Moodie and Hardwick’s Hesket Thoroughbreds takes up Spendthrift Australia

Long-time Victorian owner and breeder David Moodie’s Hesket Bloodstock has purchased Spendthrift Australia in a deal encompassing the property, stallions and a selection of racehorses more than four months after its US owner made the bombshell announcement to cease its southern hemisphere operation.

Trading under the new Hesket Thoroughbreds banner, Moodie and business partner Ash Hardwick agreed to buy the pristine American-owned 244-hectare property and equine interests following months of negotiations, bringing Spendthrift’s almost eight-year involvement in the Australian industry to an end.

There had been dozens of written expressions of interest from individuals and parties about buying the valuable land and bloodstock holding since the Romsey property was officially listed for sale in early January.

However, after a long and drawn out process, Hesket Thoroughbreds settled on the property and the equine portfolio last Friday.

The domino effect of the Spendthrift Australia sale will see Dirty Work, a Schillaci Stakes winner who covered 155 mares in his first season last year, and roster mate Overshare relocate to the nearby Widden Victoria to continue their stud careers.

The pair will stand at Antony Thompson’s southern operation, which is in its second year, on behalf of Hesket Thoroughbreds after they put pen to paper on Monday night to take on the two stallions on Moodie’s and Hardwick’s behalf.

Overshare, whose oldest progeny are two-year-olds and covered 130 mares in 2021, is the sire of the Annabel Neasham-trained Lady Laguna, a three-time stakes-placed filly who also won her first two starts in November.

Dirty Work will stand for a fee of A$16,500, down from his introductory fee of A$19,800, while Overshare remains at a fee of A$11,000.

Moodie told ANZ Bloodstock News that the relocation of the stallions to Widden was a strategic move and that he would be supporting the duo with a percentage of his own high-class broodmare band, one which he has developed over decades and made him one of the country’s most successful owner-breeders.

The acquisition of Spendthrift’s farm will tie in with the property Moodie already owns in the area called Yungaburra at Newham in the Macedon Ranges to the west of Melbourne, which has also been used as a pre-training and training facility for his large racing team of horses.

“It’s a lovely property, to start with, and to be partnering with Widden in so far as the future of the stallions is concerned, I am very pleased about,” said Moodie, whose racing honour roll includes Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily, Blue Diamond winner Paint, Flamberge and a host of other Group 1 winners among the more than 1,000 winners he has owned.

“We have got a bit of a three-pronged attack [buying Spendthrift]. We’ve got Yungaburra, this new property now and the association with Widden, so we’re working through that and we’ll do the right thing by all the current employees.”

Thompson was delighted to partner with Hesket Thoroughbreds, a move which brings the Widden Victoria stallion roster to ten for this year.

“David’s got a fantastic record over a long period of time, so with his support, Widden’s support and the mares they’ve already got in foal and in the pipeline, these horses will get every chance to continue that momentum and really make their mark,” Thompson told ANZ Bloodstock News on Tuesday.

“David’s farm [Yungaburra] is not far from Widden Victoria [formerly Sun Stud], so we have done a little bit of business, but it is an exciting new partnership and friendship.

“We’re looking to explore all these options with him and it’s pleasing - these discussions have been going on for a while now - to be able to sign it last night and announce it today.

Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky - the Australian base has been soldCredit: Racing Post Photos

“While there was lots of interest in the farm, and particularly these two stallions, it’s really pleasing that they’re coming to Widden Victoria.”

Specifically speaking about Dirty Work, an A$800,000 Inglis Australian Easter graduate in 2018, Thompson believes the Hawkes Racing-trained sprinter will be popular again in his second season at stud.

“He had tremendous support in numbers and quality from a wide range of breeders, so he gets every opportunity with that first book of mares and I’m sure we’ll get strong support for him going forward,” he said.

“David was keen to continue to get strong support for him going forward, so we thought just dropping him back a peg (service fee) that he would slot in very well in our stallion roster and make sure we get another good book of mares to him.”

Thompson is also confident about the prospects of Overshare, another Group-winning sprinter who was bought as a yearling and raced by Spendthrift before retirement to stud.

“He is a horse that has gained momentum with each crop and obviously he is a good-looking, fast son of I Am Invincible which makes him very commercial,” he said.

“We’ve seen them sell well, they’ve hit the track running off a small fee, and he’s only had a few runners from that small first book, but they’ve all shown a fair bit.”

Moodie is also a believer in the prospects of Overshare.

“Overshare is a lovely horse and he gets good types. His first runner is a very good Group-class filly and the three that he’s had to the track, they all seem to be able to run a bit, particularly Lady Laguna,” the long-time owner said.

“It is a small sample, but it’s a good sign. They tend to call elections on five per cent of the vote, so I am hoping that the small sample translates to a fairly big return.”

Fellow Spendthrift stallions Gold Standard, the sire of talented first crop stakes-winning Perth juvenile Sheeza Belter, and Swear will be sold by Magic Millions through a tender process to be overseen by bloodstock manager Dane Robinson.

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