It Takes A Team

7 min read

Welcome to TDN AusNZ’s ‘It Takes A Team’, brought to you in conjunction with the Australian Stud and Stable Staff Awards supported by Godolphin. Here we highlight and celebrate some of the heroes of our industry. The strappers, riders, stud-workers and people behind the scenes of our champions. The people who are up late into the night foaling or up at the crack of dawn for trackwork, working tirelessly to keep our industry running.

Today, we speak with Widden Stud's Emile Fredericks who has been shortlisted for the Horsemanship Award, along with his boss Antony Thompson to hear why Emile is so deserving of this recognition.

TDN AusNZ: Congratulations on being recognised by being shortlisted for the Horsemanship Award. What does it mean to you?

Emile Fredericks: It means everything to me. Coming from South Africa, Antony and Katie they took a punt on me in sponsoring me to come over here, and I’m so pleased they’ve supported me the whole way.

TDN AusNZ: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in the industry?

EF: When I was in school I didn’t enjoy it very much so I finished off two years before I was supposed to. I started to work with my old man and I fell more in love with horses. My old man has always been in horses along with the rest of my family, so it’s always been in my blood, I guess it came from there and I took each day as it came and have tried to make the best out of it.

Emile and Lot 377 | Image courtesy of Inglis

TDN AusNZ: What is your role now and what excites you most about this role?

EF: I’m happy with where I am at the moment, I work with the stallions and yearlings at Widden Stud. At the moment we’re in the yearling season so we're in the middle of preps. Working at Widden means so much to me, they breed good horses and they trust me to work with their stallions like Zoustar, Trapeze Artist, Written By and I also love getting the opportunity to take their million-dollar yearlings through the ring.

TDN AusNZ: Who is your favourite stallion at the farm?

EF: My favourite will be going to Victoria; Nicconi. He was the first horse that I sort of put hands on in Australia, and he and I have a special bond. I’m going to miss him when he moves to Victoria, hopefully I get to see him before he leaves, and maybe I could take him down there, that’d be good; getting to say goodbye to my boy.

"My favourite (stallion) will be going to Victoria; Nicconi. He was the first horse that I sort of put hands on in Australia, and he and I have a special bond. I’m going to miss him when he moves to Victoria." - Emile Fredericks

TDN AusNZ: What’s so special about Nicconi?

EF: Just his nature. I’ve worked with a lot of stallions and I think he’s probably the best-natured stallion I’ve ever worked with. He's never done anything wrong with me and going to the shed with him, he just knows what to do, he’s never had a fussed day, he’s always ready for the job.

TDN AusNZ: Is there a memorable yearling that you can recall in your time working at Widden?

EF: At Magic Millions this year I took a yearling that made $1.9 million and he was just a special horse. Not just to me but to everyone on the farm, we put so much hard work into him. Getting him ready to take up to the ring was amazing. I thought he was going to make a million but he surprised us and made $1.9 million. That was a record for Widden and a record for me, so that’s probably the most memorable moment I’ve had with the yearlings.

TDN AusNZ: Do you have any mentors who have helped you along the way?

EF: My mentor in Australia is David Merrick, the farm's Stud Manager. He has taught me so much in the last four years, and everyday I learn something new from him, not just about horses but about being a father, as I have my little daughter back home. He teaches me things not only inside of work but outside of work also.

He’s a legend in my books and he has mentored so many Widden staff over the years, look at Rae-Louise (Kelly), Zoe Baylis, Matthew Comerford. A lot of great people have come through his hands and he’s just an amazing person to work with.

TDN AusNZ: What is one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to make their start in the industry?

EF: Keep your head down and do your job. It’s not that tricky, just keep your head down and work as hard as you can and do the best that you can.

"Keep you head down and do your job. It’s not that tricky, just keep your head down and work as hard as you can and do the best that you can." - Emile Fredericks

TDN AusNZ: What are you looking forward to most once travel opens up again?

EF: I’m looking forward to going home. I haven’t been home for two years and I miss my daughter, I can’t wait to see her and spend time with her.

Words from Antony Thompson

TDN AusNZ: Why did you nominate Emile for this award? What is it about him that makes him such a deserving nominee?

Antony Thompson: Emile is an excellent horseman. He’s probably one of the best horseman I have ever seen, just naturally gifted. His ability to take on cantankerous horses and get them to settle and relax is like no other. He has lovely soft hands and a really gentle manner.

He’s a huge calming influence on any horse and particularly the young horses that he works with, and in turn he’s a huge asset to have working in the stallion barn, he just gets the stallions to cover so well and he keeps everything safe and uncomplicated.

We also use him as our go-to show man at the sales, he takes our best colts through the ring and when Emile shows a horse, he really shows them off to their maximum potential. Every time he brings a horse out for a parade they really put their best foot forward, they’re always lovely and relaxed and he gets a great stride out of them, and when he stands them up he hits the mark every time.

Those guys are worth their weight in gold, and Emile is a great asset to the farm and we’re so proud of what he has done.

Antony Thompson | Image courtesy of Inglis

AT: To be such a young man coming from South Africa and making that move out of his comfort zone and away from his friends and family. He just settled in so well and he’s just such a huge part of Widden, and Katie and I, and the whole team, just love having him around and realise how lucky we are to have a guy like that, who is so dedicated to the farm and the horses.

"He’s (Emile Fredericks) just such a huge part of Widden, and Katie and I, and the whole team, just love having him around and realise how lucky we are to have a guy like that, who is so dedicated to the farm and the horses." - Antony Thompson

He is someone who we would love to have here for life, he’s that sort of person, we just love having him around.

It Takes A Team
GSSSA
Emile Fredericks
Widden Stud
Antony Thompson