During the Inter Dominion I had the pleasure of visiting West Australia’s biggest stud Allwood Stud Farm owned by businessman and long term harness racing owner and breeder Bob Fowler.
Also accompanying me to the Bullsbrook farm wasNevele R’s Michael Taylor HarnessBred.com’s Dean Baring and our chauffeur for the day was Ron Groves of Classic families fame.
Greeting us at the stable area was studmaster Mick Holtham a Kiwi born who has been resident at the property for 15 years and Mick and his team have hands on attitude when it comes to care and maintenance of broodmares and foals.
Allwood Stud Farm, acknowledged as the premier standardbred nursery in WA, and compares to any other stud farm in Australia.
Boasting 430 acres of rich loam soil and quality pasture, comprising clover and rye grasses, for agisting broodmares, weanlings and foals.
The first stallion Mick showed us was the new kid on the block Follow The Stars, the former champion juvenile by Art Major is amazingly docile for a first season stallion, but Mick is quick to point out is fertility is outstanding with 76 mares servered by Follow The Stars be can boast 75 are in foal.
With Fowler putting his top line mares to him he will no doubt have a good first crop to hit the track.
Tinted Cloud was the next stallion on parade, the 20 year old looks more like a stallion half his age already the sire of champion SmokenUp Tinted Cloud still producers winners each week on both sides of the Tasman.
Apart from Smoken Up- Tinted Cloud has produced 10 other $100,000 plus earners 2 of those have won over $400k in Jaccka Clive and Richard Henry.
Despite his age Mick Holtham firmly believes there is another good horse to come for Tinted Cloud and being a Direct Scooter line stallion who would argue with him.
At this point Bob Flower arrived and we all found the astute businessman a true gentleman and passionate about his harness racing empire. We were also introduced to Graham Bond who breaks in and handles the young ones.
Bob and Graham had great delight in showing us their crop of yearlings and two year olds a Christian Cullen/ Summer Nitelife filly took my eye and I was happy when Graham Bond declared he thought she was the best one he had put a bridle on in 20 years.
Allwood Stud weigh and measure the progress of their foals and weanlings test soil on the property as well as prepare clients yearlings for the WA yearling sales.
Mick Holtham wife Deb was busy at the homestead making scones and sandwiches their hospitality was outstanding, we all left after some 5 hours thinking how open and friendly everyone was that associated with Allwood Farm.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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