Living the Dream

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday June 27

With Royal Ascot out of the way and the last Australian Group I race of the season run and won, we move to the 'quiet time' of the year for people involved in the bloodstock world.

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Happy campers at Daybreak FarmSo at the risk of being somewhat self-indulgent, I thought it might be a good opportunity to give our audience a glimpse into my world at Daybreak Farm where we do our bit to rehome and retrain some very lucky thoroughbreds.

My world has revolved around thoroughbreds since I took my first job with the late Bede Murray at 15 as a strapper and trackwork rider. 12 years spent working hands on with horses in some of the best stables in the country included a lengthy stint riding work for Gai Waterhouse, which only ended when I was three months pregnant with my twins Jack and Jasmine.

During my time with Gai I was also working in the pedigree department at Inglis during the day, so it was a total immersion in bloodstock - from riding the finished product in the mornings to evaluating foals and yearlings in the paddock on the many inspection runs for Inglis that covered the countryside far and wide.

Long story short, thoroughbreds have been and are my life and the creation of Breednet was an extension of that passion that remains to this day.

A move out of the city five years ago and a return to my home town of Milton has allowed me to take that passion in another direction at Daybreak Farm and with two keen riders in Jack and Jasmine to keep me company and pursue the dream we now have a stable of performance horses competing in showjumping at varying levels, five out of the six being thoroughbreds.

Meet the Daybreak Farm Team

El Shazzar (2009 Snitzel x Elishir) Magic Millions $130,000


A gentle giant who towers above all else at 17.3 hands. He's like no other thoroughbred I've ever seen and those ridiculously long legs are now put to good use over the jumps! He's the regular ride for Jack now that he's moved up from his former star pony Daybreak Prince.

Daybreak Del Pietro aka Piazza San Pietro (g2007 Pins x Ascona)


A promising Kiwi bred stayer who bowed a tendon ending his career, he was given to us by the late Bede Murray. 'Pie' has been Jasmine's horse since she was 12 and she has trained him from straight off the track to competing at Pony Club State Championships and State Interschools. Currently spelling at Bella Lodge he is due back in two weeks time.

Daybreak Charisma aka Half Irish (g2009 Half Hennessy x Wild Irish Girl)


Bred by the Murray family, Henry was a good winner at Nowra and Moruya before finding his way to us and given I used to ride his grand-mother Pride of Court when I was 16, he was a hard one to say no to.After 18 months with us learning his new trade, he is currently for sale (click here to see his ad on Horsezone) and is being ridden at the upcoming Pony Club State Championships by another member of our Lake Conjola Pony Club.


Daybreak Missy aka Mrs Bloom (m2009 Lonhro x Audacious Amber) Inglis Easter $90,000


Racenet Syndications bought her as a yearling and I had a share in her when she was racing so was no small leap to take her on when the racing side of her life was done. She won at long odds at Scone one day paying for my new fridge so felt I owed her something! 

She has been jumping with us for the past four years, albeit with a year off for a catastrophic leg injury that nearly cost the mare her life and me my sanity, but all's well that ends well and this year I've made the decision to return her to the bloodstock world and she will go to stud. Nicconi has been chosen as her first partner!

Lunar Rise (g2009 Starcraft x Spirited Dancer) Inglis Easter $380,000


'Lenny' came to us through bloodstock agent Duncan Ramage, who wanted an active and mentally fulfilling home for a horse he told me was a 'nice person'. Lenny is more than nice, he's gorgeous, if all off the trackers were like this one everyone would have one. He is steadily coming to hand with his flatwork and jumping although his laid back attituded had us wondering early when we spent more time picking up rails after him than building the course. He's a work in progress and just about ready to go out and compete in public.

Croissant (g2008 Oh no, we've gone to dark side!! a warm blood by Vivant, the warmblood equivalent of Redoute's Choice)


Reality is there are very few thoroughbreds comfortable jumping 1.20 plus courses so we have recruited the talents of 'Andy' to teach Jasmine to jump the big fences. They are three months into their partnership and we're headed in the right direction as we aim towards Pony Club State Championships and NSW State Interschools next month.

Daybreak Farm is the culmination of a lifetime dream with special thanks to Tim Hessell and his team at Equestrian Services for delivering us a world class arena to give our horses the very best chance of achieving success. Also thanks to local earth moving company Rockhouse Excavations for creating the space to make it happen.





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