With such an exceptional roster, it is little wonder that Coolmore is an organisation which tends to let its horses do the talking, but a recent human addition to the Australian team is also significant.
John Kennedy has arrived as Coolmore's Australian farm manager having worked in a similar role at Castlehyde Stud for Coolmore Ireland for the past two years.
With such an extraordinary roster assembling on the farm, it’s a great time to be starting out, and Kennedy is relishing the challenge.
"I must thank Tom and Sophie Magnier and the whole team at Coolmore Australia for making it such a seamless transition into my new role here," he told TDN AusNZ.
"It’s such a wonderful opportunity as the Australian industry is such a vibrant one. The good horses are returning to the races over the next couple of weeks and the mares have already started to foal, so it is all very exciting."
"It’s such a wonderful opportunity as the Australian industry is such a vibrant one. The good horses are returning to the races over the next couple of weeks and the mares have already started to foal, so it is all very exciting." - John Kennedy
Kennedy came through the course at the Irish National Stud, having previously studied economics at University College in Dublin. He then worked at Yeomanstown Stud in County Kildare with the O'Callaghan family before moving to Coolmore.
John Kennedy, Coolmore's Australian farm manager
He is the latest of a long line of talented Irishmen and women to make their way into the Australian industry and he hopes to utilise his previous experience to great effect in Australia.
"I have been very lucky to work alongside some great people at Coolmore in Ireland over the last two years, and previously with the O’Callaghan family at Yeomanstown Stud. They have been incredible experiences," he said.
"When it comes to the running of a successful stud farm it is very much a team effort. The fundamentals are the same across the board, so I will call upon my experiences overseas in my new role and continue to learn as I work alongside the great team already here at Coolmore Australia."
All well with new arrivals
Justify is one of three new stallions at Jerrys Plains in 2019, with fellow Scat Daddy (USA) stallion Mendelssohn (USA) and Deep Impact's (Jpn) G1 winner Saxon Warrior (Jpn) also in Australia for the first time.
Saxon Warrior (Jpn) is in Australia for the first time
Kennedy said the early signs were positive from all the newly arrived shuttle stallions.
"All of the stallions have settled in very well to their routines at Coolmore Australia. Gerry Ryan, his team and I could not be happier with them and we particularly look forward to showcasing the three new stallions to Australian breeders in the coming weeks," he said.
"All of the stallions have settled in very well to their routines at Coolmore Australia. Gerry Ryan, his team and I could not be happier with them." - John Kennedy
Coolmore released a video earlier this week of Justify adapting to his new environs. The spectacular chestnut Triple Crown winner looked a picture of health as he stepped off the float having spent two weeks in quarantine in Melbourne.
"Justify is in immaculate condition. He is one of the best horses ever to travel to Australia, and to have him in the barn alongside fellow US Triple Crown winner American Pharoah here in Jerrys Plains is very exciting for all of us here on the farm," Kennedy said.
"Australian breeders will love him when they see him and the response has already been enormous. He has great size and strength, good bone and immense quality. He is the exact type of horse that trainers and agents go to the yearling sales to try and buy."
Heading from summer at Ashford Stud in Kentucky to late winter in the Hunter Valley in Australia does take some adapting to, but with great insight into his usual routine, the transition has been eased.
"The stallions love their routine and he will have a very similar one to what he is used to in America. The major difference is the climate, and as you can see in the video, he already appears to be enjoying the Australian sun on his back," Kennedy said.
US Triple Crown winner American Pharoah
While the 14-strong Coolmore roster for 2019 is of a rare quality in Australia, it doesn’t change the way the staff go about their business, with the same meticulous approach to managing its stallions according to Kennedy.
"The general systems and procedures at the farm have been very much the same for more than 20 years, in which time we have had champion stallions such as Danehill (USA), Encosta De Lago and more recently Fastnet Rock," he said.
"This is an incredible roster of stallions standing at Coolmore in Australia, however nothing changes logistically. It’s business as usual, and we are very much looking forward to the season in front of us."
