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Christian doubles down on Longwood Thoroughbred Farm

Quality mares to spearhead expansion of Victorian property after owner acquires extra land

To many observers Michael Christian’s ascent to principal of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm in North East Victoria might appear to be a rapid one, but that’s not the case once you learn more about the former Australian rules footballer, chartered accountant and stockbroker turned prominent breeder.

Now, after almost 20 years of breeding racehorses, Christian and wife Siobhan Miller have jumped at the opportunity to expand Longwood Thoroughbred Farm’s presence by taking on the neighbouring property, three years after purchasing a parcel of the former Vinery Stud base at Longwood.

The acquisition, via a long-term lease agreement with a client who bought Lauriston Park earlier this year, will give Longwood Thoroughbred Farm access to 500 acres in which to house an increasing broodmare band, raise their own and their clients’ young horses, as well as offer spelling services.

“We bought this initial property back in December 2018 and we have had a really positive response from clients, not only with mares, but also from trainers spelling horses and we got to a point where we were getting close to capacity,” Christian told ANZ Bloodstock News.

“Then the opportunity came up next door with the owner wanting to sell and it was just one of those things: because the properties were once part of the old Vinery Stud, it just seemed so logical in a way.

“In terms of the symmetry with the infrastructure etc, it was just a perfect fit. We’ve got four gates that separate the properties that had been padlocked, so we’ve undone the padlocks and opened up the gates and it is like it’s one property again. It’s just so convenient and so seamless in terms of the operation of both properties.”

Christian, who completed a Diploma of Horse Breeding from the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE in 2002-03 while carving out a successful media career, has enjoyed considerable success as a breeder despite only having a handful of mares until more recently.

He has bred Schillaci Stakes (Gr 2, 1000m) winner Unpretentious (Stratum), Group 2-winning sprinter Hallowell Belle (Starcraft), Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom), Eloping (Choisir), Of The Brave (Starspangledbanner), Fuhryk (Star Witness) and dual stakes winner Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), who won the How Now Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) earlier this month.

He and his loyal clients have also invested heavily in quality broodmares in the past 18 months, purchasing Group 1-winning mare Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge), whose first foal by I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) is imminent, for $1.9 million and Group 3 winner Rimraam (Commands) for $1.5 million at the Magic Millions National Sale in May. Rimraam foaled a colt by Dundeel (High Chaparral) at Longwood Thoroughbred Farm in August.

Last year, Christian also acquired four mares at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in 2020 for a combined $1.87 million including Group 2-winning juvenile Samara Dancer (Hinchinbrook) and Group 3 winner Lubiton (Snitzel).

He also co-bred and sold a Zoustar (Northern Meteor) colt out of Fuddle Me Duddle for $1 million through the Widden Stud draft and an I Am Invincible daughter of Eloping for $900,000 through Segenhoe Stud at the Magic Millions in January which has no doubt financially helped spur the growth of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm.

“We want to have a real presence in Melbourne (at the Inglis Premier sale), but with these really quality mares we’ve been able to purchase, once they start producing and we continue to build, the plan would be to go to Magic Millions and to Easter to sell under our banner as well,” says a clearly driven Christian who is standing in a paddock just metres from Fuhryk, who is close to foaling to Written Tycoon (Iglesia), and within eyesight of Eloping who is standing over the fence with her recently born Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) filly.

“But we just want to crawl before we walk and walk before we run. In time, that’s certainly the plan to go to Magic Millions and the Easter sale with a draft of really nice horses, not just one or two. We want to make an impact.”

In anticipation of the expansion, Christian has already added more staff in the expectation of taking on more horses and an increasing client base at the farm, which is also opposite the pre-training arm of the Leneva Park business.

“We are 15 minutes south of Euroa and we are about 25 minutes from Nagambie, 30 minutes from Northwood Road where all the big studs are, such as Swettenham, Leneva Park now with their stallions, and Darley and we are only about 25 minutes from Yulong Stud.

“We are in close proximity and this whole area is renowned for its breeding of champion thoroughbreds. There are a whole host of farms that are in this region. 

“It is over the Great Divide, so we have a beautiful climate. It’s really a great location.”

Christian credits champion trainer Gai Waterhouse and another trainer, Peter Morgan, for having a major influence on his direction towards a full-time involvement in the industry.

After racing the likes of 2002 TJ Smith Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Phoenix Park (Royal Academy) with Waterhouse and 1999 Railway Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Slavonic (Cossack Warrior) with Mick Price, there was no turning back.

“In the early days when Gai was training a couple of horses (for me), I would follow her around like a little puppy dog at the Magic Millions sale or the Easter sale. I’d take days off from work and just follow her around and she was most accommodating and I learnt a lot from her,” he recalled.

“They were the days when she employed George Smith and I learnt a lot from him as well. So, you’d have all these influences from people that are just so revered and knowledgeable.” 

Christian’s thoroughbred apprenticeship, perhaps unconventional to those born into the industry, has been extensive and he is excited about what the future holds for Longwood Thoroughbred Farm. 

“It’s not that all of a sudden we’ve doubled in size. This has been something that’s been a long time in the making. This is something that started 20 years ago and it’s been a really long, slow build where we had our own mares for five or six years, we learnt about the game, learnt about the industry and then we bought our own little property (at Whittlesea, near Melbourne),” he said. 

“We only had 36 acres next door to Peter Morgan’s training facility and I just did it myself with the assistance of Peter who was a terrific mentor and someone I was able to call on at any time for advice. 

“They were our own horses and doing everything yourself is a wonderful learning experience. We were building mare numbers to a point where a decision was made to turn the passion and hobby into a business and we did that three years ago when we took the plunge and things have gone really well since then.

“We’ve got a really good client base and we now feel confident that by doubling our acreage, and the fact that we have employed additional quality staff, that we have enough support and interest to be able to cater for the expansion and move forward and increase our profile.

“It has been a long, slow, gradual build and we feel now is the right time to up the ante.”

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