HANNOVER LODGE: EMBRACING THE READY TO RACE PLATFORM

Q: What were the highlights of your sales in the Ready2Race Sale? 

A: We strongly believe the Ready to Race concept is a growing and very positive Extention to Australian racing sales. Yearling sales are so traditionally strong here and it is wonderful to see this platform really taking off. From all reports, Inglis has stated that this was their strongest sale of this type ever recorded in Australia and with the highest rate of not only winners but group horses produced from this platform we feel it is a growing and very exciting way to both sell and buy a racehorse.

Q: What made these horses special - pedigree nicks, confirmation, or something else? 

A: Hannover Lodge had a really strong draft this year and was very proud to present some outstanding horses who had been prepared by their team in beautiful condition with a huge amount of education under their belts. By the time the Hannover's draft made it to the sales they had had up to three preps and were kept inappropriate work right through to the sale. We felt the preparation showed and all horses were true representations of a horse we would hope any trainer would be happy to have into their yard. Hinnerk admits that a very proud moment, second to the sale of the top colt was watching his partner’s 11-year-old daughter lead a couple of the horses in parades for some very important clients. He admits this is such an indication of the education of his draft.

Q: What has your past experience been with this sale? How do you feel this year was better? 

A: Traditionally not all of Hannover's draft was early horses when you look at the breeding, including the Pride of Dubai, the draft did very well to complete their prep and breeze ups with such class, but again Hinnerk is confident that with his plan and management system, which is very individual for each horse, he can achieve this early run with the majority of his yearling choices. He chooses a yearling with the attitude that he is looking for an early racehorse that he would be happy to keep and own himself, and if it is ready to breeze up he is giving his clients another avenue to sell the horse that would have previously be unachievable. This is his plan for the future, working with his current and future clients.

This was Hinnerk's third Ready to Race sale with Inglis and was no doubt his strongest draft. Hinnerk also believes his training system and preparation has really developed over the three years and showed in his results. He has developed a program that really provides his draft with every opportunity to breeze up strongly and develop into an early racehorse. Including time at different tracks, flatwork, swimming, treadmill, walker, and paddock time, he wants to present a well educated, well-mannered racehorse, truly ready to start their racing career.

Q: Will you be exhibiting at other sales in 2020? And if yes, could you please tell us about your sales highlights (in-detail)? 

A: Improvements in Inglis' promotion and attitude to the sale as a much higher profile sale than in the past, as well as their incredible preparation of online information and access to videos and photos for overseas buyers in this very difficult climate, were very commendable and really helped raise the profile of the sale, and the proof was in the fact they sold three horses over half a million dollars which are also very promising for the future of this sale.

Hannover Lodge is traditionally pretraining, breaking, and spelling farm, but moving forward will continue in the Ready to Race sale platform as a vendor as we really believe that this is a growing and brilliant way to both sell and buy a racehorse as the information you have about each lot is currently unparalleled. The next step is to head to both the Magic Millions and Inglis 2021 yearling sales to look for the next crop of early racehorses for our clients, with the potential to prepare them for these Breeze up sales, or to continue on with them into top trainers stables. 

Q:  How do you feel the industry has changed or not over the course of 2020? 

A: 2020 has proved very unusual, if the not stressful time for people around the world, however within Australia we have been so lucky to see the racing industry stay strong. Perhaps it is the joy of the horse or the potential gain through the sport but racing has truly kept a lot of people both employed and positive through this incredibly strange year, Hinnerk sees the sport only growing within Australia and particularly the R2R concept sales.

Q: And finally, where do you see innovation and growth within the Thoroughbred industry? 

A: As a farm and business Hinnerk and Hannover Lodge are constantly growing. The depth experience within the team both within the horse industry and the business world is extensive and the team are constantly looking and working with new technologies and systems to improve the service they provide to their clients and their horses. Within the industry Hinnerk sees that the whole level of care and particularly the aftercare of the racehorse has grown so much over the past few years, driven by some of the top trainers and figureheads within the industry that he sees the sport will only get bigger and more accepted in the future. The racing industry is forever striving to make their treasured horses even more comfortable and respected and that is an industry Hinnerk is proud to be part of moving forward.

All photos credited to Hannover Lodge and all responses provided by Jade Findlay - Advisor And Rider From Hannover Lodge.