Written by Paul Vettise
Group 3 winner Addictive Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) can count two high-profile mares among the first book he’ll be serving in his first season, having recently retired to Sean Buckley’s Barree Stud in north-east Victoria.
Included in the 5-year-old’s court will be the G3 Ian McEwen Trophy S. and multiple Listed winner Strikeline (Desert Sun {GB}) and Miss Andretti (Ihtiram {Ire}), who carried Buckley’s colours to multiple Group 1 sprinting victories both in Australia and in the King’s Stand S. at Royal Ascot.
Miss Andretti
Strikeline is the dam of the flying machine Nature Strip (Nicconi), an outstanding last-start winner of the G1 VRC Sprint Classic at Flemington. The high class speedster was bred and sold by Golden Grove Stud, also part of Buckley’s bloodstock portfolio.
“Strikeline and Miss Andretti will go to our own stallion Addictive Nature, a sprinter who’s just retired,” General Manager Anthony Swords said.
“Strikeline and Miss Andretti will go to our own stallion Addictive Nature, a sprinter who’s just retired.” – Anthony Swords
“The sister to Strikeline, Miss Strikepower, didn’t race as we didn’t want to risk her on the form of Nature Strip and she’s gone to Shamus Award.”
A brother to the G2 Vase winner and Group 1 performer Savvy Nature (NZ), Addictive Nature was a NZ$775,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale purchase for Buckley’s Ultra Thoroughbreds when offered by Little Avondale Stud.
Addictive Nature won the G3 Ming Dynasty H. and was a multiple black type placegetter
Addictive Nature won the G3 Ming Dynasty H. and was a multiple black type placegetter before retiring as the winner of two of his 13 starts.
Out of the unraced Carnegie (Ire) mare Generous Nature (NZ), the stallion is also closely related to the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel).
No sale regrets
Swords said the operation had no regrets about selling Nature Strip, who made $50,000 when re-offered at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale after he was initially passed in.
“Absolutely not. We’re happy and excited for the owners and we pride ourselves on breeding and selling good horses.
Nature Strip was bred by Anthony Swords
“We’re in the breeding game and we’re happy about any success our clients have. We retain a few for ourselves to play around with and build up the families, but really excited for Nature Strip’s owners.
“He’s a machine and we knew he was a very good horse. He’s had his ups and downs and Chris Waller has done a great job with him.
“He’s a machine and we knew he was a very good horse." - Anthony Swords
“He gave him time to mature and that’s what you get when you breed well and train well."
Melbourne focus
A decision was also made toward the end of last year to relocate a significant number of its equine population to its Melbourne bases.
“We moved most of our mares down from Golden Grove in December, 140 horses,” Swords said. “It was drying up with the drought season.
“We made the decision to bring most of them down to Melbourne with most of the horses owned by Ultra Thoroughbreds and the two partners in that are Sean and Viv Oldfield.
“In Melbourne, we’ve got 580 acres – 120 acres and 460 acres next door to each other.”
