All’s Well That Ends Well

Tara Madgwick - Monday August 27
The arrival of a new generation of foals every spring is the source of much delight and excitement to their owners, but the path from cute furry foal to stakes-winner is not always smooth which is why the win of Danawi in the Group III ATC Ming Dynasty on Saturday was quite possibly the highlight of the year for Stud Manager Scott Holcombe and his team at Milburn Creek Thoroughbreds.

Danawi returns to scale a stakes-winner!Situated on the Southern Highlands of NSW, Milburn Creek Thoroughbreds is owned by well known Sydney owner breeder John Muir and his wife Trish. The Muir's love their horses and none more so than former star racemare Secret Admirer, who won over $1.4 million for the couple on the track with highlight wins in the Group I ATC Epsom Handicap and Flight Stakes.

Retired to stud in 2013, Secret Admirer went to champion sire Redoute's Choice in her first season, a mating that ultimately ended in disaster with a difficult foaling resulting in the loss of the much longed for filly foal and very nearly the mare as well.

Secret Admirer regained her health and was subsequently covered by Exceed and Excel with strapping colt Danawi the result, but his success in the sale ring ($400,000 Inglis Easter) and now as a racehorse on the track appeared a forlorn hope in the weeks after he was born.

"He was born a heavy first foal that was very down on both hind bumpers," revealed Scott Holcombe.

"We placed hind shoes on him and they normally improve dramatically, but after a couple of weeks we x-rayed his hind fetlocks and it looked like we were in a lot of trouble.

"Debbie my wife suggested speaking to our friend James Balfe, the former farrier at Coolmore, whom she had worked with previously.

"We sent James video of the colt, plus X Rays and advised our insurance company we wanted more time as they were beginning to fear he was a lost cause.

"Secret Admirer and the colt travelled to James' farm where he worked with him daily making special shoes and continued to come up with different shoes as well as doing massaging stretches!

"This colt would not be here without James Balfe and his skill and persistence. He kept telling me 'I will win with this foal we just need to be patient with him!'"

Secret Admirer is now in the position of having produced a stakes-winner as her first living foal and has since had two more foals, a colt by I Am Invincible that made $560,000 at Inglis Easter this year and a yearling colt by Snitzel.

The reality is all foals are not born perfect, but it just goes to show that patience and a good management strategy can turn a potential tragedy into a stakes-winner!


Advertisment
More Reading...
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Two New SW's for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot is set to be crowned Champion Australian Second Season Sire and is headed back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and overnight he produced two new stakes-winners in the UK and Ireland.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Farnan Draws Level with Ole Kirk on 13 Winners
There’s a good battle going to decide the leading first season sire by Australian winners and with just seven days of the season to run Farnan is laying down the gauntlet to the long time division leader Ole Kirk.
One to Watch - Belmont
Racing made a welcome return to Belmont Park yesterday and the first winner to salute on the freshly renovated track was a two year-old that started a red hot favourite and could not have been more impressive!
Zoustar Filly Wander Dune Impresses On Debut In South Africa
Making her debut as favourite in the Race Coast Maiden Juvenile Plate (1200m) at Kenilworth, South Africa on Saturday, 2yo Australian-bred Zoustar filly Wander Dune impressed with an emphatic victory.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 25
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.