In this week's Dunstan Horsefeeds Meet the Breeder we talk to Kerrie Cox, General Manager of Elsdon Park who spoke on behalf of Lib Petagna.

How did Lib get into thoroughbred breeding?

Through racing a few top level fillies that become very hard to part with!

How many mares do you breed from?

Around 50. 

What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio?

40 racehorses & breakers- a few we race with in partnership, 40 weanlings and shares in a few stallions.

Do you breed to retain or breed to trade?

A mix of both. We mainly breed to trade as yearlings or racehorses, however, being a commercial breeding operation we are always looking to upgrade our broodmare band so keeping some fillies from of our top mares is important for the business going forward.

Do you have a favourite cross?

Not really but we do love a nice Savabeel mare!

Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions?

Bruce Perry has been a great adviser on both breeding and racing through JML Bloodstock over the years and this will continue with Elsdon Park. We do our best to plan matings on type, pedigree and temperament- don’t always get it right but hopefully between the 3 of us we should be alright!

Best breeding advice you have received?

Kerrie - “First and foremost aim to breed an athlete and a horse you would be happy to race yourself.”

Who do you admire in the thoroughbred breeding industry?

The advice and support offered by industry leaders such as Bruce Perry, Sam Williams and Mark Chittick has been influential on the development of the business.

If you could own any broodmare (past or present), who would it be?

It's hard to go past a champion broodmare like Eight Carat but wouldn’t have said no to Cannarelle either as it would be pretty awesome to be standing I am Invincible!

What advice would you give someone entering the industry as a breeder?

Be resilient and patient. Listen to advice of successful breeders, celebrate success and when things get tough, which they can at times, lean on the incredible people around you in the industry.

Proudest moment as a breeder?

The proudest moment as an owner would have to be when Lucia Valentina and Sofia Rosa both won Group 1’s at Randwick on the same day- hard to ever look past an unbelievable day like that. Now both of these mares have become matriarch’s of our broodmare band which is pretty special as a breeder.

Finish this sentence: The best part of being a thoroughbred breeder is…

The industry is full of dreamers and optimists, which is very refreshing!

Interesting fact…

Lib has 5 children- his oldest are triplet sons and Elsdon Park’s racing colours represent the three colours that were used to identify them when they were babies.