Armidale Stud

30/07/2024

The conclusion of the racing season always presents an excellent opportunity for us to reflect on our shared successes and the path we have forged through our commitment to building a sustainable future for Armidale 🐎

Visit bit.ly/newseasonedm to read our latest seasonal update, featuring fee releases and important information about our stallions, Needs Further and Alpine Eagle.

The conclusion of the racing season always presents an excellent opportunity for us to reflect on our shared successes and the path we have forged through our commitment to building a sustainable future for Armidale.

16/07/2024

We're hiring!

We have an exciting Foaling Attendant position available for the upcoming season.

01/07/2024

Only the best for the horses at Armidale!

Our resident veterinarian, Dr Isabel Collier, manages the treatment of all on-farm horses at Armidale. She has extensive experience in equine reproduction and tailors treatment plans specific to each mare’s needs.

04/06/2024

We have three impeccably bred weanlings heading to the Inglis Great Southern Sale on June 13 & 14 🐎

Our first lot through the ring is 118, a filly and the first foal from G3 winner/multiple Group placegetter Eperdument by Leading Sire So You Think.

The full brother to G2 winner/multiple G1 placegetter Soul Patch will go through the ring as Lot 150, the lovely c**t out of God Bless Us by Shamus Award.

Lot 267 is a cracking c**t from the highly sought-after first crop of dual G1-winning 3yo sprinter Home Affairs and is the second foal from multiple stakes-winning 2yo Mystical Pursuit (a 3/4 sister to Champion 3YO Mystic Journey).

Visit bit.ly/3yO6Qms to view our draft.

23/05/2024

The perfect environment for thoroughbreds 🍀

Our expansive, nutrient-rich pastures and dedicated team of industry professionals are key factors in our unwavering commitment to providing the best possible conditions for our equine residents.

20/05/2024

Alpine Eagle soars to new heights as The Map books her ticket to the Melbourne Cup.

A fortnight after her near four-length romp in the Group III Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2500m) at Morphettville, The Map reserved a spot in the 2024 Melbourne Cup with another strong staying performance in Saturday’s Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington.

Ridden by Damian Lane for Oopy MacGillivray and Dan Clarken, the 6-year-old daughter of Alpine Eagle came with a well-timed run to defeat Mostly Cloudy (IRE) (Harzand) by a half-length with The Map’s Adelaide Cup conqueror Excelleration (Excelebration) back in third.

With her third stakes win of 2024, The Map advances her record to nine wins, three seconds, and three thirds from 28 starts with earnings of $845,215.

“It’s been a phenomenal couple of weeks in my life, it’s just awesome,” Oopy MacGillivray told Racing.com.

“We’ve kept working her; we didn’t change a thing, she kept eating. She just gets more and more self-assured every time she comes out she does it a bit easier.

“That was a superb ride. He sat in there amongst all those horses; he never got anxious and let her do her thing.

“I said to him, ‘if she’s doing her thing, she’ll be happy, and when you get out, she’ll go.’ He had to sort of push out, but once she was out, there was no stopping her.

“We’ll go to the paddock now, she can have three or four weeks off and we’ll just let her chill.

“We’re in the Melbourne Cup, let’s get her there fit, probably with no weight penalty, so that’s the first plan.”

Armidale Stud consigned The Map to the 2020 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, where Oopy MacGillivray had the final say at $35,000.

The daughter of Alpine Eagle is the best of three winners from four to race for the 9-time winning Savoire Vivre (GB) mare This Moment.

A sister to triple stakes-winner Iggimacool, This Moment had a sister to The Map in the Armidale Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale. She was a $50,000 purchase for Angus River Contractors. Named On The Map, she joined her sister in the Clarken/MacGillivray stable.

After foaling another Alpine Eagle filly last spring, This Moment was covered by So You Think’s ATC Australian Derby winner, Quick Thinker.

Alpine Eagle represents incredible value at an unchanged fee of $4,400 inc GST in 2024.

Story by Breednet.

24/04/2024

As we move further into the autumn, it brings us great joy to see our weanlings growing out nicely and the mares starting to blossom.

Our fantastic team are busy preparing for another big season and we look forward to the possibilities that lie ahead ✨

20/03/2024

Our yearling sales season concludes with a successful Magic Millions Adelaide sale, achieving a great result with our yearlings selling for up to $120,000 👏🏼

A big thank you to our fantastic team, bidders, and buyers for their support throughout the season. We're eagerly anticipating the debut of these Armidale graduates on the track!

14/03/2024

Our Magic Millions Adelaide draft for 2024 features yearlings by proven sires So You Think, Exceed and Excel, Russian Revolution, and first crop yearlings by Champion Colts Ole Kirk and Farnan.
Our yearlings are available for inspection in Barn 4.

Visit bit.ly/4a6FpSJ to view our draft.

11/03/2024

Magic moments captured at the Tasmanian Magic Millions Sale ✨

A huge thank you to everyone for their unwavering support.

📸 - Sharon Lee Chapman

07/03/2024

Another successful sale for Armidale with 100% clearance at Inglis Premier!

Day 1 saw the filly by Shamus Award out of the proven producer Take All of Me sell for $110k to John Foote, followed by the beautiful Capitalist filly out of Derasa who went for $140k to the bid of Lindsay Park Racing.

We finished the sale on a high with Wilde Racing going to $140k to purchase the filly by Earthlight out of Myhro. We wish them all the best!

Thank you to the bidders and buyers, and a special thanks to our team, who help to make all of this possible.

29/02/2024

We're proud to have a proven record of breeding and selling elite racehorses.

Our Inglis Premier draft for 2024 features yearlings by Shamus Award, Capitalist and Earthlight (IRE). There's plenty of quality on offer, including Lot 1, a half-sister to multiple Group winner/G1 performer I'll Have a Bit.

Our yearlings are available for inspection in Barn F at Oaklands Junction.

Visit bit.ly/4aay0Bt to view our draft.

26/02/2024

An action-packed day at Quercus Park saw 26 of our yearlings go under the hammer, with a major highlight being our Needs Further c**t (ex Arenzano) topping the sale.

As the curtain falls on the Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale for another year, we would like to express our gratitude to all of those who bid on or bought an Armidale yearling. We will be following their careers closely and wish you every success!

A special thank you also goes to our incredible team and to Magic Millions for putting in the hard yards behind the scenes 👏

26/02/2024

We would like to extend a massive thank you to Star Thoroughbreds & Randwick Bloodstock Agency for their support in purchasing our sale-topping Needs Further c**t (ex Arenzano) for $145,000 at Magic Millions today.

We look forward to seeing him in the famous Star silks for Hall of Fame trainer Barry Campbell of Ensign Lodge Racing 🎉

21/02/2024

We're proud to present our Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling draft for 2024 ✨

With our proven record of breeding and selling elite racehorses, we have a 27-strong draft of yearlings by a diverse range of stallions set for future racetrack success.

Armidale graduates include 2024 Listed JRA Plate winner The Map, Group 1-winning Champion 3YO Mystic Journey and Tasmanian 3YO of the Year Swoop Dog, among many others!

Our yearlings will be available for inspection starting Friday. Come and see us in barn A.

Visit bit.ly/Armidale2024Tas view our draft.

10/02/2024

Alpine Eagle Mare The Map Dominant in Listed JRA Plate 🦅

Fresh off an 11-week break, the 5-year-old Alpine Eagle mare, The Map, put in a career-best performance in Saturday’s Listed JRA Plate (2006m) at Morphettville.

A winner over 2800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day, The Map advances her record to seven wins, one second, and three thirds from 24 starts with earnings of $370,140.

“What a beautiful start to the preparation; we could not have asked for any better,” MacGillivray enthused.

“We will stick to the plan (two weeks to the Lord Reims Stakes followed by the Adelaide Cup).

“It’s a great start to the prep and we are so excited.

The Map finished fifth in the race last year and Dan Clarken revealed that he felt she was not right.

“We gave her a spell after the spring as she got fat, and we did not do that this year. She had a week in the paddock, and she presented today as good as I have seen her and raced as well as I have seen her.”

Oopy MacGillivray made the final bid of $35,000 for The Map, which Armidale Stud consigned to the 2020 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.

She is the best of three winners from four to race for the 9-time winning Savoire Vivre (GB) mare This Moment.

A sister to triple stakes-winner Iggimacool, This Moment had a sister to The Map in the Armidale Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale. She was a $50,000 purchase for Angus River Contractors. Named On The Map, she joined her sister in the Clarken/MacGillivray stable.

After foaling another Alpine Eagle filly last spring, This Moment was covered by So You Think’s ATC Australian Derby winner, Quick Thinker.

The Map is the second stakes-winner for Armidale Stud’s High Chaparral stallion Alpine Eagle, who, on this day in 2015, captured the Group II Autumn Classic at Caulfield.

30/01/2024

We are proud of our results, and grateful for our team and the land we raise our horses on ⭐️

Anticipation builds as we gear up for the sales season ahead, featuring our exceptional yearlings poised for prominence at Magic Millions Tasmania and Adelaide, and the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

24/01/2024

The volume of winners by our resident sires on Saturday & Sunday certainly made for a red-letter weekend.

There is plenty of ammunition in the tank for Alpine Eagle, who notched up a trio of on debut winners.

Stepchild (ex Testamarriage), trained by Patrick Payne, won by a decisive 2L at Benella, and Red Rowie (ex Can't Fight Love) scored at Camperdown over 1400m for Mitchell Freedman.

Rubble 'N' Fudd (ex Rustical) put pay to his rivals at Hobart, lunging at the line to win in the concluding stages for John Blacker.

Our G1 sire Needs Further gave his barn mate a run for his money at Hobart, bringing up a double, with Aruma (ex Twilight Belle), trained by Barry Campbell, taking the win with Alpine Eagle's Spring Eagle, a very close second.

Sold through our MM Tasmanian Yearling Sale draft in 2022, Perola (ex Genuine Blonde) delivered a tidy win for trainer John Blacker.

It was a successful weekend that finished on a high in Race 7 when Alvarinho, the 4yo mare by our trusty stalwart sire Tough Speed took the win for Imogen Miller.

Congratulations to their winning connections, certainly one for the books!

17/01/2024

The perfect climate for breeding and preparing our yearlings ✨

10/01/2024

Leading Tasmanian Sire & Juvenile Sire Alpine Eagle excelled throughout his dazzling racing career and continues to be highly commercial in the sales ring.

At the upcoming Tasmanian Magic Millions Sale, we offer 8 promising Alpine Eagle yearlings poised to set the racetrack alight.

Visit bit.ly/AlpineEagleYearlings to view.

03/01/2024

The results continue to fly in for Tasmania's Leading Sire Alpine Eagle 🦅

Armidale-bred Intrepid Eagle added to his sire's impressive resume when charging home to score at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

The 4yo gelding out of Elusive Affair was sold by Armidale at the 2021 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale to trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy, who are no strangers to the eagles, having trained Alpine Eagle throughout his racing career, including his dazzling winning performance in the G2 MRC Autumn Classic.

27/12/2023

A potent sire of elite juveniles, G1 sire Needs Further has produced a collection of stakes-winning 2yos, positioning himself among Australia's leading 2YO sires on stakes winners.

Look no further. We are underway with yearling prep and are proud to offer our Needs Further yearlings at the 2024 Tasmanian Magic Millions Sale.

Visit bit.ly/NeedsFurtherTasmaniaMagicMillions to view.

19/12/2023

The rise of the Eagles 🦅

Alpine Eagle's sire success continues to make a remarkable ascent, and his recent hat trick at Hobart certainly reinforces his position as a prominent young stallion.

The first victory of the day came from I'm So Cool, an Alpine Eagle gelding out of Smooth Return, who delivered a commanding performance with a 5.5L win for trainer John Keys.

Following suit was Geegees Gemstone (ex Gee Gees Top Notch), who secured a comfortable 2.3L victory in the 1100 dash. The win marked Geegees Gemstone's 4th consecutive trip to the winner's circle and added to an already impressive record of six wins from 10 starts.

The night reached its pinnacle when Armidale-bred/co-owned Swoop There It Is (ex Swooper) triumphed over 1600m. With traine Sigrid Carr in the saddle, Swoop There It Is showcased her blistering speed, going back-to-back.

We look forward to offering 8 Alpine Eagle yearlings at the 2024 Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale. Visit bit.ly/AlpineEagleYearlings for more info.

13/12/2023

And, just like that, prep is underway for a new generation of Armidale yearlings!

We look forward to a busy few months ahead as we prepare yearlings for sales in Tasmania, Melbourne & Adelaide 🐎

Visit bit.ly/TasMagicMillionsYearlings2024 to view our Tasmanian draft.

06/12/2023

Alpine Eagle soared to new heights at Launceston last night, as the promising young stallion produced an impressive quartet of winners 🦅

Armidale-bred/co-owned mare Mindful (ex Freedom Road) kicked the evening off with a bang, taking out the first on the card, while Belpine Miss (ex Beluga Miss) kept the celebrations going with a victory in the third.

Mindful is a half-sister to a very smart Needs Further c**t heading to the Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale in Feb (Lot 42).

Alpine Eagle gelding Geegees Gemstone (ex Gee Gees Top Notch) was next up in the winner’s circle, followed immediately by Armidale-bred Swoop There It Is (ex Swooper), a half-brother to dual stakes winner/Tasmanian 3YO of the Year Swoop Dog.

Intrepid Eagle (ex Elusive Affair) was brave to the line at Sandown, going down narrowly (0.3L) to place second in the 1200m romp.

Alpine Eagle now has 60 individual winners to his credit, ranking him highly among Australia’s leading young sires.

Another notable performance was the Needs Further mare Lovin' Bev’s domineering 5L obliteration in the fourth race.

Congratulations to all the winning connections!

📸 - Geegees Gemstone, Swoop There It Is, Lovin' Bev

Photos by Robyn Whishaw

05/12/2023

Alpine Eagle’s sire success remains a dominant force, both on the racetrack and in the sales ring.

▪︎ Yearling sale average is 6x service fee
▪︎ Leading Tas Sire & Juvenile Sire in 2023
▪︎ 60 individual winners
▪︎ Stakes horses incl. Alpine Wolf, The Map, Eye of the Eagle, Alpine Affair, Queenborough Flyer, etc

We are proud to offer 8 Alpine Eagle yearlings at next years Tasmanian Magic Millions Sale.

Visit bit.ly/TasMagicMillionsYearlings2024 for more info.

29/11/2023

Another successful foaling season at Armidale draws to a close ✨

Each foal is a testament to the unwavering dedication and expertise displayed by our team throughout the season, and we look forward to what lays ahead for this standout crop of future athletes.

21/11/2023

We're hiring!

Join the team at Armidale Stud as we seek an experienced horse enthusiast for yearling preparation.

Send your application to [email protected]

14/11/2023

Needs Further, an affinity for siring blistering sprinters ️⚡️

The G1 sire has proven his distinction as a potent source of sprinters, with 74% of his winners claiming victory between 900m & 1600m, including current season Victorian metro winner Subrising (1200m) & Doomben winner Starry Eyes (1350m).

Needs Further offers breeders immense value at a fee of $5,500 inc GST.

Visit bit.ly/ArmidaleNeedsFurther for more info.

07/11/2023

News: The Map flys at Flemington 🦅

It was an easy 4.25 length victory for The Map in the 2800m The Maccas Run at Flemington, the other staying race on the Melbourne Cup day card.

By our Leading Sire Alpine Eagle ex multiple race-winner This Moment and trained by Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray, The Map is already dreaming about next year’s Melbourne Cup.

The Map was born and raised at Armidale and sold through our Adelaide Magic Millions yearling draft.

Congratulations to her winning connections and breeders Michael Crossin & Richard Sadek.