This week in Dunstan Horse Feeds’ Meet the Breeder, we caught up with Rick Hill, the breeder behind Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) heroine Bozo (Satono Aladdin), after her impressive staying triumph at Riccarton last Saturday.
Tell us the story of Bozo?
Yes, it was extra special for us with Bozo’s big win. She won with plenty in hand, proving that Kevin and his team had her spot on—they did a fantastic job. So Ard was found at the Melbourne sales, and she had just started to show us real potential. Unfortunately, she had to stop racing, and I needed to find an alternative path for her. When no one wanted to buy her, I decided to try breeding.
When Vadamos arrived at Rich Hill, I thought he would be a great match, so off she went. Rich Hill took exceptional care of her and made the whole process incredibly simple for me—a wonderful experience for someone brand new to breeding. In her third mating she missed to Proisir, so we went to Satono Aladdin instead. And from that decision, along came Bozo.
How many mares do you breed from?
I currently breed from two mares, with one of them owned in partnership with a few others. She’s at stud this year as a maiden and is in foal to Encryption at Eureka Stud.
Do you breed to race or breed to sell? If sell, how do you decide on what to retain and what to sell?
I primarily breed to race, as that’s where the real enjoyment lies for me, but I’m not opposed to selling when the timing feels right. Jennivamoose was one I decided to let go, and she went through the ring at Karaka. This season, I’ve got her Profiteer filly heading to the Inglis Classic Sale in February. If she happens to be passed in, I certainly won’t be disappointed — I’d be more than happy to keep her and race her myself.
Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions?
I like to handle my own mating decisions, as it’s something I really enjoy and take pride in. I’m not a strict believer in the 3 x 3 cross, so I usually start with a 3 x 4 as my foundation. Each year it’s exciting to explore the new stallions coming through, although many are difficult to access. For example, Traffic Warden was unavailable, so in the end, Native Trail was the perfect choice.
What do you love about the thoroughbred breeding industry?
What I love most about the thoroughbred breeding industry is the real buzz that comes with foaling time. I also enjoy sorting through the stallion rosters each year — some are way out of reach with their price tags, so that naturally narrows down the options.
What advice would you give someone entering the industry as a breeder?
It’s not a cheap exercise breeding, so be wary of that future breeders. But it’s a lot of fun — enjoy at your peril.
Proudest moment as a breeder so far?
My proudest moment as a breeder has been seeing Bozo deliver my first black-type success. It’s incredibly rewarding, and I’m excited to watch her career continue, as well as seeing her siblings follow in her footsteps. Estee Emm is next in line, and I’m hopeful she can get back on track early next year.
