By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
Noel and Christine Denning have bred thousands of winners since they established Burwood Stud in1982.
In fact, without their immense contribution harness racing in Queensland would be weak.
“We get a big thrill out of producing foals, selling them at the Sales, and then watching the delight on owners faces when they win. That gives us satisfaction enough.
“We never really got into this industry to race horses. We have always been their to breed, adjist and sell, but what happened on Wednesday was very unique for us,” Denning (Noel) said.
For the first time in just over a quarter of a century, the Dennings (aka Burwood Stud) bred and owned their first winner – and ironically it was by a horse they had virtually sold at the 2001 Redcliffe Yearling Sales – but was then given back because of throat issues.
The Ben Battle trained and Brendan Barnes driven One Chain Road proved too smart in race eight – appropriately named The Burwood Stud Maiden.
It was the Cammibest 3-year-old gelding’s first win after finishing third on debut, also at Redcliffe Paceway, two weeks earlier.
“I can’t even tell you what the name of the last racehorse we owned because he wasn’t that good. This is something Christine and I didn’t expect, and we are loving it. The Q-bred bonus and race stakes gave us almost $20,000 in prize-money,” he added.
Denning said after One Chain Road was operated on they gave him six months to recover before sending him to Sydney to be broken in by Rickie Alchin.
“Governor Jujon (Cammibest – Fifth And Broadway) had a similar throat problem when he was a yearling, but his sale went through. We are very proud to have bred him. He’s now won 22 races and more than $400,000.
“We decided to persevere with One Chain Road, and now a couple of years and few preparations later, we now have our first racehorse in 25 to 30 years, which is quite exciting,” the Pittsworth horseman said.
“I can’t even tell you what the name of our racehorse was because he wasn’t that good. This is something Christine and I didn’t expect, and we are loving it,” he added.
He said after a couple of preps with Alchin, he thought the gelding still needed more time to recover, and suggested Ben Battle take over the training.
“Time has been the key, and Rickie and Benny have done brilliant jobs with the horse. He won his first two trials at Redcliffe on January 5 and 12, and then ran second on January 19, before his third on debut a week later,” Denning said.
“That was a top drive by Brendan on Wednesday. The horse has a very good team around him,” he added.
Barnes settled One Chain Road midfield, before launching him at the 400. They powered down the outside to win by 1.8 metres. They stopped the clock in 2:12.8 (mile rate 2:00.1) and his sectionals were 30, 30, 29.8, and 31.2.
Denning said One Chain Road had become quite precious now because his mother, the 2013 Art Major mare, Bewitchment passed early last year from colic.
“She was a problem breeder as well and we were lucky to get two foals out of her before she died because she missed to Roll With Joe, Racing Hill, Cammibest, and The Storm Inside.
“We are hoping One Chain Road will be our champion, if not only one other [person will get to enjoy the breed like we do,” Denning said.
By that he meant the 2023 Redcliffe Yearling Sales on Sunday April 2, when a full sister to One Chain Road will be presented as Lot 8.
“She’s a lovely looking filly with a fantastic temperament like her big brother. That’s a big reason why we kept him. He was such a lovely well-behaved horse with a lovely gait. Someone is going to get a similar deal with his sister.”
Lot 8 will be one of 30 yearlings that Burwood Stud will prepare for this year’s Redcliffe Sale. This year they have bred 170 mares.
He said he hoped his son Jonathon would be presenting a yearling at the Sale, as will his grandson, Caleb – for the first time.
“Caleb will sell Lot 23 – a Cammibest brown colt out of the 2000 Perfect Art mare, Forgiven, who was bred by Jeff Wallace. That mare has had nine horses to the races for nine winners, and we are hoping her colt fetches a nice price for Caleb.
“It would be good if she did sell well because it could set the young fella,” a proud grandfather said.
“We also have 59 yearlings to prepare for the Albion Park Sale (March 12) before Redcliffe, so we are swept off our feet, virtually all-year-round,” Denning said.
From the Burwood Stud website:
The passage of time has seen Burwood Stud grow from an equine agistment and spelling complex to a standardbred and thoroughbred nursery of note.
It is situated on 1500 fertile acres of basalt and limestone country, ideal for the making of champion racehorses.
Six bores supply water rich in minerals and calcium to the stock, while six large dams ensure adequate water supplies are on hand for both additional stock water and irrigation. The property guarantees an annual supply of quality lucerne hay, which ensures cost-effectiveness for Stud clients, and quality feed for their mares and foals. Burwood Stud caters for permanently-agisted mares and their offspring, as well as short-term visiting mares.
Dr Francois Viljoen is a highly-respected, internationally-acclaimed veterinary surgeon Dr Francois Viljoen BVSc (Hons), Member Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Member British Equine Veterinary Association, attends to the harness racing stallions, mares and foals at Burwood Stud – he has occupied various specialist equine vet positions.
Dr Viljoen and his associates Dr Steve Rayner and Dr Glen Laws from Darling Downs Vets, are accessible at all hours, for their equine reproduction expertise, as well as for their attention to and care of the mares and foals. Burwood Stud uses the latest technological advancements for foaling down the mares.
While offering service arrangements to the Stud’s resident stallions, Burwood Stud also offers semen transport facilities to mare owners, thus bringing the world to your mare’s doorstep.
With a view to assisting Stud clients to produce their best possible foals, Burwood Stud offers a complimentary mare matching test mating service.
Burwood Stud welcomes inspection, but would appreciate prior notification so we can make you most welcome.
