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The Riverrock Farm based in one of the most pristine locations possible is a relatively new entity. However, in their 7 years of existence, they have managed to reach and stay at a pretty high position as a top vendor. With a staff that boasts of some very acute talent among them. Riverrock loves and revels in the daily challenges of a stable life.
Now after many years, Riverrock farms have a second unit at Karapiro. With these 2 stables and their gradual training modules for horses provides a unique proposition to the boys here as well. Chad Ormsby, the part-owner and senior trainer at the Riverrock farms is a prominent driving force behind and front of the scenes. Ormsby discusses their position as one of the top vendors at this years NZ ready to Run sale. Here are the excerpts from that interview:
Q: Your horses did quite well at the NZB Ready To Run Sale. Could you tell us a bit about your highlight lots?
A: We landed on afoot this year. Our draft was a mix of up and coming sires and proven sires. Our Savabeel colt (lot 68) is out of a Galileo mare. There's a good pedigree behind him. He's breezed-up well and looked good. So it was really good to have an in-form sire. He was our top lot and sold for A$ 120,000.
The Charm Spirits (colt and gelding) again really athletic types. They look like they are Stakes level up to a mile. They breezed up well and sold for A$85,000 and A$52,000 respectively.
Our two Tivacci fillies did well too. Tivaci's sire High Chaparral was a world-class racehorse and Tivaci is in good form for a first season sire. They are really trainable horses.
Q: How have you been coping with the COVID19 situation and everything else?
A: In a normal year, we sort of know generally what our horses are going to be worth and where they might fit in the market. This year obviously is unknown. So we've got a sort of try and keep her head above water. And but we're definitely here the sell. And we think our clients are pretty happy to buy them for what we think they're worth.
We also have the option to trial our 2YOs and 3YOs and sell them that way if they don’t go through the ring. We are not too concerned because I think that our horses have the ability.
Q: What are your next upcoming sales?
A: We start buying again in January. So we looking to buy the next Ready-to-Race runners at the Karaka Sales and then go through to the Australian sales in March.
Q: Please tell us about some of your past graduates.
A: Our most recent one was Poets Landing. He won two stakes races. We are looking forward to seeing him come back to work. Even out of the draft last year, we have had three first draft winners. Mongolian Brave, Calm Seeker, and another horse by Rip Van Winkle. Calm Seeker placed third in the Toowoomba Guineas 3YO Plate. We still want to see that real champion come through in the next few years. Anyone of these horses could be ‘the one’.
Q: And finally how did you get into the industry?
A: I started as an apprentice jockey and continued working in the stables. I eventually became a jockey. Then (life) took on new avenues and I became a trainer. Buying and selling sort of appeals to me and we've had a bit of success over the recent years.