Progressive Victorian farm Rosemont has pulled off another employment coup with the signing of Woodside stud manager Gerrard Jones to the team.
Jones joined Rosemont this month after a 10-year stint as the boss of Woodside Park overseeing the rise and rise of Written Tycoon and the unique shuttle arrangement for young gun stallion Zoustar and was instrumental in taking Woodside to the next level over the past few years.
In something of an industry surprise, Jones has joined the
crack team at Rosemont to spearhead what looks to be a very exciting time for
the farm.
"I've always admired Rosemont's get up and go from afar and the timing was right for me to join the Geelong-based farm. It is a very progressive operation with exciting things happening at all levels which left me not needing to wonder whether to accept the operations manager position," Jones said this week.
With three stallions – Starcraft, Nostradamus and Toorak Toff – and 150-strong farm-owned broodmare band, 3500 acres of spelling and breeding farms as well as a big team of racehorses, it's been hard not to notice the emergence of Rosemont as one of Australia's next big things in the racing and breeding game. Owned by Anthony Mithen and Nigel Austin, the farm have ownership in over 100 horses in work and also operate a 60-strong pre-training facility in Lara, Geelong headed up by trainer Mark Young. Last racing season, the farm produced three 3yo Classic G1 winners in Montoya's Secret, Ruthven and Hey Doc … a feat not matched by any other farm in Australia.
"The attraction to work with people like Mark as well as our racing manager Peter Moody was big. And having met the department heads and team at the farms, it's fair to say Rosemont is a true leader in terms of quality staff and business practices. I'm rapt to be part of the team," Jones added.
Having grown up in Wagga Wagga, Jones studied a Diploma of Horse Breeding at the Wangaratta TAFE before joining Yallambee Stud and quickly establishing himself as assistant stud manager. He was then lured to Woodside as stud manager and now assumes an overall operations managership for Rosemont which will incorporate all aspects of the business.
"I must say, we are all really lucky to work for a farm that is literally 15 minutes away from a town like Geelong with half a million population and all that the Bellerine region offers. Not only is it a great place to work but it's a fantastic spot to live."
Rosemont's Anthony Mithen couldn't be happier to have secured Jones: "Gezza is such a great fit for us. Extraordinary industry knowledge, dedicated and just a top bloke. He's fitted in super and we are really looking forward to keeping the momentum rolling with Gezza driving the team."
For any Rosemont inquiries, please feel free to contact Gerrard Jones at operations@rosemontstud.com.au
