The year 2007 finished on a brighter note with things getting back to a bit more like normal and a structure slowly falling in to place for the stud’s commitments early on in the New Year. A return to conventional race programs also gave us something to celebrate as we prepare for the 2008 yearling sale series ahead…

The winning form of Testy in Adelaide has given the Riverdene Stud team much satisfaction as the daughter of Testa Rossa was bred, born, raised and sold by our outfit.

A chestnut filly from the imported broodmare Musical D’Accord (USA), Testy was among our consignment presented at the 2007 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale where she changed hands for a bargain price of $21,000.

Following two wins at Cheltenham and Morphettville from as many starts, Testy has already repaid her purchase price and promises to earn plenty of more prizemoney if her form to date is anything to go by.
First runners.

Resident stallion HALF HENNESSY had his first 2-year-old runners towards the backend of 2007 and while neither figured in the placings, there were some encouraging signs for this new breed of galloper.

In particular, a colt by the name of Hangover Henry looked a very likely sort during the preliminaries of his debut performance, in which the strapping youngster got caught off the track and received a torrid run before finishing behind Rock Me Baby in a contest at Rosehill Gardens.

Subsequently mentioned in the Stewards’ Report following the effort, Hangover Henry did enough before and during his first appearance in public to suggest that he will run a much more forward race when next produced.

HALF HENNESSY’s only other runner was Lavished, a filly that raced very greenly at Rosehill on debut.

The program for the 2008 yearling sales has finally taken shape, with the major auction houses overcoming tremendous difficulties in cataloguing due to the Equine Influenza outbreak in the final third of last year.

The first confirmed yearling sale Riverdene Stud is due to attend is the Inglis Melbourne Premier (Session II) on March 6 & 7.

Following the Melbourne Premier for us is the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, to be staged on March 10 & 11.

Finally, the Riverdene Stud sales team then heads to Sydney for April 27 & 28, at which time the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale is to be staged through an enforced break of tradition.

At this stage, it is also our intention to present a draft at the Dubbo Thoroughbred Yearling Sale on February 17. However, attendance of the sale currently entertains a number of complications due to NSW Government Zoning as a result of the EI outbreak. Consequently, confirmation of Riverdene Stud’s involvement will not be made until much closer to the time.

With the potential of preparing four yearling sale drafts, Riverdene Stud is pleased to confirm that we have our biggest and best contingent of youngsters for sale in 2008.

The progeny of resident stallions HALF HENNESSY, ZARIZ and JEUNE KING PRAWN is well represented in three of the four drafts set down for February-April, with our consignments also featuring an attractive selection of yearlings by outside stallions.

Also catalogued for sale under the Riverdene Stud banner is offspring by King Charlemagne (USA), Umatilla (NZ), Nothin’ Leica Dane, Tobougg (Ire), Noverre (USA), Danasinga, Mossman, Dubleo (USA), Hold That Tiger (USA), Belong To Me (USA), Commands and Lion Heart (USA).

Close on 40 yearlings have been catalogued for sale so far in 2008 with Riverdene Stud as agent. Of this number, 14 are sons or daughters of HALF HENNESSY, six by ZARIZ, and four by JEUNE KING PRAWN.

The next few editions of our monthly newsletter will provide further details of each individual draft and any up to date information that might become available after the catalogues have been circulated.

With race programming getting back to something like normal in New South Wales, is it worth noting that the established stallions on the Riverdene Stud roster are back generating bonuses through BOBS successes.

During the course of December 2007, MARWINA, ZARIZ and HIGH ROLLING all figured on the BOBS Winners Scoreboard following a period of relative inactivity during September-November.

Indeed, MARWINA can currently be found holding down a position in the top half-dozen BOBS stallions for season 2007/08 with seven collects generating some $27,500 in bonuses.

Of the top-25 BOBS stallions this season, three are Riverdene residents.

We have been able to obtain a limited amount of vaccine in order to vaccinate yearlings, as the majority of these horses have been entered in sales and the remainder are likely to head to the breakers, racing stables etc.

These yearlings have already been microchipped and vaccinations will commence tomorrow. Owners will be invoiced for this procedure.

The cost of this procedure will be $66 per vaccination (including acquiring, secure storage of, and supplying vaccination and pre- and post- vaccination paperwork) for any horses that are already microchipped or have chipping pending (ie Thoroughbred foals).

Horses that are not previously microchipped will be charged $110 (including initial vaccination and microchip supply and implantation).

The initial course of vaccination requires that horses are given two vaccinations, two to four weeks apart. A follow-up booster is to be given six months later.