This week in Dunstan Horsefeeds Meet the Breeder, we catch up with Michelle Dando and Casey Messent, the founders of Bradbury Park, who have recently been enjoying the exciting racetrack success of their homebred gelding, Thebudgiesmugla.
The charismatic son of The Chosen One has given the pair plenty to celebrate, with victories in the Listed Queen Elizabeth II Winter Cup and Listed Caloundra Cup adding further depth to a family they have carefully developed over many years. With nominations for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups also in place, Thebudgiesmugla’s story is still being written.
Although Michelle and Casey have since gone their separate ways, they remain great friends, co-parent their two children Daisy and Jack, and continue to share a genuine passion for the thoroughbred industry. Their story is one of patience, resilience, friendship and a breeding operation that has produced quality performers across generations.
Tell us the story of Thebudgiesmugla.
His name is a beauty, thanks to his dam, Hot Pants.
Every good horse has a story, and Thebudgiesmugla’s is every bit as entertaining as his race record. Success rarely follows a straight line, and this bloke has zig-zagged his way through plenty of plot twists. Bred, foaled and raised by Casey and me at Bradbury Park, he has changed hands, changed fortunes and kept everyone involved permanently on the edge of their seats.
Thankfully, he has never forgotten what he was actually bred to do: run fast.
His two Listed victories, in the Queen Elizabeth II Winter Cup and Caloundra Cup, have been incredibly special. Every time he races, my stomach is in knots for most of the day, and there have certainly been happy tears as he has passed the post. A breeding dream is turning into reality.
How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?
It was in my blood long before I realised it. Dad, former jockey John Messent, bred his mare Emerald Star to War Hawk II when I was at primary school. I can still remember visiting John Corcoran’s Stud.
Fast forward a few years—well, quite a few—and I wanted to buy the mare Vinci, from the family of Seachange, from Blandford Lodge. Casey was the Stud Manager and casually said, “If you can catch her, you can buy her.”
Challenge accepted.
Somehow, I ended up owning Vinci, and before I knew it Mum, Margaret Messent, owned part of her too. That was probably when I realised horses have a habit of multiplying—and taking family members with them.
How many mares do you currently breed from?
This season, I will be breeding from two mares.
Thebudgiesmugla’s half-sister by Reliable Man, Cheekini, is booked to Cambridge Stud’s exciting new sire Charyn. She is also set to foal a US Navy Flag colt or filly this season.
Leave A Light On has recently been retired from racing and is ready to enter the stallion dating scene, although her partner is still to be decided. She is related to Thebudgiesmugla, Group Two winner Sworn to Secrecy, Listed performers One Night Stand and Bear Heart, nine-time winner and multiple black-type performer Guns At Five, and Group Three performer Fantastic Honour—all bred by Bradbury Park.
During the Bradbury Park years, Casey and I, alongside family members, bred from around eight to 10 mares at our peak.
What else is included in your bloodstock portfolio?
I am lucky enough to own a weanling colt related to Thebudgiesmugla, who is nominated for the NZB Karaka Yearling Sales. I also have shares in three racehorses, including six-time winner Rua Rocks, who I race with Casey, as well as a breeding right in The Chosen One with my partner, Steve Hawkes.
Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions?
Not usually, although I did speak with a respected breeder for their opinion on Cheekini and Leave A Light On after Thebudgiesmugla won his second black-type race.
Generally, though, I tend to go by type and hope the outcome agrees with my decision.
What is the best breeding advice you have received?
Breed an unproven or maiden mare to a proven stallion, and a proven mare to an up-and-coming or first-season sire, depending on your purpose.
It sounds simple, but good advice usually is. Of course, horses occasionally forget to read the rule book.
What do you love most about the thoroughbred breeding industry?
Watching a foal you have bred grow up and head to the races is a bit like watching your kids on sports day—you celebrate every success and conveniently forget the stressful bits.
Even better is keeping one of your homebred fillies to become a broodmare herself and watching the family continue through future generations.
Something Casey and I are immensely proud of is taking a family from Book 3 all the way to Book 1. It has been incredibly rewarding, and it proves that dreams—and pedigrees—can improve with patience.
Last year, I looked at Cheekini’s pedigree and entered into an agreement for her to become a sport horse. Fortunately for me, agistment could not be sourced and the agreement ceased. I was left wondering what on earth I was going to do, but she was in season that day, so I bit the bullet and sent her to stud.
That decision is looking particularly timely now. In the past six weeks, Cheekini’s pedigree has gained significant black type through two of her siblings: Bella Bonita, bred by Casey, and Thebudgiesmugla, bred by Bradbury Park.
What advice would you give someone entering the industry as a breeder?
Now is a great time to get involved.
Do not jump ship the first time the tide goes out. Stick with it, surround yourself with good people, keep learning and enjoy the journey. Luck has an amazing habit of finding those who are still standing when everyone else has gone.
What has been your proudest moment as a breeder so far?
There have been a few.
From a sales perspective, selling a Redwood colt bred and sold by Bradbury Park to Peter Moody for $210,000 was very special.
On the track, breeding Fantastic Honour to finish second in the 2013 Karaka Million was unforgettable. To breed a horse competing for a million dollars felt surreal.
More recently, Leave A Light On’s two dominant wins by six-and-a-half lengths and four lengths have taken some beating.
Then along came Thebudgiesmugla. His two Listed victories have been incredibly emotional and rewarding, particularly knowing the journey he has taken to get there.
If you could breed from any past or present mare and stallion, who would they be?
A past stallion would be Cape Cross every day of the week. I absolutely loved him.
The Bradbury Park story
Bradbury Park, established by Michelle and Casey, enjoyed outstanding success with Redwood, breeding or raising performers including Thebudgiesmugla, Antino, Columbus County, Rosewood and Reggiewood. Casey also bred Group Two Waikato Guineas winner Tokorangi, while Bradbury Park continues to be represented by quality performers, including recent five-time winner Vittorio Veneto.
As shareholders in Redwood, Bradbury Park proudly supported the stallion both personally and through its clients over many years.
Today, Casey has sold Bradbury Park and is gradually winding down after 36 years in the industry—although, like most horse people, he cannot quite walk away. He now assists with sales for Seaton Park and manages Warwick Jeffries’ bloodstock on the former Bradbury Park farm.
Michelle now has the privilege of working for Sir Peter Vela at Pencarrow Stud, where her passion for the thoroughbred industry and familiarity with stud operations have made it a dream role. Michelle and Steve also have six acres set up for their own bloodstock, allowing her to remain hands-on with their horses while enjoying the best of both worlds.
With supportive partners who share their passion for thoroughbreds and the industry, Michelle and Casey are still able to catch up, work together and celebrate each other’s successes—proof that good horses really do bring good people together.
