This article was written by Caitlin Smith for TTR AusNZ.
In just over three years of commercial operation, Steve and Eliza Grant’s Silverdale Farm are now reaping the rewards of their endeavors. Renowned as co-breeders of Fireburn (Rebel Dane), the G1 Golden Slipper winner and Champion 2-year-old of her era, Silverdale Farm’s sales consignments are swiftly gaining recognition for their distinctive combination of boutique allure and exceptional quality.
- Out of the yearling graduates from Silverdale Farm that have raced, nine per cent have achieved stakes-level performances.
- 34 per cent of the yearlings sold by Silverdale Farm, which have subsequently raced, have attained metropolitan-level performances or better.
- The median profit for weanlings purchased by Silverdale Farm and subsequently sold under its banner as yearlings reaches $145,000, more than doubling the median profit margin of all pinhooks offered at major yearling sales this season.
- Silverdale Farm has upheld an average Return on Investment (ROI) exceeding 115 per cent for its weanling pinhooks upon their sale as yearlings.
The farm’s reputation extends beyond the remarkable feats achieved by Fireburn, with significant advancements apparent both in the sales ring and on the racetrack. The victory of Eneeza (Exceed And Excel), securing the G2 Percy Sykes S. last weekend, adds yet another accolade to the growing list of accomplishments for this emerging powerhouse among Australia’s elite thoroughbred nurseries.
| Horse | Sale | Sale Details | Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme Diva | MM 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Sold $400,000 to DGR T/bred Services FBAA | G2 Placed |
| Eneeza | MM 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Sold $1,100,000 to Kia Ora Stud/TFI | G2 Winner |
| Kaizad | WI 2022 Classic Yearling Sale | Sold $390,000 to G Waterhouse / A Bott / Blueblood T/breds | G3 Winner |
| Pantonario | MM 2021 Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Sold $750,000 to G Waterhouse / A Bott / Kestrel T/breds | Winner, G3 Placed |
Out of the 44 yearlings consigned by Silverdale Farm that have hit the racetrack so far, an impressive 34 per cent have proven themselves as metropolitan performers or better, with an additional nine per cent stakes performed.
From its first yearling crop showcased at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Silverdale Farm made an impact on the racing scene with Pantonario (Not A Single Doubt), who achieved dual stakes placings as a 2-year-old. This talented filly, purchased for $750,000 by Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds, set the stage for a series of successful graduates from that sale, highlighted by a duo of juvenile fillies competing at the top level in this season’s juvenile contests.
The standout performers from the farm’s 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft are led by the accomplished filly Eneeza, a dual stakes winner, and the stakes-placed Extreme Diva (Extreme Choice). Out of the six 2023 yearling graduates that have raced, half have achieved success at metropolitan level or beyond, with over 30 per cent stakes performed. In addition to the top-tier fillies Eneeza and Extreme Diva, Silverdale Farm’s 2023 yearling graduates feature debut-winning colts Sovereign Hill (Written Tycoon) and Pro Forma (Capitalist), both prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Silverdale Farm’s notable triumphs on the racetrack are echoed in its success at the sales ring. The Southern Highlands-based farm has continuously garnered exceptional outcomes at all major eastern state Australian yearling sales since 2021. The average price for a Silverdale Farm consigned yearling exceeds $320,000, consistently positioning the farm as a prominent figure in the upper echelon of vendor tables by average price.
| Name | Sire | Dam | Weanling Price | Yearling Price | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum Field | Deep Field | African Rainbow | $150,000.00 | $300,000.00 | $150,000.00 |
| Capitalist | Sebrina | $250,000.00 | Passed In | – | |
| Watchguard | Toronado (IRE) | Vigilance | $260,000.00 | $400,000.00 | $140,000.00 |
| King Bling | Super Seth | Miss Bling (NZ) | $100,000.00 | $250,000.00 | $150,000.00 |
| Osaka | I Am Invincible | Elzeeza | $160,000.00 | $350,000.00 | $190,000.00 |
| To The World | Zoustar | Members Joy | $350,000.00 | $550,000.00 | $200,000.00 |
| Capitalist | Passarelle | $460,000.00 | Passed In | – | |
| Voracious | Maurice (JPN) | Seven Year Itch | $200,000.00 | $500,000.00 | $300,000.00 |
| Anders | Think Icon | $130,000.00 | $220,000.00 | $90,000.00 | |
| Autumn Glow | The Autumn Sun | Via Africa (SAF) | $600,000.00 | $1,800,000.00 | $1,200,000.00 |
| Koura Whira | Deep Field | Paeroa Gold | $14,000.00 | $70,000.00 | $56,000.00 |
| Kaizad | Capitalist | Baby Corn | $300,000.00 | $390,000.00 | $90,000.00 |
| Reasonable | Justify (USA) | Now Now | $300,000.00 | $400,000.00 | $100,000.00 |
| Tidal Surge | So You Think (NZ) | Eventide | $140,000.00 | $180,000.00 | $40,000.00 |
| Star Turn | That Girl | $75,000.00 | $170,000.00 | $95,000.00 | |
| Extreme Choice | Brave Soldier | $200,000.00 | $380,000.00 | $180,000.00 |
Nearly a quarter of Silverdale Farm’s yearling graduates comprises pinhooks made by the farm in the previous year. The outcomes of these pinhooks are remarkable, showcasing the exceptional foresight of the selection panel in identifying promising youngstock.
Of the 16 weanlings purchased by Silverdale Farm and subsequently sold under it’s banner as yearlings, almost 90 per cent have produced substantial profits. The median profit across pinhooks nearly reaches $145,000, which is more than three-times the median profit margin ($45,000) of all pinhooks offered at major yearling sales this season. Silverdale Farm’s investment strategy tends towards the upper echelon of the market when sourcing weanlings for future yearling sale consignments, with an average purchase price of $230,000. Despite the lofty investment, the farm has maintained an impressive average Return on Investment (ROI) of over 115 per cent (not accounting for the cost of upkeep).
At the 2022 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Silverdale Farm, in partnership with Shrone Bloodstock, made a bold move by acquiring the half-sister to Group 1 winner In The Congo for $600,000. This seemingly high-priced acquisition proved to be a masterstroke, as less than 12 months later, the filly, subsequently named Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun), fetched a sale topping $1.8 million at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when secured by Arrowfield Pastoral and Hermitage Thoroughbreds. Autumn Glow has since showcased her potential with an impressive trial victory at Rosehill under the guidance of trainer Chris Waller.
Another noteworthy pinhook success achieved by Silverdale Farm involves Kaizad (Capitalist), acquired for $300,000 from the 2021 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. Subsequently, at the following year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Kaizad commanded a price of $390,000, to the bid of Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Blueblood Thoroughbreds. This transaction resulted in a commendable 30 per cent ROI which was further celebrated by the 3-year-old’s impressive victory in the G3 Carbine Club S. at the onset of the season.
One aspect is producing visually appealing sales horses, while another dimension is producing sales horses that not only catch the eye but also excel on the racetrack. As Silverdale Farm’s initial group of yearlings are now just four years of age and a notable portion of its current juvenile crop awaits their racing debuts, the farm’s trajectory is primed for sustained upward momentum.
