Darling View Thoroughbreds has announced it will not be selling yearlings under the Western Breeders’ Alliance banner as from 2025.
Western Breeders’ Alliance offered its first yearlings at the 2015 Perth Magic Millions and that consignment included RL Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) winner The River (Magnus) and RL Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy (1200m) winner Enchanted Dream (Patronize) who were both bred and raised by Darling View.
WBA has been one of the success stories of the industry as leading vendor for turnover in four of the last six Swan Valley Sales. The Alliance comprised Clive, Trish & Brent Atwell (Darling View), Phil & Lindy Ibbotson (Westbury Park) and Wayne & Jane Beynon (Einoncliff Park) and, realistically, they’ve probably been victims of their own success.
“Western Breeders’ Alliance has built a great brand and we all get along really well but it’s now down to the logistics,” Brent Atwell said on Monday. “The numbers have just kept increasing and we have entered 40 yearlings of our own for next year’s Perth Yearling Sale.”
Darling View is home to WA Champion sire Playing God and he had 39 yearlings average $120,000 at a 93% clearance rate this year. He’s odds-on to top that average and then some in February.
“We also prepare yearlings for our loyal clients and we’re already fully booked with the addition of the first yearlings by our exciting young sire Splintex,” Atwell said. “They’re very nice types and among them is the half-brother to Street Parade and a lovely colt from the family of Ellicorsam and Ellicazoom.”
Hunter Valley stallions with yearlings in the Darling View draft include All Too Hard, Capitalist, Farnan, Lonhro, So You Think (NZ), St Mark’s Basilica and Star Turn.
When Splintex won the G2 Arrowfield Sprint Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April 2020, he became the 100th Stakes winner by Snitzel and that career-defining victory sparked Australia-wide interest as a sire prospect. “He doesn’t win these big races by big margins but he’s brave and genuine and that’s what counts,” trainer Mark Newnham declared. “He performs whether it’s wet or dry and he’s the type of horse that can make a very nice stallion.”
Darling View won that race and he covered 118 mares in his first book at Mundijong. “Splintex let down into a magnificent stallion and he’s a sound, clean-winded horse,” Atwell said. “If it’s performance, pedigree and physique you’re after – he has it covered in spades.”
Splintex stands at Darling View for $11,000 alongside Playing God ($49,500) and Lightsaber ($6,600). Service fees (inc GST). Stud manager Brent Atwell can be contacted for bookings or more information on 0408 648 100.