(Phone message overheard between Warrawee Speedy and Warrawee Needy on June 21, 2016)
Warrawee Speedy: “But Dad, I just set the Canadian Seasons record for two-year-old fillies, aren’t you going to stick around to see what I can do in the OSS Gold in Mohawk on July 5th?”
Warrawee Needy: “Sorry Kid, I know you’ll shine, but I’ve got my $35,000 ticket bought for down under.” I’ll be going to the spa (quarantine at Walnridge Farm, NJ) for two weeks, then fly over to Melbourne, Australia, where I get another two week spa treatment (quarantine), then it’s off to Yirrabee Stud Farm for me.”
“Make your old Dad proud. I’ll see you later Aye.”
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Yirribee Stud Farm was established in 1985 by Rod Woodhouse and Ian Walsh and was officially opened in 1986 and has since grown to be one of the leaders in the Australian Standardbred breeding industry. It is now operated by Rod Woodhouse and his partner Diane Sutherland.
‘Yirribee’ is an aboriginal name meaning ‘bend in the river’. Since Yirribee Stud Farm is situated in a bend of the Murrumbidgee River, what better name for this Standardbred horse breeding farm?
The farm is midway between Sydney and Melbourne, not far from the Australian capital of Canberra, in the South Eastern part of Australia.
Yirribee Stud Farm encompasses over 400 acres of rich alluvial river flats.
When you compare the average yearly rainfall in South Eastern Australia, you will see that they receive ½ the amount of rainfall we receive in South Western Ontario. That is why all the pasture and hay fields need to be irrigated.
They rarely see snow and the temperatures almost never falls below -3 degrees Celsius.
For thirty years the farm avoided any problems with flooding, but in 2010 and again in 2012 the Murrumbidgee River overflowed its banks and forced the family and staff to move all their studs, mares and foals to higher ground.
The Woodhouse family have followed their passion for Standardbred horse racing. Rod and his sons: Scott, and Brett are active participants in the sport, while his daughter Alison, and husband Chris Alford, leading driver in Victoria, can be seen at tracks all across Australia.
Yirribee Stud Farm has stood such notable studs as: Mr Big, Pet Rock, Million Dollar Cam, Village Jasper, and Australian bred studs like: Robin Hood and Pocket Watch.
Warrawee Needy will stand for a service fee of $3,500 + GST or $3,850. The Canadian and Australian dollar are almost equivalent in value.
In Australia the service fees are due after the mare is checked in foal at 42 days. If the mare does not have a live foal, then a rebreed is offered the following year. The service fee is refunded if the stallion dies.
Rod and Diane foal out 110 mares each year, with about 65 of those being their own. They sell their young horses at the yearling sales.
Racing is very popular in New South Wales, with more than 30 racetracks. Some are large, while others are small.
Yirribee Stud Farm is located between the two large tracks: Tabcorp Park Menangle, near Sydney and Tabcorp Melton, in Melbourne. Both tracks race for more than 130 days each year.
Rod and Diane love the sport of harness racing and will be raising great race horses at Yirribee Stud Farm for years to come.
Australia’s breeding season starts September 1st and ends January 31st.
All the best of luck to Yirribee Stud Farm.
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Ontario will be looking forward to Warrawee Needy’s return early in 2017.
He will be keeping tabs on his two-year-old daughter, Warrawee Speedy.
We look forward to hearing that wonderful Australian accent when Warrawee Needy comes back to Ontario and he greets us with a “Good Day Mate.”
