Written by Paul Vettise
Bob Emery scaled back his bloodstock interests a few years ago, but he continues to make his mark with a boutique band of broodmares.
The Waikato Group 1 winning breeder and owner enjoyed considerable success from his Belvedere Farm base established in Cambridge in 2000 before deciding on a quieter pace of life in 2015 and selling the property, which is now operating as Milan Park.
“I’ve only got 10 mares after I had a big reduction,” Emery said. “I’m still breeding some nice horses and having a bit of luck.”
More by good management than luck though, Emery sent two of his broodmares across the Tasman to Declaration Of War (USA) and both have subsequently produced exciting prospects in Vigor Winner and Voyage Warrior.
“He was a lovely performer on the track and to me he was ideal. It’s a shame that he never came back.” – Bob Emery.
Declaration Of War sire of Vigor Winner & Voyage Warrior
The former won his first two starts before finishing runner-up in the G2 Wellington Guineas while Vigor Winner was an impressive debut winner at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Sunday evening for Ricky Yui.
Declaration Of War is a multiple Group 1 winning son of War Front (USA), who served only two seasons at stud at Coolmore.
“I thought he was a real good looker and I liked his pedigree,” Emery said. “He was a lovely performer on the track and to me he was ideal. It’s a shame that he never came back.”
Vigor Winner is out of Savont (Exceed And Excel), who is from the family of Group 1 winners Casino Prince (Flying Spur), Green Birdie (Catbird) and Onemorenomore (Red Ransom {USA}), and was sold at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale for NZ$50,000.
“Chaleur unfortunately passed away, but I do have a filly that I luckily kept.” - Bob Emery.
Voyage Warrior is a son of Chaleur (Stravinsky {USA}), also the dam of the stakes winner Speech Craft (Oratorio {Ire}), with Group 1 winners Wall Street (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Bezeal Bay (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) on the pedigree page.
“Chaleur unfortunately passed away, but I do have a filly that I luckily kept,” Emery said. “She’s by Holy Roman Emperor and the only one left from the family so I'm holding on to her dearly.
“Voyage Warrior was sent to Karaka and made NZ$55,000,” Emery said. “Robert Dawe bought him and he was again sold at the Ready to Run.
Voyage Warrior pictured as a yearling
“He had been educated by Ken Kelso and he told me before the horse went to Hong Kong that he had a lot of ability. He trialled like he raced on Sunday night.”
“He had been educated by Ken Kelso and he told me before the horse went to Hong Kong that he had a lot of ability.” – Bob Emery.
Ridden by Karis Teetan, the 3-year-old led all the way and coasted home by four lengths.
“It’s good that he won and he still doesn’t know much about what is happening around him or what he should do,” he told the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s website.
“I think there is still a long way to go with him and a few things to fix, but it was a good first step.”
“I think there is still a long way to go with him and a few things to fix, but it was a good first step.” – Karis Teetan.
Voyage Warrior was initially bought out of Henley Park’s draft and when re-offered at the breeze-up sale by JK Farm realised NZ$280,000.
Voyage Warrior as a 2-year-old
“He was very mature and looked more like a 2-year-old than a yearling,” said Sarah Devcich, who operates Henley Park with husband Marc.
“He was a good-moving horse and that obviously showed in his breeze-up. Very little was known about Declaration Of War at the time, but we were taken by both of them.
“Vigor Winner was a bit naughty and didn’t go to the yearling sale. Bob elected to get him broken in and went to the Ready to Run.”
“Vigor Winner was a bit naughty and didn’t go to the yearling sale.” – Sarah Devcich.
He went through Regal Farm’s draft and was sold to Golden River Investments, of Hong Kong, for NZ$50,000.
Emery has enjoyed a good year in the sale ring, both at home and in Australia.
“I sold three at Karaka and got NZ$320,000 for a Tavistock, NZ$300,000 for a Teofilo and NZ$160,000 for a Shooting To Win,” he said.
The trio were all sold through Woburn Farm’s draft with the Tavistock (NZ) colt, purchased by Paul Moroney, out of Sarvon and a half-brother to the G3 Wellington S. runner Swords Drawn (Camelot {GB}).
“At the Classic Sale I sold a filly by Iffraaj for $150,000.” – Bob Emery.
Teofilo’s (Ire}) son, which went to McEvoy Mitchell Racing, is out of Purnima (Dubai Destination {USA}) and is a half-brother to the G3 Rotorua S. winner Tomelilla (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Victorian trainer Tony Noonan bought the Shooting To Win colt, who is out of a half-sister to G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. winner Charmont (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}). The dam Monira (More Than Ready {USA}) is a grand-daughter of Emery’s two-time Group 1 winner and G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Champagne (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
“At the Classic Sale I sold a filly by Iffraaj for $150,000. She’s a half-sister to Vigor Winner and the mare’s got a Sweynesse filly and she’s in foal again to Iffraaj,” Emery said.
The Inglis graduate, who was signed for by trainer Stephen Marsh and agent Bruce Perry, was offered by Woburn.
