Breeding and selling racehorses had always been a hobby for the O’Bree family until they made a momentous decision to go commercial in 2020.
The O’Brees – Rod & Bridie and their children Jaime & Daniel – operate Ruby Racing & Breeding in the mid-west at Kojarena and being far removed from the traditional breeding grounds in WA hasn’t hindered their immediate success in the vendors box.
That first year included an Extreme Choice colt they bred and sold for $255,000 to China Horse Club at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. Named Tiger Of Malay, he developed into a top-class sprinter winning the G2 Brisbane Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at two and the G3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) in Sydney at three.
Jaime kept a share and Tiger Of Malay’s first foals are on the ground after covering an initial book of 164 mares at Newgate Farm in the Hunter Valley last year.
Topping that launch would take some beating but their second-year graduate Bustler would do just that winning the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday.
The Playing God miler was pin-hooked by Rod O’Bree for $32,500 at the Mungrup Stud Dispersal in August 2020 and six months later he was knocked down for $130,000 at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions.
Rod O’Bree (Far right) pictured at the Railway Stakes presentation / Photo: Western Racepix
Rod kept a share in a partnership that includes Ridgeport Holdings owner Santo Guagliardo with trainer Neville Parnham and his wife Carolyn. The Railway result improved his record to 7 wins in 14 starts for earnings over $1.55 million.
It was also the highlight of a treble for Ruby Racing & Breeding graduates at the Group 1 meeting. They also sold Crystal Slipper Stakes (1100m) winner Onemoretwomany (Tassort) and Amelia Park Hcp (1400m) winner Starry Heights (Star Turn).
“It was surreal,” Jaime O’Bree told ANZ Bloodstock News. “Onemoretwomany was a client’s pinhook who went through our draft and Starry Heights was a homebred for Ellie Giles and Premium Bloodstock.
“Our clients are pumping out the winners as well as us, so it was a crazy day. We are very lucky, the clients we have are genuine sellers, so it’s been fantastic to work with them. The prices of the horses who won are all in different price ranges, so it proves that you can have a good winner from a $35,000 one or a $130,000 horse. It’s been a great ride.”
