search the site
A time of joy, and pain
The breeding game can be as cruel and frustrating as it can be exhilarating. Watching a new-born foal sway to its feet is a pleasure that is never mundane, but a life always hangs on a knife’s edge.
Nashita first showed signs that she was not far from foaling in typical manner – her anxious movement and plump, dripping udder being the characteristic signs that something is imminent.
Megan Kirsopp-Cole had been waiting for this moment all spring. Nashita (br m 2003, Spinning World (USA)-Graphite Lass, by Unbridled’s Song (USA)) was the last mare to foal, to a 2009 cover by Dane Shadow, at Kirsopp-Cole’s boutique broodmare farm, Lemrac Lodge, at Winchelsea South, at the back of the Otway Ranges.
Kirsopp-Cole moved Nashita into the foaling yard, but it wasn’t long before her excited expectation turned to concern. “I had a feeling something wasn’t right. I thought she was about two hours from foaling, but all of a sudden, Nashita’s milk dried up,” she said.
Kirsopp-Cole concerns grew as time ticked by. A check inside the mare noted that that foal hadn’t moved correctly into a position for foaling. “The foal is suppose to be born forwards with its head between its stretched out front legs, but this foal was still on its back with is legs facing backwards across its stomach.
The mare was in trouble and the vet was summoned. It soon became obvious that the foal wasn’t alive – and it wasn’t going to turn into a correct birthing position.
“The had to get the foal out without causing damage to the mare. It was a long and painstaking process and parts of the dead foal had to be removed to get it safely out. It was a terrible experience for all involved,” she said.
Nashita survived the experience, but only after a few anxious days. The foal was a beautiful black filly with a big white star. “She was everything I would have hoped for … what a shame she didn’t live.”
Kirsopp-Cole said there is no valid reason why the filly died. An autopsy was inconclusive. Just one of those things. “She was a big filly with powerful, wide shoulders, but that’s the only issue I can think of.”
The good news was that Kitchwin Hills, near Scone, where Dane Shadow stands, offered Kirsopp-Cole a free return in 2011 because Nashita was in no condition to travel to be covered by the stallion after her foaling issues.
The ups and downs of the thoroughbred breeding game can manifest itself in a small commercial operation like Lemrac Lodge. The loss of one foal can upset the whole breeding season, as was the case with Kirsopp-Cole. Only a month earlier she was delighting in the delivery of a stunning Charge Forward colt from Kirsopp-Cole’s prized mare Cadillac, a daughter of Anabaa and the VRC Oaks winner Taj Eclipse – one of five mares she and husband Steven own.
“It’s always a tense time. You want everything to go right but it’s rarely smooth sailing. A client’s mare had a colic attack and we almost lost her. We have had many sleepless nights. The kids will be looking forward to a home cooked meal when the season ends. At the moment packeted pasta is the fare of choice.”
Lemrac Lodge will foal down a dozen mares and ferry about 20 mares to stallions around Victoria. “We supported Victorian stallions this year as the options have improved considerably. It means that the mares foaled down at home and we save a lot in travel and agistment costs.”
The farm next year will have foals by Domesday, Hard Spun, Reset, Strategic, Foreplay, Econsul and Written Tycoon.
Kirsopp-Cole, a former track rider for Meggs Elkington, has decided to concentrate on the broodmare side of her fledgling agistment business, although her first mare, Lemrac Lady (by Luskin Star), after whom the farm is named, produced her the first foal back in 1996. “I’ve learned a lot since then, especially about raising foals for sales. I made a lot of mistakes in those early days,” she said.
Kirsopp-Cole was one of the breeders who supported Encosta De Lago in his first years at stud. “We only got only $6000 for one yearling. How things have changed.”
Since then Kirsopp-Cole’s mare Cadillac has produced yearlings that have sold for $140,000 (filly by Tale Of The Cat at Magic Millions Gold Coast), $110,000 (filly by Elvstroem, Magic Millions Gold Coast) and $80,000 (colt by Catbird, Inglis Melbourne Premier). Lemrac Lodge uses Sean and Cathy Dingwall’s Caithness Breeding, at Wallan, to prepare its yearlings.
It’s Lemrac Lodge’s lush drought-free position, mild climate and rolling hills that help grow well-muscled, well grown yearlings. Next month Nashita’s athletic Mossman colt will sell at the Adelaide Magic Millions and a good result will make up an ordinary finish to 2010.
“Cadillac’s first three foals, all fillies, are winners and we have very good reports about her Catbird 3YO, who had trialled really well in Hong Kong, but late in November got the news that he’d died from a twisted bowel. We had been waiting three years for him to race,” she said.
Another life lost, another setback in the quest to breed a champion. Another spring awaits.
Photo: Georgia Kirsopp-Cole, aged six, enjoys some “sleepy time” in the peaceful paddocks of Lemrac Lodge with a filly foal by Econsul.
I can very well relate to that feelings during the breeding season.In fact any where in the world.The similarity is that even we have a fairy king stallion with us in India who is doing marvelously well.
Also, Shinko King, a son of Fairy King, is a very underrated sire of stayers in New Zealand. Shinko King is a half-brother to Dr. Devious and Archway,