New arrival fillip for breeding scene

Former Victorian racehorse Prince of Brooklyn arrives at North Taieri this week for the new breeding season in August. Photo: Supplied
Former Victorian racehorse Prince of Brooklyn arrives at North Taieri this week for the new breeding season in August. Photo: Supplied
The North Taieri thoroughbred breeding scene is in for a three-fold boost.

Mosgiel couple Jason Coutts and Charlotte Young announced yesterday they would stand sire Prince of Brooklyn next breeding season.

The former Mick Price-trained Victorian galloper, who arrives at their Grassyards Farm property this week, will not only offer Southern breeders another stallion option, but also bring a boost for the area.

Part of the purchase agreement Coutts and Young negotiated was that the horse's Australian-based owners could breed a number of mares to the stallion.

''Part of the deal with Prince Of Brooklyn is that he will be supported out of Australia,'' Coutts said.

Mares will be flown from Australia to North Taieri in the spring, but the flow-on effects do not stop there.

The stallion's arrival at Coutts and Young's already busy property could also give the area another boost through the employment of locals to help the couple in their first foray into thoroughbred breeding.

''We will look to bring some people into the operation to help with the day-to-day stuff. We will go through that process in the next month or so.''

Prince Of Brooklyn, by Magnus from Zabeel mare Tristabeel, was a group 3 2yr-old winner on debut for trainer Mick Price before going on to rack up more than $A270,000 in stakes and another two Victorian wins before injury curtailed his career after just 10 starts.

Tristabeel is the dam of seven foals and all have been winners. Duke Of Brunswick, the winner of seven races and $A452,415 in stakes, leads the list.

''I'm thrilled to get the opportunity to stand such an outstanding type, with both sprinting and staying blood in his pedigree,'' Coutts said.

Though Prince Of Brooklyn represents Coutts and Young's first foray into thoroughbred stallions, they have had a hand in almost any horse venture that could be imagined.

They have been involved in both thoroughbred and standardbred breaking, training and racing as well as in pony club and equestrian sport.

Young has had a lifetime's experience in showjumping and eventing and has represented New Zealand.

The couple's wide range of skills means that no horse they take on will ever go to waste, even if it is a thoroughbred that is not competitive on the track.

''When we are breaking in, we make sure the ground work is at a very high level so if they fail, they can be rehomed and be safe.

''It is really important to us.''

The couple raced their first horse six years ago and have built an extensive racing and breeding team from there.

Among those horses is 5yr-old mare Lin, who won by eight lengths at Wingatui in April.

The John and Karen Parsons-trained mare has another season of being raced on lease by a large group of owners before moving from the couple's racing team to their breeding team.

Syndicating their breeding prospects for racing is a way for the Grassyards business to introduce new people to the thrills of horse ownership, Coutts said.

''It is a cup of coffee payment a day scenario to get the mums and dads involved, because for us, they are the key to the industry.

''We can breed them but you have got to be able to make it affordable, so we have brought in a lot of new people that have never owned horses.

''To see their enjoyment out of it is outstanding.''

-By Jonny Turner

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