 |
|
 |  |  |
John Sunderland was handpicked to run Woodlands Farm shortly after the Inghams handed Godolphin’s blue army the keys in 2008for more than A$460 million. Since then he has been instrumental in shaping the infrastructure and unique systems that now play a significant role in the development of superior racehorses.
After the momentous performance of Godolphin horses in the 2020 Everest race, Sunderland, the General Manager of Woodlands chats to The Impact about Everest runners, Bivouac and Trekking, the farm, Godolphin’s breeding philosophy and much more:
Q: Congratulation on the fantastic Everest performance! Could you please tell us what's special about Bivouac and Trekking’s Pedigree? And what makes that pedigree right for The Everest or similar sprint races?
A: Bivouac comes from one of the great pedigrees in Australia, his mother was a winner herself and is a half-sister to a 4-time GR.1 winner in Guelph and they are both out of the GR.1 winner Camarilla who in turn is out of GR.1 winner Camarena. His speed comes from his Dad Exceed And Excel who is a great speed influence both here and overseas and they now have won the same race which is the Newmarket Handicap GR.1 over the same distance as Everest.
Trekking is just a tough competitive talented racehorse who always gives 100 %. He has got a bit more of an international pedigree but I think he gets the speed to run a race like the Everest from his Mum who is by Redoute's Choice.
Q: What makes Darley’s horse breeding program special?
A: The Godolphin breeding program is predominately a breed to race operation so every horse we breed is retained and goes into our racing program. Therefore we have full control from the day they are conceived to the day they get to perform on the racetrack which makes it very special and rewarding.
Q: What are the elements that go into the planning and preparation of young foals into strong 2YOs and 3YOs?
A: It is a big team effort made up of a lot of great people and moving parts which requires time, hard work, and a lot of patience by everyone across the whole Godolphin team. Our job on the breeding farms is to make sure that the young foals are taken care of and nurtured through their early life and as they grow into young horses it is so important that they are on the right nutritional feed and educational program on our stud farms. They also live outside 24/7 in beautiful undulating paddocks where they can run and play building up natural bone and muscle so that by the time, they are around 18 months of age they are well grown, well-educated young horses ready enter the racing program. The racing team, then do a great job looking after these young athletes to get the best out of them on the racetrack to hopefully become the stars of the future.
Q: Could you tell us about some horses bred at Woodland Stud that will be going into the racing program next year, we should be looking out for?
A: I think we have some lovely young prospects to come through the program in the next 12 months I have always like a colt called Athelric who was a natural athletic-looking colt. Of the fillies, Cloudy was a lovely precocious type and although she may take longer to develop into her big frame Triffacia had something special about her.
Q: How did you get involved with horses?
A: I used to ride ponies when I was a child, worked in racing stables in my school holidays and when I finished school, I started working in the Thoroughbred industry full time initially in racing stables but then on stud farms in the breeding side both in Ireland and now Australia. I am very fortunate to combine my career with my passion.
Q: What are your plans for the next 5 years for Woodland Stud?
A: To continue to look at ways how we can tweak and improve things but continue to breed sound racehorses and hopefully one day breed the next ‘Champion’
Q: Who is your favourite horse of all time and why?
A: My favourite horse of all time is Guelph who was a superstar race filly winning 4 Group 1’s and she is just a lovely kind mare to deal with and I get to give her a pat every day which is a fantastic way to start the day. But I guess it is hard not to mention Winks and Frankel who were the most exciting racehorses I have been fortunate to see racing in the flesh.