Rangeview Stud’s Rob Gray is prepping a dozen yearlings for a milestone sale at the Perth Magic Millions on February 20 and 21.
It will be 50 years since his first Perth Sale and it’s not surprising Rob has vivid memories of his initial foray into the business of breeding and selling thoroughbreds in 1975. After all, he was also born and bred into the industry and took to it straight away.
“I was only an 8yo and Dad pulled me out of school to muck out boxes and help with the feeds. The Perth Sale was held in front of Belmont grandstand in those days and we sold a Tantrum filly that made $16,000. That was a record but it didn’t last long. The following day Haddow Stud sold a Jungle Boy filly for $25,000.”
Rob’s father Brian founded Rangeview Stud and it was initially based in Midland before moving to Coolup and then Bullsbrook in the 1980s “I was the only one of four children that had any interest in horses. I took over when Dad died in 2003 and we made a permanent move to Burekup in 2014.”
Relocating to the south-west was a seismic shift for Rob and Jody Gray and their daughter Shelby and it came on the back of a calculated gamble to purchase Darley shuttler Henny Hughes (Hennessy). “He had sired 130 winners and 5 stakes winners when we bought him,” Rob recalled. “A year later, there were over 250 winners and 16 stakes winners with the best of them by far Beholder.”
Henny Hughes drew worldwide attention when Beholder was named Champion USA 2YO Filly & 3YO Filly in 2012-13 and she later equalled Goldikova (Anabaa) as the only mare to win three Breeders’ Cup Championships.
In next to no time, Henny Hughes went from a risky venture for Rangeview to what must have been Australia’s most lucrative pin-hooking deal in 2013. Japan’s Yushun Stallion Station won the race to buy him and they haven’t regretted that deal, either. Now aged 22, Henny Hughes has just passed 1,000 individual winners and is about to commence his latest book in Hokkaido.
“Thanks to Henny Hughes, we were able to buy the Burekup property with the proceeds,” Gray said. “It’s a tough game but when something goes right it’s really good.”
That year also saw the final foals of Key Business (Success Express). Rob rates him the best stallion to serve on a Rangeview roster with 13 black-type winners led by Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) hero Barakey.
His Rangeview running mate So Secret (Danetime) hit the ground running with Hobart Jones coming out of his second crop to win the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) of 2014. And Galah, a second successful buy from Darley, covered his initial book later that year at Burekup.
Galah (Redoute’s Choice) missed another black-type strike at Ascot last month when his multiple Stakes winner Let’s Galahvant just failed to catch In Good Order (American Pharoah) in the G2 Ted van Heemst Stakes (2100m). But he did sire a treble over the Australia Day long-weekend with Magic Whistle (Ascot), Bird On A Wire (Bunbury) and Butterflyrock (Geraldton).
Rangeview has been home to stallions going back to Tantrum (Pirate King) and Phylkin (Star Kingdom) in the 1970s and no current-day WA stud can match that longevity. There have been 21 Stakes winners since Rob took charge and there could be some imminent updates on that score with Mai Aloha (Long Leaf) and recent Epona Stakes winner Rissoles (Playing God).
“We love breeding horses. It’s what we choose to do and we’re looking forward to the Magic Millions Sale. The preparation of yearlings has improved out of sight since I first started and the Swan Valley complex helps us present them in a proper setting.
“Westspeed Platinum has also been a game-changer. It’s the best Bonus Scheme in Australia.”
Rangeview’s Day 1 consignment at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale commences with a well-bred daughter of Manhattan Rain from Catalyst Fire (Lot 8). “She’s a quality type with an Oaks-winning lineage,” Gray said. “And she’s closely related to Peter Morley’s Group 3 winner Calypso Reign.”
The filly by up-and-coming stallion Hellbent from Smart Promise (Lot 131) is the first foal from a multiple winning Smart Missile mare who was a $60,000 buy for Rangeview at the 2023 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale. Hellbent (I Am Invincible) sired four Group winners in his first two crops and the quartet are all fillies.
The Written By – Swaane filly (Lot 142) was also purchased in utero by Rangeview for $55,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions National Sale. Written By has already made a mark in WA with the last two LR Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) winners Ripcord and Wind And The Lion.
Swaane’s first three foals are all winners – Contessa (Headwater), Midnight Hussy (Exceed And Excel) and Red Swan (Russian Revolution). Her current 2yo is Maureen Daly’s unraced 2yo colt Jolson Al (Exceedance) and she has a Long Leaf filly on the gound at Burekup.
Rangeview’s draft will be stabled in Barns L and M at the Magic Millions and Rob Gray can be contacted for further information on 0409 243 461.