Benstud

#benstud
 
Guest Speakers
 
Mark & Tracey Commadeur - Benstud Standardbreds
 
  • Opportunity for parents to buy a harness stud out on Labuan Rd
  • Dad had a passion for harness racing
  • His father was a bookie
  • Bred a mare Benelise (foundation mare)
  • 1st place winners over 2 million dollars prize money
  • ‘Ben’ became the prefix for all mares
  • in 2015 they got the opportunity to join in the business
  • started on 150 acres and then another 150 acres and then another 300 acres
  • leasing 300 acres up at Crookwell
  • Collectively in Katunga have 120 mares and breed 75 each year
  • About 70 weanlings with over 300 stock in Katunga and over 300 in NSW
  • Brothers' daughter Kendall was born with a skin condition and so all horses now have a butterfly to promote awareness of disease (EB) Epidermolysis Bullosa
  • Very rare condition and Tilly (Coery Wilkes daughter) and Kendall have bonded and became friends and set up a Foundation called the EB Research Partnership
  • Judds have a really nice filly, (Tough Tilly) and offered to auction her for a 25% share at auction
  • The filly won her first group one race and won over $600,000
  • Horse Breeding - is AI and intensive
  • A vet lives around the corner from the farm and spends a few days a week at Benstud
  • The semen can come from Echuca or overseas - scanning mares every 6 hours until ovulation and joining
  • Alarm system over the mares when foaling and can be up many times a night to check mares and foals once born
  • 3.5 months, foals are weaned and education starts
  • Mobs of 10-15
  • 42 stable complex on the farm
  • Keeping them calm and animal welfare is paramount
  • Breaking 1-15 animal per year
  • Setting them up to be racehorses
  • Idea is to sell stock, not so much to race
  • Proud of stats - bred 226 foals since 2011-2022, 94% have been named, 79% have been winners and 89% placed, average earning of $89,000 ea
  • There are lots of things that can go wrong and many don't make it to the racetrack normally
  • Peter won breeder of the year 2 yrs ago
  • Victorian brood mare of the year
  • The family are passionate and enjoy the business and the farm and horses
  • Horses are taken to auction in capital cities, staff of 20 staff, a big thanks to dad (Nick) for all his hard work on the farm