s plans to establish Wingate Farm.

“That was a huge kick-start and came along at the right time to set us up. Her first foal was Rotkara Rama (Panorama), who went okay, but then came Mach Wiper (Mach Three) ($282K) and an old favorite in Stirling William (Attorney General) ($217K),” Stockton said.

“Luvin Miss Molly who is the daughter of Mataranka Molly has had two foals to race who are both winners – A Lot Of Luvin (Somebeachsomewhere) (4 wins) and Agiftfromtheangels (10 wins) (Sweet Lou).

“When I was young, my dream was to foal down, rear and then race or sell, so this is just a dream come true, really.  I gave up bricklaying and this is my third season full-time with the horses,” he said.

“Our focus is to try and offer the best bloodlines out there and to stand them for as little as we can, so we can get as many people involved as possible in the sport.”
Contacts:

Phone – (0428) 527 998

Email – office@wingatefarm.com.au

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink