Around the Farm with John Kelly

Published by TDN News: we thought you would enjoy reading about John Kelly of Newhaven Park where our dual Group 1 winner Xtravagant stands ...

Kelly is the fourth generation member of his family to run Newhaven Park, which has stood stallions of the calibre of Wilkes (Fr), Luskin Star, Marauding (NZ) and Zeditave. It is currently home to the two-time Group 1 winner Xtravagant (NZ), who will stand at $11,000 inc GST in 2020.

TDN AusNZ: Service fees have been announced, how are you finding the response to Xtravgant given the current economic uncertainty?

John Kelly: Xtravagant
is in his third season and will cover a book of the same size that he
has for the last two years, of around 100 mares. But with a stallion
like him, he has a band of loyal supporters. We have dropped his service
fee by 30 per cent, which acknowledges the current economic uncertainty
that our industry faces.

We
will send approximately 40 mares to outside stallions this year, so
looking at this question from a different perspective I am not sure that
the large stallion farms have taken into consideration in setting their
service fees for the economic conditions we may be facing over the next
couple of years in the yearling market place.

TDN
AusNZ: Physical type, race performance and pedigree are all important
criteria when selecting stallions, but if there were one you'd
prioritise over the others, what would it be and why?

JK:
All three are very important, but if I had to pick one, it would be
race performance because that is what we are trying to replicate.

TDN
AusNZ: Looking ahead to the next few years, are there any changes to
your business model you're planning? And what is your process for
reviewing how your business is placed?

JK: At the moment we are not planning any changes, but we're always reviewing what we are doing, how we are doing it and where we think we sit in the market. So, every day of the year we are assessing where we can make changes for the better, not just for the sake of change.

TDN AusNZ: What is the biggest challenge facing your business at the moment?

JK:
Obviously at the moment, the economy is the biggest challenge facing
our business. We don't know what the full effect of COVID-19 is going to
be. Our constant challenge is to breed winners. So, we are constantly
in pursuit of this, while trying to remain true to the values and
systems that have proved successful in the past.

TDN
AusNZ: You've worked for some interesting people throughout your
career, can you tell me who had the largest influence on you and the
lesson you will not forget?

JK: After I left school, I went to work in Queensland for the Australian Agricultural Company. My boss' name was John Kelly (no relation), he was an outstanding horseman and stockman. He taught me how to work long hard days and that near enough was never good enough and also about the five Ps - preparation prevents piss poor performance.

"He taught me how to work long hard days and that near enough was never good enough and also about the five Ps - preparation prevents piss poor performance." - John Kelly

TDN AusNZ: Who currently in the industry do you look toward for inspiration, and why?

JK:
I find young people in the industry like Bruce Slade, Andy Williams,
Craig Rounsefell and Adrian Bott to be inspiring. I have great
admiration for their passion, work ethic and ability in a very tough
industry. Having young people who are so passionate and capable inspires
me with hope for the future and longevity of our industry.

TDN AusNZ: Who (person) did you learn the most from, regarding horse conformation? And why do you think they were a good judge?

JK: With my father, Richard, for my entire life even up until this morning, have been looking at horses together. He never misses a thing with a horse and the reason he is a good judge, he has an uncanny knack of picking a horse out when they are young on our farm, and telling me that will be a good horse and it invariably is, all the way from Arborea who was a filly we passed in for $19,000 who won the Thousand Guineas, the Wakeful and the Oaks in Melbourne as a 3-year-old through to when English was a young foal.

TDN AusNZ: Who is the best stallion physical you have ever seen?

JK:
Zedative is the best physical I've ever seen. He was just the most
beautiful horse, he has amazing strength and balance, a great head and
to go with it, he was a character.

TDN AusNZ: What physical element really hooks you into a horse, and what trait can you not forgive?

JK:
It is not really a physical element, but a horse's presence. You can't
describe it to anyone, but you know when they've got it.

And what trait can I not forgive? Bad hocks.

"It is not really a physical element, but a horse's presence. You can't describe it to anyone, but you know when they've got it." - John Kelly

TDN AusNZ: What stallion on another farm's roster would you like to be standing? (perhaps a good outcross, or an exciting type)

JK: I know he's standing in heaven, but Danehill.

His influence on our industry is unrivalled, and I doubt we will ever see another stallion like him.

TDN AusNZ: Is there an under-the-radar emerging stallion that you have a preference for?

JK:
Xtravagant. I know that I am talking my own book, but he is a dual
Group 1-winning 3-year-old whose horse have been accepted very well by
the market this year and the early reports we are receiving back are
very complimentary. He is a fantastic outcross and we are really excited
to see what they can do on the track.

TDN AusNZ: What's your opinion on the 140-mare cap that the Jockey Club in America are proposing? Do you think it's needed here?

JK: I disagree with any regulation to do with mare numbers to stallions. Let the market decide, it will always get it right.

"I disagree with any regulation to do with mare numbers to stallions. Let the market decide, it will always get it right." - John Kelly

TDN AusNZ: Which four people, within the industry or outside it, dead or alive, would you invite to a dinner party?

JK: Bart Cummings, Tommy Smith, my grandfather and Don Bradman.

TDN AusNZ: Are there any books or world business leaders that inspire you?

JK: The Power Of Positive Thinking - breeding racehorses it comes in handy!

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