Photo: Supplied
This week in Dunstan Horse Feeds Meet the Breeder, we catch up with Philip Jefferys who bred Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) winner Riviera Rebel. A breeder of over 51 years, Philip is proud to have bred the winner of both WFA stakes races in the South Island this season - Riviera Rebel and Our Echo.
Tell us the story of Riviera Rebel?
It goes back a way, and I do matings for people and one was for Terry Archer. It asked me who he should the mare ‘Glam Girl’ too, and I suggested that Jimmy Choux was the best match. The resulting foal was a filly called ‘Chambon’; and I tend to follow the careers of horses where I have been part of the process. She turned out to be quite a handy mare – she was lightly tried and won a couple of races but unfortunately went amiss.
Terry rung me and said that Chambon was no longer a racing proposition and asked if I would like her, which I was more than happy to do. I have always been a fan of Pure Champion because he was just so tough - he raced in so many different countries, he did well in the UK, Hong Kong and he won a group one here in New Zealand; and racing manners were good – he was everything a racehorse ought to be.
So I rung up Willowglen Stud where he stands, and the resulting foal was Riviera Rebel. I don’t tend to sell my horses, I like to syndicate them amongst friends; and I already had a really good relationship with Graham Eade with him training a few for me so it has all gone from there.
How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?
I have always been entranced by racing, and earlier in my life I was living with my cousins. I was about eight years old at the time and my cousin was 11. He had a newspaper open on the kitchen table and he was underlining particular words. I asked what he was doing and he said they are horses that are going to be racing so we listened to the races. Ever since then I have had an interest in horses, racing and breeding; particularly the breeding side as to why one horse is better than the other.
How many mares do you breed from?
Over the years, I have probably bred one or two every year. I have recently retired from teaching so over the last 12 months I have been active on gavelhouse.com and I am up to about 10. It is a wonderful resource gavelhouse.com as there are so many nice mares out there.
Do you breed to race or breed to sell? If sell, how do you decide on what to retain and what to sell?
I breed to race but if I am offered a large sum of money then I will take it!
Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions?
I give other people advice on their breeding decisions; it is part of what I do.
Best breeding advice you have received?
You have to show patience and a lot of resilience.
What do you love about the thoroughbred breeding industry?
Winning! There is nothing quite like the feeling. I really appreciate the help I have had my from trainers Graham Eade (Riviera Rebel) and Danny Frye (Our Echo). They are both huge talents.
What advice would you give someone entering the industry as a breeder?
Don’t go too hard too fast. Decide what your ultimate goal is – is it to sell or is to race. Dip your toes in the water very slowly and very gently and keep your ears open and your mouth shut to figure out who you can and can’t trust.
Finish this sentence: The best part of being a thoroughbred breeder is… Winning! I am very proud that two horses I have bred – Riviera Rebel and Our Echo have won the only two WFA races held in the South Island this season.
Also, just wanted to thank Entain for their investment in the industry and for the returns that are going back to the stakeholders.
