Singapore-based Jayven See is reaping the rewards of his continued investment into the Australian racing and breeding landscape this week on the Gold Coast.
See, who has raced horses in Australia for over 17 years, is the owner of speed filly Swordplay, who finished a gallant sixth in last weekend’s $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight (1100m) for trainer Bjorn Baker. This Saturday, See will be back in the major frame at the Gold Coast Turf Club, not only as a part-owner of Michael Freedman-trained filly Mystical, but also as a breeder of key contender Knightsbridge.
Having that level of representation across the showpiece races of the carnival is exciting for See, who has travelled to Australia for the week.
“It’s not often that you have three runners in big races across one week, it doesn’t get much better than that,” See said.
“We have a small share in Mystical with Michael Freedman, and also bred Knightsbridge, so we have the horse we bred against a horse we have a share in all there together.”
A son of Kia Ora Stud sire Farnan out of the Nicconi mare Festivity, Knightsbridge was bred and raised at Lime Country Thoroughbreds, before he was offered for sale through their draft at Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2025.
A sought-after colt, Lot 394 was knocked down for $750,000 to the bid of James Harron Bloodstock and Tony Fung, before joining the Sydney stable of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. After finishing fifth in stakes grade on debut, Knightsbridge broke maiden status in a juvenile event at Randwick, earning his place in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1100m) on January 17.
See bred the colt as part of a Lime Country Breeding Partnership, having been involved with farm owners Jo and Greg Griffin for nearly two decades.
“It has been a long time, about 17 years,” he said. “Jamie (Griffin) and Jayde (See) were still only about four or five feet tall.
“I have never seen it as a business relationship with Greg and Jo, it’s always been more of a friendship. We don’t always agree, but most of the time, we will be on the same page because we are thinking about what is best for the horses - they always come first.
“I think that’s why we have continued all these years. I might not see them for six months, but it still feels like just yesterday when I see them.
“Most of my horses and mares are in partnership with Greg and Jo, we have been doing pretty well so why change the plan?”
See has been in a dual role on the Magic Millions sales complex this week, with three yearlings for sale in Lime Country’s draft resulting in a 100 percent clearance rate and an average of $343,000 across three colts.
Meanwhile, he is also searching for the next Swordplay or The Odyssey, the latter a former Queensland Horse of the Year and $1.7million earner.
“We buy quite a few horses each year and I have been lucky to get one or two right,” See said.
“There are a lot of people that are good at buying horses and sometimes you can pick the right one, but sometimes it’s just up to gut feeling. There is a horse called The Odyssey that was Queensland’s Horse of the Year a few years ago and was owned by us, and he was an example of that.
“I have a few people that help me look at the horses and Satomi Oka was involved in buying Swordplay. This filly had caught my eye during the sale and we looked at her again, she was a striking type and her family was doing well.
“We always look to buy with residual value in mind, to breed from anything we race, so that was part of the decision as well.
“I always think it is important to be prepared to race your horse if you can’t sell them and I enjoy the racing side, you can’t expect too much and just take it as it comes. If you win, you have to enjoy it, you often do more losing than winning.
“I tell people if I was ever reborn again I would probably be a zookeeper, I’ve always grown up around animals and they are like pets to me.”
While he has enjoyed plenty of big-race success, See isn’t often trackside, preferring to watch his horses from afar. However, Swordplay filled the Magic Millions slot in the Sunlight, so he made an exception and enjoys the unique feel of the carnival.
“I don’t normally attend races, especially major races, I don’t like the tension. Very strangely, all my horses that have won top races, I have never been there,” he said.
“I have been coming to Magic Millions for about 17 years, it’s a good location and the environment is great during this January period. It is very unique, you have the sales, but then there are events on, it is more like a festival.
“You can bring people there and they wouldn’t have to look at four-legged animals all day, that is just part of being here.”
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