Middlebrook Valley Lodge is pleased to once again be involved in the upcoming Equimillion Event (October 4 - 7) , sponsoring two up and coming riders over the course of the four days.
“After the success of the inaugural event last year, we were more than happy to be involved again this year,” said Bernie Kane, Sales and Bloodstock Manager for the Middlebrook/Wakefield group.
“We sponsored Millie Graham and ‘Oscar’ last year, and we will sponsor Millie again, and we’ll also sponsor Sarah Read and her mare ‘Burberry Kisses’, and both horses have a connection to Middlebrook, which gives us added incentive to be involved again, and it’s a nice little touch through that connection to the farm.”
Millie Graham is the first Middlebrook sponsored rider, and she is once again competing at Equimillion after participating in last year’s event also.
“Millie approached me last year about the event, and we were more than happy to come on board” said Kane. “Oscar was bred on the farm and carries our famous MVL brand, and whilst he certainly didn’t enjoy going fast on the track (one start for a slashing 12th at Dubbo), he has certainly shown plenty of ability in his new disciplines.
"He’ll compete in both the Eventing and Show Jumping at Equimillion, and Millie has him primed for a big performance as he’s been steadily improving since last year’s event, and is regularly competing at 105cm in Show Jumping, and he’s just about to compete in his first 95cm Eventing competition in a couple of weeks.”
Millie and Oscar have been a team for the past three years since his retirement, and the pair have won numerous classes that they’ve competed in. Millie also does some part-time yearling sale work with various farms in the industry, so it’s great that there is that cross-over between the two, and Millie is exposed to all areas of the industry.
Sarah Read is the second rider under the Middlebrook sponsorship, and her and ‘Burberry Kisses’ also competed at Equimillion last year.
“I was approached by a very good, long-term client of Middlebrook in regards to sponsoring Sarah, and for us it was an easy decision. Breeders invest so much money into the industry and not always at a profit as we know, so for a breeder to keep investing after their horse has retired and to be so passionate about the welfare of the horses they breed, we’re happy to help where we can, when we can,” Bernie Kane said.
“We actually have a retired broodmare owned by this breeder, and she’s currently at Wakefield Stud being used to look after the young fillies that come off the track, just to be that ‘wise head’ in the paddock as those fillies transition into the next stage of their careers.”
Sarah has been riding since she was four years old, and has really formed a beautiful partnership with ‘Burberry Kisses’, being crowned Champion & Reserve Champion at numerous events since they started their journey.
Whilst these two horses and riders have travelled different paths and have different futures in their respective disciplines, that hasn’t always been the case.
“The commitment and care that these riders and owners put into these retired thoroughbreds is amazing,” said Kane.
“The opportunities that now present themselves through events like Equimillion, whilst just being one event, is a far cry from years gone by where nothing like this was available for these horses. As we know, horse welfare is one of the major talking points in the industry, and the more avenues available to all the competitors at Equimillion including riders like Millie & Sarah, gives these horses a chance at a different discipline, and a different life post-retirement, and we’re glad to be a part of it.”
