Royal Meeting leads rebranded Lovatsville at $22,000 as Generation introduced at $11,000

Cover image courtesy of Leneva Park

Seymour-based nursery, Leneva Park, has undergone a rebranding to become Lovatsville. This transformation is under the leadership of Sam White, who has secured a three-year lease for the property.

Under the Lovatsville banner, the roster boasts the esteemed G1 Blue Diamond-producing sire, Royal Meeting (Ire), positioned at the top with a fee of $22,000 (inc GST), an increase from his previous rate of $11,000 (inc GST). Additionally, Lovatsville has announced the acquisition of Generation, a dual Group 3-winning sprinter and son of Snitzel, at an introductory fee of $11,000 (inc GST).

White, 37, hails from a non-racing background, stepping into the industry at the age of 27 with the esteemed operation Coolmore. He reminisced, “I came into racing later. I joined Coolmore when I was 27 and I spent five years with them, including a short stint in Ireland but primarily out of Coolmore’s Jerry Plains base in the Hunter.”

He further elaborated on his journey, stating, “I then linked up with Ciaron Maher, some years ago. Actually, it was still just the one stable at Caulfield. I’ve taken a bit of an alternative path compared to a lot of the industry, but I’ve always been a fan.”

Reflecting on his prior experience, White shared, “I was in property before, and I’d worked in Australia and overseas in London, New York, and St. Petersburg in Russia. Whilst it was a great experience and I learned an awful lot, I didn’t think it was the future I was interested in pursuing. I firmly believe if you want to work and grow and really enjoy your life it needs to be exciting and something you’re passionate about.”

He acknowledged the shift in his career focus, stating, “I probably didn’t have the same fire in real estate as what I did for racing and sports. So, I had a complete career change and here we are 10 years later.”

White further elucidated on the rebranding of Leneva Park to Lovatsville, stating, “We’ve got a group behind me, and it’s something I’ve been looking to do for a little while. Over the past 18 months, I’ve done some consulting back to Leneva to assist them with the marketing and promotion of its stallions. That led to an opportunity and discussion where I expressed a bit of an interest that I’d like to grow my role and possibly take a bit more of a lead.”

He emphasised his belief in partnerships, remarking, “I'm a firm believer in partnerships; I don’t think in this day and age, particularly, you can do it alone. And if you do, you’re probably going to get burned in the process given the demands of the industry. Leneva was really open and willing to be in the conversation and see what it may look like.”

White also highlighted the collaboration involved, stating, “I had some private backers behind me willing to resource the startup of a new entity, and thankfully the Seymour Bloodstock team (Darren Thomas and Mark Pilkington) also saw merit in the concept and have come into the partnership too. So, it’s a bit of a coming together of a variety of people in and outside of the industry.”

He concluded with enthusiasm, saying, “It is something I’m incredibly excited about and something I really wanted to drive on with.”

Royal sees fee increase

Royal Meeting (Ire), a Group 1-winning son of Invincible Spirit (Ire), will stand for an increased fee of $22,000 (inc GST). This hike comes after his outstanding daughter, Hayasugi, claimed the G1 Blue Diamond S., G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies), and the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies). Hayasugi, from a debut crop of 60 lives, stands as Royal Meeting’s sole winner among seven runners. Notably, his placed son, War Council, has already earned connections $71,600.

While there was temptation to raise Royal Meeting’s fee further, White and shareholders opted to keep it accessible for breeders who have supported him since his first runners. White explained, “There was a temptation to push his fee a little higher. However, we considered the breeders that have supported Royal Meeting year in, year out." He emphasised the importance of rewarding loyal supporters, stating, “You have to reward the people that have supported you to get to this point, and we’re really conscious of that.”

Regarding Hayasugi and the future prospects of Royal Meeting’s progeny, White expressed optimism, “Hayasugi looks something really special. Clint McDonald (trainer) thinks she’ll come back as an even better 3-year-old and he really feels there’s a lot more to come from her."

White highlighted the potential for Royal Meeting's progeny to mature with time, drawing comparisons to other successful progeny of Invincible Spirit, “What probably what heartens us most around Royal Meeting, what he’s been able to do with his first crop. I Am Invincible, who’s the star of the show and we all love what he’s brought to the Australian racing and breeding industry, but he only ever saw his first Group 1-winning 2-year-old this season (Move To Strike)."

He concluded with praise for Aquis, stating, “It’s a credit to Aquis, who really do want to leave something for the breeder. They’ve been very consistent in that and making sure breeders can make money, and that sentiment rings true here again.”

Generation fits the mould

Lovatsville has welcomed Generation, a son of the four-time Champion Sire Snitzel, to Victoria, with an introductory fee of $11,000 (inc GST).

This handsome son of Snitzel was a $575,000 yearling purchase by Ciaron Maher Racing and Dermot Farrington Bloodstock from the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Generation boasts victories in the G3 Red Anchor S. and the G3 Manfred S., along with placed efforts in the G2 Caulfield Sprint and the G3 Heath S.

Additionally, he was fourth in both the G1 Moir S. and the G1 William Reid S. He is the penultimate foal from the talented juvenile Fontiton (Turffontein), who claimed victories in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies), the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies), and the R. Listed Inglis Banner.

Commenting on the acquisition of Generation, White expressed, “He’s very well-bred and good-looking. He was a quick horse with 2-year-old form, and I guess it comes back to that I Am Invincible, Written Tycoon, Tassort model. They all had similar attributes without the Group 1 victory.”

White highlighted Snitzel's impressive record as a stallion, stating, “Generation is by the four-time Champion Stallion Snitzel, who’s had 55 stakes-winning juveniles and is now looking to be a sire of sires."

Discussing Generation’s physical attributes, White shared with TTR AusNZ, “I don’t think people will be disappointed when they see him. Generation is sort of typical of that sprinting type; he’s not the biggest horse but he’s got great length and strength."

White also praised Generation's pedigree, saying, “He’s also extremely attractive and has a brilliant pedigree. His dam Fonition was a great 2-year-old, and her own dam Personal Ensign was a 2-year-old winner and a stakes-winning sprinter.”

He further added, “Also, Fontiton before she passed had two foals, who were both black-type performers. So, I think it’s a family littered with speed, and it just makes a lot of sense for Victorian breeders to be able to access that opportunity.”

Impact set to be Fierce

Completing the 2024 Lovatsville roster is the triple Group 1 winner Fierce Impact (Jpn), a son of the extraordinary Deep Impact (Jpn). He will stand at a slightly reduced fee of $13,750 (inc GST).

Fierce Impact has garnered strong support in his three seasons at stud, covering a total of 405 mares, with a book of 105 mares last season. His first yearlings made their debut at sales across Australasia this year. Out of 32 offered, 28 have sold at an aggregate of $1,265,408, averaging $45,193, with a top price of $310,000.

A versatile and tenacious campaigner, Fierce Impact claimed victory in six races, earning the title of Joint Champion Middle Distance Horse in Australia through his triumphs in the G1 Cantala S., the G1 Makybe Diva S., and the G1 Toorak H. He also secured placings in the G1 CF Orr S., the G1 Chipping Norton S., and the G1 Winx S.

White expressed satisfaction with the reception to Fierce Impact and anticipates the debut of his first runners this spring. However, he acknowledges that time will be advantageous for Fierce Impact’s progeny, stating, “We were happy. Fierce Impact’s progeny sold up to $310,000 to Lindsay Park at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Gandharvi and Michael Freedman paid $170,000 for another at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

“With Fierce Impact, you’re tapping into that Sunday Silence blood that’s worked so well with Maurice, Brave Smash, and Satono Aladdin here. All of whom have Sunday Silence in their pedigrees.

“I think one thing we’ve really learned about Fierce Impact is that his stock just continues to improve. Anyone you speak to, it doesn’t matter if they’re a foal, to be a weanling to a yearling and even in the early stages of breaking they continue to transition and improve and work.

“The more time I’ve spent with Fierce Impact the more you come to appreciate what he was as a racehorse and the pedigree he possesses. His dam is a multiple Group 3-winning sprinter from the Elusive Quality line and he’s a full brother to a Group 1 winner and he won three Group 1s himself.”

“There are only four males by Deep Impact to have ever won three or more Group 1s and they are: Contrail, Auguste Rodin, Fierement and Fierce Impact. - So, that’s pretty elite company.

“We don’t expect Fierce Impact to have pre-Christmas runners. I don’t think the market expects him to that either but he’s probably a really risk-reward piece and he’s one that we’ve just given a bit of a fee reduction.

“We will look to price, packet, and market Fierce Impact pretty generously to make breeders. We want to be out there doing business and make sure that he gets good support again this season.”

The final word

White, a proud Victorian, is thrilled to be at the helm of Lovatsville this spring, seeing it as an opportune time to be involved in the Victorian breeding industry due to the strength and quality of the stallions and operations. He expresses, “I’m just excited. I think the Victorian breeding industry in the last few seasons has regained its swagger a little bit."

He attributes this resurgence to the efforts of farms such as Swettenham, Rosemont, Darley, and the emergence of Yulong and Widden in Victoria. White notes, “We have been seeing more high-profile horses standing in Victoria, and there is a bit of renewed enthusiasm in the local industry. I’m a proud Victorian, and I was always keen to get home and try and do something here."

With enthusiasm, he adds, “I’m so excited about it. We want to attract business from all Australasia - Tasmania, South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia, and New Zealand. We want to keep that momentum going, and I’m just thrilled to be in this position and hope to make a contribution."

Table: Lovatsville stallion fees for 2024