Success on all fronts in 2025
Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun-Via Africa) leaves the Epsom G1 field in her wake at Randwick on 4 October. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)
This time last year we looked back on one of the most spectacular 12-month periods in Arrowfield’s history and hoped our stallions, graduates and racehorses could do it all again in 2025.
And that’s exactly what they’ve done, in the Stud’s 40th year of operation – in fact, surpassing the achievements of 2024.
But none of it is possible without our first-class & fabulous team of Arrowfielders on the farm and in Sydney, our wonderful breeding partners and clients, all the outstanding people we deal with, breeders & vendors, buyers, owners & syndicators, trainers & jockeys, as well as punters, race clubs, suppliers & sale companies, and above all, the marvellous horses who make our hearts sing.
Our gratitude goes to you all, along with our warmest wishes for much joy & success in 2026. As the year comes to a close, here are the highlights of Arrowfield’s 2025:
Autumn Glow lights up the Spring
The year began with great anticipation of the Group 1 campaign planned for Arrowfield & Hermitage’s star filly Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun-Via Africa), but a fleeting virus limited her Autumn racing to a single start, in the Darby Munro S. LR where she defeated subsequent Arrowfield 3YO Sprint G2 winner Enriched in sparkling style.
Autumn Glow returned in the Spring to fulfil all expectations, and justify her status as one of Australia’s most exciting horses in training, with four exhilarating victories, culminating in the Epsom H. G1 on 4 October, followed a month later by the $10 million Golden Eagle. Sent to the spelling paddock with a record of 8 wins from 8 starts, including six Group & Listed races, Autumn Glow’s return for an Autumn 4YO campaign is eagerly awaited.
19 graduates shine in every season
From Blitzburg‘s Canonbury S. G3 on 1 February to Caffe Florian‘s Gosford Guineas LR on 28 December, 19 Arrowfield graduates have notched up 27 stakes victories in 2025 – an average of one every 13.5 days. It’s a record that consolidates the Stud’s No. 1 standing on the Australian Vendors Premiership since 2020.
This year’s 19 stakeswinners are headed by Hermitage’s Inglis Easter purchase Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel-Star Pupil; Coolmore Classic G1, Surround S. G1 & Light Fingers S. G2) and a pair of brilliant sprinters, Bennett Racing’s Magic Millions buy Baraqiel (Snitzel-Angel Of Mercy; Moir S. G1 & Carlyon S. LR) and Giga Kick (Scissor Kick-Rekindled Applause; Champions Sprint G1 & Schillaci S. G2), who was foaled & raised at Arrowfield for Pinecliff Racing.
Here’s how Arrowfield’s list of 2025 graduate stars breaks down:
- By origin & price: 17 stakeswinners bred by Arrowfield (alone or in partnership) and offered for sale as yearlings – 10 by Magic Millions & 7 by Inglis – with one passed in (Adelaide Listed winner Comanche Miss) and 16 sold for prices ranging from $40,000 (Kembla Grange Classic G3 winner Verona Rose) to $1.4 million (Cap Ferrat).
- By country: those 27 black type wins came in Australia (22), New Zealand (2, by Little Black Dress & Origin Of Love), Japan (where Invincible Papa won Group 3 & Listed sprints) and in Hong Kong’s most prestigious domestic race, the Derby, won by Cap Ferrat
- By age: four wins by 2YOs (the colts Blitzburg, Beadman, Skyhook & the filly Little Black Dress), 12 by 3YOs, six by 4YOs and five by the senior brigade of 5YO Jennilala, 6YO Giga Kick & 7YO Baraqiel.
- By sex – 9 colts & geldings and 10 fillies & mares.
- By stable: 15 trainers enjoyed stakes success with Arrowfield graduates, headed by Chris Waller (8 wins with Lady Shenandoah, Lazzura, Matusalem & farm graduate Belle Detelle) and Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou (3 wins with Blitzburg & Skyhook).
Five stallions, 10 Group 1 winners
All five of Arrowfield’s stallions with runners sired Group 1 winners in 2025, with 10 elite performers notching up a total of 22 Group & Listed victories, including 11 at Group 1 level, and earning more than $21 million prizemoney from 7 different stables.
At year’s end The Autumn Sun & Snitzel hold the top two spots on the Australian General Sires’ Premiership with Dundeel & Maurice in the top 20, and Castelvecchio alongside fellow Arrowfield graduates Alabama Express & Super Seth in an exceptional cohort of Third Crop Sires.
- SNITZEL
Lady Shenandoah (ex Star Pupil by Starcraft) – bred by Arrowfield & Planette Thoroughbreds; sold for $525,000 by Arrowfield at Inglis Easter/bought by Hermitage Thoroughbreds; trained by Chris Waller; won Coolmore Classic G1, Rosehill & Surround S. G1, Randwick, NSW.
Marhoona (ex Salma by Encosta de Lago) – bred & raced by Emirates Park; Michael Freedman; Golden Slipper G1, Rosehill, NSW.
Return To Conquer (ex Vaujany by Lonhro) – Mike Howard, Philip & Patti Campbell; $1.3 million at Magic Millions, Blue Gum Farm/David Ellis for Te Akau Racing; Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson; Diamond S. G1, Ellerslie, NZ.
Baraqiel (ex Angel Of Mercy by Hussonet) – Arrowfield & Jungle Pocket; $150,000 at Magic Millions, Arrowfield/Bennett Racing, Anthony Freedman Racing & Blue Sky Bloodstock; Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin; A.J. Moir S. G1, The Valley, VIC.
Transatlantic (ex Gust Of Wind by Darci Brahma) – Go Bloodstock; $360,000 at Inglis Easter, Segenhoe Thoroughbreds/Tony Gollan Racing, Harbour Equine & John Foote Bloodstock; Tony Gollan; Toorak H. G1, Caulfield, VIC. - THE AUTUMN SUN
Autumn Glow (ex Via Africa by Var) – Newhaven Park Stud; $1.8 million at Inglis Easter, Silverdale Farm/Arrowfield & Hermitage Thoroughbreds; Chris Waller; Epsom H. G1, Randwick, NSW.
Autumn Boy (ex Rosegarden by Savabeel) – Richard Rutherford, Beltana Stud; $200,000 at Magic Millions, Amarina Farm/Waller Racing & Mulcaster Bloodstock for Glenn Ritchie; Chris Waller; Caulfield Guineas G1, Caulfield, VIC. - CASTELVECCHIO
Aeliana (ex Temolie by Star Witness) – Nearco Stud & Rich Hill Thoroughbreds; $180,000 at NZB Karaka Premier, Rich Hill/Star Thoroughbreds; Chris Waller; Australian Derby G1, Randwick, NSW – by 5.2 lengths. - DUNDEEL
Femminile (ex Femme Fireball by Pierro) – Simon Delzoppo’s Aralet Pty Ltd; $150,000 at Inglis Easter, Vinery Stud/Phillip Stokes Racing & Rick Connolly Bloodstock; Phillip Stokes; South Australian Derby G1, Morphettville, SA. - MAURICE
Cosmic Crusader (ex Cosmic Storm by Street Sense) – bred & raced by Peters Investments Pty Ltd; Michael Grantham; Northerly S. G1, Ascot, WA.
Snitzel – incomparable in life & death
11 June was unquestionably the most difficult day of the year for every Arrowfielder and for the Snitzel Syndicate as we farewelled our beloved Champion Sire at the age of 22. However, our grief is exceeded by gratitude for the privilege of sharing our lives with him, and the immense legacy he has bequeathed to the Australian breeding & racing industry.
The on-track achievements of Snitzel’s brilliant progeny in the year of his death confirms that he left us at the top of his game:
- 163 winners of 260 races in 5 countries
- 38 stakes performers including 17 stakeswinners of 28 Group & Listed Races across almost the entire year, from February to December, at distances from 1000 metres to 2000 metres, and compiled by 9 sons and 8 daughters from 5 crops.
- 5 individual Group 1 winners
- Worldwide prizemoney of $30.1 million.
Snitzel also posted career-high figures in the sale-ring: his 69 yearlings averaged $656,909, including 11 $1 million+ lots headed by the $2.8 million colt ex Humma Humma, sold at Magic Millions by Widden Stud to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock.
Several of Snitzel’s 18 stakes-siring sons have boosted their records this year with Russian Revolution, Shamus Award & Invader adding 4 stakes wins in December alone, and Sword Of State making an early impact on the ANZ First Season Sires’ tables.
And the 4-time Champion Sire continued to press his claim as a leading broodmare sire, with 14 stakeswinners including Group 2 winners Iowna Merc & Super Smink, plus new millionaire Clear Thinking. Snitzel ends the year in 5th spot on the Australian Broodmare Sires’ Premiership, just behind his own sire Redoute’s Choice in a top 10 dominated by Danehill-line stallions.
High achievements by the home team
Arrowfield’s dedicated home stable team, led by Paul Messara (in his 21st year as a trainer) & Leah Gavranich (in her third season in partnership), has had a tremendous 12 months, from their first winner (Dale at Tamworth on 23 January) to Know Thyself’s barn-storming victory at Randwick on 20 December, compiling 46 wins from 163 starts for an outstanding 28.2% winning strike rate.
Most notably, the stable landed three major prizes: the $1 million Country Championships Final (Aaron Bullock on board) and $500,000 The Coast (Ash Morgan aboard) with 5YO gelding Know Thyself (The Autumn Sun-Mantra Of Life), and the $2 million The Kosciuszko in October with 6YO mare Clear Thinking (Dubawi-Sweet Idea), ridden by Tyler Schiller.
Arrowfield was proud to be the #1 Vendor by aggregate at Inglis Easter 2025 for the 8th year in the past decade, as well as #4 at Magic Millions and #1 at Inglis Classic. However, our focus remains firmly on breeding, raising & selling horses that fulfil the dreams of buyers, owners & trainers and we invite you, once again, to join us in that quest at Magic Millions 2026!
