Highgrove Stud

This article is one of 34 vendors exclusively in our MMGC 2023 souvenir edition ! This edition is not for retail sale and you can only get one by subscribing to BLUEBLOODS

Highgrove is always aiming to present yearlings that the market wants. I try to use a range of the most successful sires available and the best new prospects.

Ron and Debbie Gilbert’s Highrove on Queensland’s fertile Darling Downs has become well established as one of Australia’s leading boutique broodmare farms, with spectacular results in both the sales ring and on the racetrack.

With a high quality draft of five youngsters heading to the 2023 Ron outlined the farm’s approach, “Highgrove is always aiming to present yearlings that the market wants. I try to use a range of the most successful sires available and the best new prospects. Having always been a keen pedigree student I spend quite a lot of time designing matings that will work and some decent successes along the way have encouraged me to maintain this approach. On top of that, in order to give our stock every possible opportunity, much effort goes into the facilities on the farm and to the way everyone contributes to rearing the young horses and prepping them for the various sales.”
“Over the years we have invested in quality broodmares and have even bought back as broodmares fillies we sold earlier because we believe in the pedigrees.

“Buyers have come to know that we always prefer to sell, our business model is to rear quality yearlings, which is not an inexpensive process, so we stick to the programme and sell. Occasionally Debbie makes a strong case for keeping a prize filly, but we are commercial vendors first and foremost, so I usually win the day and we sell. Even if I suspect deep down she is right.”

“Among our broodmare band I’ve been fortunate to acquire three descendants of the great Troy mare Helen Street who is the dam of Street Cry and grandam of Shamardal. One of them, Helena’s Secret has already produced four high quality horses, Thronum, Rule Of Law, Cythera and Verne, the latter going amiss after defeating In The Congo at level weights at his third and final start. Sadly we lost Helena’s Secret but her winning Sebring daughter is now in our band and she’s an exciting prospect.”

Highgrove is a picturesque 90 acre property near the outskirts of “The Garden City” Toowoomba, with the recent abundant rain ensuring that the thousands of trees planted over the years are now nearing magnificent maturity. “We’ve just had our best season ever,” Ron added. Highgrove’s record in producing stock such as Thronum, Rule Of Law, Summer Passage, Wanted, Noire, Attention, Shrapnel, Global Quest and Jet Spur has put the farm on everybody’s “must view” list. And for those who take the trouble to visit the farm to inspect yearlings there is a nice surprise. If Ron Gilbert hadn’t become a thoroughbred breeder he could easily have turned his hand to being a chef, he’s no mean cook, my wife Margaret is a big fan.

The 2023 Highrove MM yearlings will enter the ring in the following order, with Ron’s comments as a guide:

Lot 124 bay colt, Pierata – Miss Delveen by Encosta De Lago. By an exciting Gr1 winning freshman sire whose stock are being much admired. Half-brother to two winners, out of a Gr3 placed mare by multiple champion sire Encosta De Lago, second dam is Gr1 winner Calveen by Canny Lad.
“A quality, muscular yearling who is reminiscent of his broodmare sire Encosta de Lago, with a deep girth and a big backside for driving power.”

Lot 249 chestnut colt, Deep Field – Pomposity by Stratum. By proven Gr1 sire Deep Field leading 5th crop sire, a leader by wins, SW and prizemoney every previous season.
Second foal of a full sister to Gr2 winner Attention, Family of Pasikatera and Tempest Morn.
“This colt is very much in the Deep Field mould with good bone, a strong shoulder and hip. He looks a real sprinter-miler type.”

Lot 459 brown colt, Capitalist – Taliqua by Charge Forward. By Golden Slipper winner and exciting young Gr1 sire Capitalist. Third foal of winning daughter of top broodmare sire Charge Forward. Grandam is SW and stakes producer Anacarde.
“This colt has thrown to Charge Forward, his broodmare sire. He’s by the Golden Slipper winner out of a mare by the first colt home in his year in the Slipper and that’s how he looks, short back, long underneath, a ready made two year-old.”

Lot 901 black or brown colt, Pierata – Global Dream by Fastnet Rock. By an exciting Gr1 winning freshman sire whose stock are being much admired. Half- brother to Gr3 Breeders Plate winner Global Quest and SP Minks Star. Dam is half-sister to Gr2 winner Noire. La Troienne family, best in the Stud Book.
“Very much in the mould of Pierata physically. Although members of this family often look as though they will need time, this colt’s half-brother won the Breeders Plate and several others have shown precocity.”

Lot 939 chestnut colt, Capitalist – Hollywood Mistress by All American. By Golden Slipper winner and exciting young Gr1 sire Capitalist. Third foal of a winning mare from Highgrove’s Gr1 winning “Summer Passage” family. Inbred to Best In Show via Last Tycoon and Redoute’s Choice, one of the most successful nicks in Australia.
“Very much like his sire Capitalist, a cracking colt, strong, mature, very correct, with a beautiful temperament. A ready made Magic Millions colt.”

Ron Gilbert was kind enough to answer a few questions for Bluebloods.

Where is the most unusual place you’ve visited?
“The Blackcomb glacier near Whistler in Canada is absolutely stunning. It’s hundreds of thousands of years old, the colours inside while water rushes through are spectacular.”

Do you still get butterflies as your yearling enters the ring?
“Yes and a rumbling tummy. It can be quite stressful even if you have a yearling with several interested buyers. It’s a cross between excitement, anticipation and trepidation.”

What makes Magic Millions at the Gold Coast such a success?
“Katie Page-Harvey. Her enthusiasm and passion for the sales company and the excitement that builds around it makes it a very special place to be in January.”