The first of the annual Ontrack tours has concluded for 2018 with a fabulous group of 28 taking in the wonderful sights of horse & wine country in the Hunter Valley.

Guests came from far and wide to attend the tour including Monto, Strathalbyn, Mareeba, Oakdale, Bayles, Williamstown and Seaford. 

The tour again took in the leading farms including Newgate Farm, Darley Kelvinside, Yarraman Park, Vinery Stud, Coolmore Stud & Arrowfield Stud.

The group stayed in the heart of wine country at the well appointed Mercure Hunter Valley Gardens at Pokolbin.

“Almost half the group were visiting the Hunter Valley for the first time,” said Ontrack’s Grant Morgan. 

“It’s great for our industry to bring people to this fantastic area to showcase these showpeice properties and world class stallions.”

The tour concluded with a visit to Coolmore Stud which was preceeded by a fabulous lunch and drinks at the adjoining Hollydene Estate Winery.

The Ontrack Hunter Valley Horse & Wine Tour was first conducted in 2004. 

2019 Tour Details

Ontrack Hunter Valley Horse & Wine Tour (Sunday 13 October – Thursday 17 October, 2019).

For details contact [email protected] or call 1300 785 529. 

​Tough New Zealand stayer Erin Patrick’s win in the $500,000 Metropolitan at Randwick last Saturday is further proof that the best source of hardy staying horses for Australian stables is across the Tasman.

Erin Patrick was bred by the legendary South Island stud White Robe Lodge and won 10 of his first 21 starts for leading trainer Brian Anderton who made the call to send the horse to Sydney trainer Chris Waller to avoid carrying large weights in New Zealand staying events.

Ontrack Thoroughbreds Managing Director Grant Morgan is firmly of the view that New Zealand remains the best source of staying horses for Australian owners and trainers.

“Each November, Ontrack runs a tour to New Zealand’s leading thoroughbred studs and when we are there in New Zealand we see why the country produces such tough staying stock.

“The farms are beautiful properties and land that’s high in limestone and a range of trace elements so important in growing strong bone in a young thoroughbred.

“Whether it is the famed Cambridge Stud, or Waikato Stud, Windsor Park, Rich Hill, Trelawney, The Oaks or Westbury Stud it’s plain the see the quality of the pastures which build the great bone that New Zealand horses possess.

“The country is no longer the racing powerhouse it once was, but it still produces the majority of Derby and Oaks winners on Australian tracks and that’s not going to change.

“Buyers wanting staying horses have to choose between New Zealand and European bred gallopers and I’d argue that pound for pound there’s a lot better value from the stock we see every year Ontrack takes the tour to New Zealand.

“We visit Rich Hill Stud each year and that was the home of Pentire, who sired the last Australian-trained winner of the Melbourne Cup in Prince Of Penzance.
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“Anyone who has doubts that New Zealand farms are the place to find the staying stock that will succeed in Australian staying tests should book a place on the Ontrack Horse and Wine Tour in November to see the evidence first hand,” said Grant Morgan.