Personality Profile – Know Them Better

Sponsored Content - by Tara Madgwick - Friday October 22

Combining motherhood and a young family with the role of Stud Manager at a leading boutique Hunter Valley nursery means you don’t get much time to watch TV!

Jade Rossington with future G1 winner Bella Vella as a yearling.

This week we find out more about Jade Rossington, Stud Manager at Willow Park Stud.

1/Where are you from, and what got you in involved in the thoroughbred industry?

I grew up at Lower Belford (the lower Hunter) on my parent’s small scale thoroughbred stud. From day dot I loved horses, the sales (the only days I ever had off school was to attend the Inglis mixed sales at Randwick!), pedigrees, organisation and I wasn’t afraid of hard work. I started at Willow Park in 2005 when I came back from America.

2/ What does a workday in the life of Jade Rossington look like?

That varies very much day to day, depending on the time of year. Currently, first thing I do is check in with Brett (my 2IC) to see if there’s been any new additions overnight, and we discuss and plan the day ahead .

I then help get mares in for vet work, vetting can take anywhere from a couple hours to most of the morning to get through. As we go, I organise the covers, transport for covers and updates to the stallion farms. The remainder of the day can involve a combination of farm organisation, client liaising, looking over foals/horses, catching up on office work or helping out on the stud anywhere that’s needed.

3/ Who is your favourite horse and why?

Samantha Miss was the first million-dollar horse I prepared for sale. I led her through the ring and then went to the races and watched her win a couple Group 1’s. She was a champion in my eyes!

4/ Tell us about the best day you had at the races or at the sales, and what made it memorable for you?

I love any day at the races!!

Scone Cup day is always a favourite!

Two sale moments stand out... as mentioned in previous question, Samantha Miss, at the sales I remember parading her for (purchaser) Ron Croghan in his wheelchair, he said to me, if she jumps on me, I won’t buy her! Lucky she didn’t jump on him!....

Jade Rossington with her Starspangledbanner colt.

The other sale moment was a massive personal achievement. It was breeding (in partnership with Lisa Richards) a Starspangledbanner colt that we sold for $150,000 at the Magic Millions a couple of years ago. We have his yearling half-brother by So You Think who is a belter, that we are taking to Adelaide in 2022!

5/ What is your favourite show on Netflix or TV?

I don’t watch TV! Between juggling work and spending as much time with my beautiful family, my next favourite thing to do is sleep!!!

Jade with husband Tom and children Mia and Ollie.

6/ When travel opens again where is the first place you will go?

Haha, well we have a weekend at the end of November booked at Shoal Bay caravan park! Hopefully we can get there!

7/ What is your favourite cuisine and restaurant?

Cuisine is a tough one, maybe Spanish tapas! Or Italian. Favourite restaurant Del Punto.

8/ Name two things on your bucket list?

I would love to swim with whales!! So terrifyingly exhilarating?! And do an African Safari!

9/ What’s the best advice someone has ever given you?

Treat others how you wish to be treated.

10/ Tell us one thing that not many people may know about you?

I led a stallion (Nanutarra) through the sales ring at Inglis Newmarket at age 17.



 

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