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Courier-Mail
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
How Joliestar's owner went from nothing to selling his business for $660m and buying Cambridge Stud
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Cambridge Stud owner Brendan Lindsay will be at Eagle Farm on Saturday to cheer on his superstar mare Joliestar but he vividly remembers how he was once so broke that he slept in his car. New Zealander Lindsay didn't know where his next dollar was coming from when he was making plastic coat hangers in a downtrodden garage in Cambridge several decades ago. Fast forward to 2016 and Lindsay sold his plastics business for $660m. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! With wife Jo, he then took a major gamble when buying legendary Cambridge Stud from Sir Patrick Hogan the following year. * Group 1 winning hoops involved in physical Doomben stoush Joliestar, who races in the Cambridge Stud black and gold chequers, is one of the flag-bearers of his operation as a two-time Group 1 winner, including scoring the famed Newmarket Handicap down the Flemington straight in March. The Chris Waller-trained mare is set to start as favourite for the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup on Saturday and seems poised to have another crack at The Everest later this year after being luckless in the $20m race in 2024. It's a far cry from how Lindsay started out. 'I can assure you, I didn't know where my next dollar was coming from,' Lindsay told Racenet. Brendan Lindsay with James McDonald after Joliestar won the Thousand Guineas in 2023. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images 'We started in a garage at home, we had tarpaulins on the side of the garage because I couldn't put padding on the outside. 'We just didn't have any money. 'Honestly, I would go away on selling trips and sleep in the back of the car. 'When you do get a little bit of money, racing is a passion. 'Some folks race cars, some race boats, we race horses. 'Racing is addictive. 'The highs and lows of racing are just so massive. 'There was the high of going to The Everest with Joliestar and then coming home empty-handed. 'For me that's part of the enjoyment of it, if it was easy then everyone would be doing it. 'I always take the view when we get beaten that it's someone's else turn, good luck to them.' Joliestar romped home in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images • 'It does hurt': Shailer's Group 1 search rocked by barrier Lindsay says buying the iconic Cambridge Stud was a bold step into the unknown because, even though he had owned horses for 15 years, he isn't a 'horse person'. 'I'd never ridden horses. I've never led a horse. Yes, we like horses, but I don't know how to foal a horse down,' Lindsay said. 'I wasn't brought up on a (stud) farm, it was a massive gamble because it was a huge learning adventure.' Lindsay will be in a corporate box at Eagle Farm as he watches Joliestar try to reel off her third career Group 1. He has indicated the star four-year-old is likely to race on for another 12 months before a boom breeding career beckons. He gave an insight into how Joliestar, who he parted with $950,000 to purchase as a yearling in 2022, has added another fabulous chapter to the Cambridge Stud story. 'Annabel Archibald once said to me, there's nothing like your colours racing in Australia because people recognise the yellow and black colours as being your Cambridge Stud brand,' Lindsay said. • 'They'll know he's in the race': Giga Kick primed to deliver breakthrough 'Annabel doesn't train any horses for us, but I thought it was quite an interesting thing to say. 'From our point of view, you want to race horses in Australia because it is like competing at the Olympic Games. 'From a business point of view it's fantastic, racing at the elite level against the best horses in Australia and having your colours on show and promoting your business that way, it's free advertising really. 'We always knew we had a pretty good horse on our hands, but to win a Group 1 down the straight at Flemington in commanding fashion was pretty special. 'We are thinking we will race her on next season because The Everest last year was such a disappointment. 'We didn't get best of rides that day, and I've always felt that race is one you always want to have on your calendar.' Joliestar, with James McDonald to ride, has drawn barrier 13 in the Kingsford Smith Cup and is the $3 favourite. Originally published as How Joliestar's owner Brendan Lindsay went from nothing to selling his business for $660m and buying Cambridge Stud
News.com.au
05-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
The Everest placegetter Growing Empire retired to stand at stud
The Everest placegetter Growing Empire has run his last race and will stand at stud in the spring. Owners Yu Long Investments announced the three-year-old would head to the breeding barn after only 11 starts. Growing Empire won four of his 11 starts and more than $3 million in prizemoney. The Zoustar colt was a Group 3 winner at both two and three but measured up to sprints when placed against the older horses in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes and The Everest last spring. The Ciaron Maher-trained Growing Empire had three unplaced runs in the autumn, finishing fourth in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap and fifth in The Galaxy at his last two outings. Yulong has set Growing Empire's stud fee at $22,000 (including GST) for his first season. 'Growing Empire is a gorgeous, athletic colt with the kind of looks breeders love to see in the (sales) ring,' Yulong's chief operating officer Sam Fairgray said. 'On the track, he showed blistering speed and precocity, winning stakes races in his spring three-year-old season, and he mixed it with the best sprinters in the country. 'Importantly, he has the competitive attitude and toughness we prize in our stallions. 'Being by Zoustar out of a fast Snitzel mare, his pedigree is pure speed on speed. He's a perfect fit for Yulong's roster, and we believe breeders will be as excited about him as we are, especially once they lay eyes on him.' Growing Empire will join the likes of Written Tycoon, Alabama Express, Pierata and Grunt on Yulong's 2025 stallion roster.
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Matthew Smith focused on Everest slot with improving sprinter Headwall
Trainer Matthew Smith is prepared to bypass the feature Brisbane sprints to give Headwall every chance to qualify for the $20m The TAB Everest later this year. Headwall has emerged as a genuine Everest contender despite a winless, albeit luckless, autumn campaign. He has taken on the best sprinters in training in four successive starts and could easily have won at least two Group 1 races. Headwall was hopelessly held up in the straight before finishing fourth to Jimmysstar in the Oakleigh Plate then he ran a close second to Joliestar in the Newmarket Handicap. Smith's underrated sprinter again had an interrupted run before his third to Briasa in the TJ Smith Stakes then he was beaten narrowly by Jokers Grin in The Quokka last Saturday. Headwall is on the way back from Perth via a stopover in Melbourne on Thursday but Smith said he wants to check on the five-year-old's condition when he is back at the trainer's Warwick Farm stables before confirming plans for the gelding. 'I reckon Headwall will have a break now,'' Smith said. 'He's done a bit of travelling with a couple of trips away and there is Brisbane to consider. 'But I think when all said and done he should go for a break and then we can target The Everest in the spring.'' Despite Headwall's consistent big-race form this autumn, Smith hasn't fielded any approaches from slot-holders and TAB has the sprinter at $34 in early Everest betting behind Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising at $2. Some of Headwall's adversaries this autumn, Briasa ($8), Jimmysstar ($11) and Joliestar ($11) are among the early favourites for The Everest. 'We haven't had any contact from slot-holders yet but the plan is to get him to The Everest,'' Smith said. 'So, by giving Headwall a break now, we can have him ready to go early in the spring. 'If he can win one of those early lead-up races to The Everest like the Concorde Stakes then surely he would get a start.'' Unbeaten Private Harry ($6) remains the only confirmed starter for The Everest after racing and breeding giant Yulong – which owns a slot in the world's richest turf race – secured a half-share in the sprinter after his win in the Group 1 The Galaxy during the Sydney autumn carnival.
News.com.au
22-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Matt Smith already eyeing The Everest for star sprinter Headwall as he prepares for The Quokka
Trainer Matt Smith is adamant Headwall deserves a crack at this year's $20m The Everest as his star sprinter prepares to chase a win in Australia's second richest slot race at Ascot this Saturday. Headwall can complete his meteoric rise up the Australian sprint ranks with victory in Perth's richest race, the $5m The Quokka (1200m). Despite not winning, the son of Dream Ahead has still been a revelation this campaign with a string of excellent performances at Group 1 level. Smith's emerging talent followed up a first-up fourth in the Oakleigh Plate by finishing runner-up in the Newmarket Handicap and a fast-finishing third in the TJ Smith Stakes. 'He has gone to another level this preparation,' Smith said. 'You never know if horses are going to take that next step but he has. 'He has got the turn of foot to win a Group 1 and is clearly tracking in that direction based on his three runs this preparation. 'They've been outstanding so I am just delighted. He wouldn't have done this before because he wouldn't relax but now he is starting to relax in his runs and gives himself every chance to win one of these races.' Briasa is brilliant in the G1 T J Smith Stakes! He makes it 7 wins from just 9 starts as he races away for @HawkesRacing and @G1TySchil! ðŸ'¨ @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025 Headwall ($6) is one of three NSW raiders in Perth for the Quokka with two-time winner Overpass ($2 favourite) and country weapon Front Page ($9) also lining up. Both Overpass and Front Page have drawn double-digit gates while Headwall jumps from barrier eight with Zac Lloyd aboard. • 'The draw is fine for us, we can't be unhappy with the draw,' Smith said. 'The horse seems to be happy, I can't fault him really. 'He has been here a little over a week now but he settled in fine and seems fine. 'He has had a few runs so we just need to tick him over and keep him happy.' Smith said Headwall will go for a break straight after his trip to Perth to prepare for a spring assault he hopes will end up in The Everest. 'We will go through those Everest lead-up races,' Smith said. 'You can line all the form up now since we've had the three big sprints and you can see they are four or five of them within a length of each other. 'I think he well and truly deserves a crack at The Everest.' Only one horse has been locked in for this year's The Everest with The Galaxy winner Private Harry locked in to run in new owner Yulong's slot. Aethelflaed. Aethelflaed, a runner up in the Group 1 VRC Oaks, made her comeback from a long lay-off with victory in a 2000m event at Canberra last Friday.
South China Morning Post
07-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Karis Teetan set to ride Gatsby's in Group One Newmarket Handicap at Flemington
Karis Teetan heads to Australia to ride in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on Saturday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Karis Teetan will chase Group One glory in Australia when he teams up with talented colt Gatsby's in Saturday's Newmarket Handicap (1,200m) at Flemington. The Hong Kong-based Mauritian rider will make his fourth trip to Melbourne after riding in Group Ones the Melbourne Cup (3,200m), Cox Plate (2,040m) and Caulfield Cup (2,400m) late last year. While he didn't boot home a winner on those trips, with a second at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day his best result, Teetan put himself on the radar of Australian trainers as a lightweight option for major races. That led to the opportunity from champion trainer Chris Waller to ride Gatsby's, who carries just 50kg as a three-year-old under weight-for-age conditions in the Newmarket. The son of Snitzel has won two of his eight starts, with a dominant victory in last year's Listed Rosebud (1,100m) at Rosehill the highlight. He also has experience down the Flemington straight, running a solid fifth to Switzerland in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1,200m) last November, and returned from a spell with a fast-finishing third in the Group Three Eskimo Prince Stakes (1,200m) at Randwick last month. 'He's a pretty handy horse, he ran very well in the Coolmore back in the spring and he's a multiple Group winner,' Waller said. 'He gets his opportunity with a light weight.' That's a MORE than great win to Gatsby's in the Listed Rosebud today! 🌹@cwallerracing @mcacajamez — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 17, 2024 Gatsby's has drawn barrier 15, which can be an advantage down the Flemington straight. He is expected to start a double-figure chance, while Waller will also saddle up one of the leading contenders in Joliestar. The Group One-winning mare has had no luck in recent starts, including last time out when she was checked and stranded wide without cover when third in the Group Two Expressway Stakes (1,200m) at Randwick. She has not raced down the Flemington straight but appeared to handle it well in a jump-out last week when she beat Traffic Warden and Gatsby's. Newmarket Handicap contenders Traffic Warden, Joliestar & Gatsby's familiarised themselves with the Flemington straight this morning ahead of next Saturday's Group 1 👀@FlemingtonVRC — (@Racing) February 27, 2025 'She just needs a bit of confidence and a bit of luck, so we thought bringing her down to Flemington to run in the Newmarket would be a good idea,' Waller said. 'She is certainly good enough in our opinion. Obviously it's a different style of racing, but one that she should adapt to.' The Newmarket is one of 12 overseas races simulcast by the Jockey Club on Saturday, with five races from New Zealand Derby day at Ellerslie and four races from the Canterbury Stakes meeting at Randwick also among the offering for betting. The Group One All-Star Mile (1,600m) will also attract plenty of attention at Flemington, with Mr Brightside chasing a 10th victory at the elite level before a likely trip to Hong Kong for Champions Day in April.
