Thinking big: Black Caviar’s half-sister Pippa and Simon Marshall at BC3 Thoroughbreds’ Connewarre stables.
By John Van Klaveren
AN OUT-OF-THE-WAY property on a no-through-road in Connewarre is home to a $2.6 million investment in “racing royalty”.
That was the price tag on the head of Pippa, a half-sister to super mare Black Caviar, at Easter’s yearling sales in Sydney.
Pippa is stabled at BC3 Thoroughbreds’ newly developed property outside Geelong.
Former jockey Simon Marshall, BC3’s industry liaison manager, said the progress of Pippa had amazed staff.
“She’s horse-racing royalty. She already has the physique of a three-year-old and the balance and power of a four-year-old,” Mr Marshall declared.
“We’ve already found her stride is too long for the circular walking pen.”
BC3 chief Bill Vlahos said the business took a structured and scientific approach to developing racehorses.
“Having Pippa on our property will allow us to showcase our unique approach revolving around nutrition and bone density to enable horses to reach their potential. We build the basics then the horses go to a trainer to prepare for racing.”
Mr Vlahos said the Connewarre base was ideal for the business’s horse sales and pre-training operation.
“We’ve upgraded and widened the 1000-metre track, added fencing and sheds and built stables, with our offices above.
“We moved from South Melbourne to Connewarre because it’s easy to get to for our staff and clients.
“It’s easy to take the horses to 13th Beach for training and Pippa will be trained by Geelong trainer Danny O’Brien.
“It’s more relaxed here for horses and we can make changes to the property to suit our program.”
Mr Vlahos said horses were “race-ready” when they left the BC3 complex.
“We had one horse sold on a Thursday, raced and won the next Saturday.
“We have already had 56 winners from a relatively small draft. Trainers like the system because we take the risk in buying the yearlings.”
Mr Vlahos said BC3 had 17 yearlings and eight two-year olds occupying the 16 stables and 24 paddocks.
Pippa would be the final and feature horse galloping at the BC3 Future Stars sales event at a race meeting at Geelong on August 10, he said.
