Queensland provides Magic Millions show-stealers
It could not have been a more Queensland result to the recent Magic Millions 2YO race on the Gold Coast, with a ladies’ syndicate put together by Black Soil Bloodstock enjoying their moment in the sun with Skirt The Law (Better Than Ready).
Former South Sydney Rabbitohs player Brian Siemsen and Eureka Stud’s Harry McAlpine are the force behind Black Soil Bloodstock, a syndication group named in honour of their proud connection to the fertile dirt that the Darling Downs is famous for.
“It’s a bit of a tribute to the black soil of the Darling Downs where Eureka is, and Brian grew up in Toowoomba and is very much a Toowoomba boy at heart,” Harry McAlpine explained.
Siemsen has been great mates with trainer Tony Gollan since he was 15 and that friendship eventually led him to investing in racehorses.
He could not have asked for a better start to that experience with the first two horses he ever owned being multiple stakes winner Temple Of Boom (Piccolo) and Spirit Of Boom (Sequalo).
“Tony had been to Sydney and he went back home to train and picked a horse out of the sales called Temple Of Boom and the second horse he found us was Spirit Of Boom. I was pretty hooked after them,” said Siemsen.
Spirit Of Boom’s journey back to Eureka Stud where he was born, to stand as their headline stallion, brought Simesen, a majority shareholder in the horse at the time, and McAlpine together.
Four years ago, they decided to form Black Soil Bloodstock.
“[Brian] wanted to buy mares to go to Spirit and so we set up a partnership company. We target nice fillies that can make nice racehorses and have a page to breed from later on,” said McAlpine.
Highly respected bloodstock agent John Foote and Tony Gollan lead their sales selection process.
“John is a legend and an unsung one. He doesn’t seek applause and does his work with no fuss. Tony is a very driven trainer and he’s very competitive. He thrives on competition.”
Since April 2020, Black Soil Bloodstock has had 230 runners and won seven stakes races with the Magic Millions 2YO their crowning glory.
“It’s exceeded all expectations. We have a lot of good people around that help. Good farms and advice and Tony’s a good judge and I couldn’t ask for a better partner than Harry,” said Siemsen.
The 44-year-old has a background as a builder engineer and currently runs an insurance technology business and at the rate Black Soil is growing, that might all change.
“The side hustle is quickly turning into our main hustle. Other business has helped feed the passion of what we are doing with bloodstock,” he said.
Siemsen’s wife Brooke shares in the ownership of Skirt The Law, along with Jane McAlpine and 18 other ladies.
“The joke amongst us lads – behind every good ladies’ syndicate is a bunch of excited husbands. Three starts and $1.6 million later, the girls have absolutely wiped the floor.”
Skirt The Law is now being aimed at the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m).
“To have a runner is exciting and to have a live chance. She’s certainly taken us on a ride and we are excited to see what happens over the next couple of weeks.”
Whatever she does from here will certainly serve the profile and future of Black Soil Bloodstock well and fly the flag for all parochial Queenslanders.