Fiona Lacey is the new President of Thoroughbred Breeders’ WA effective from its monthly meeting on Wednesday.

She succeeds Brent Atwell who has been a member of the committee for six years and served as President for the last three.   Troy van Heemst takes over as vice-president in addition to his role as treasurer of TBWA.

Lacey (pictured with stakes winning stallion Rommel) owns and operates the Olive Grove Equine Veterinary Clinic and is a partner in Mogumber Park Stud with her husband Colin Brown.

“We’re very lucky to have a really good team on the committee with a wealth of experience from quite diverse backgrounds,” Lacey said.  “I would also like to thank Brent for his service to TBWA.

“There are tough times ahead and one of our biggest challenges will be steering through the effects of COVID-19.  We also have to bring the governance and culture of our committee into line with modern times and attitudes.

“The increasing awareness of animal welfare, transparency and traceability are all issues we hope to work through with the respective bodies.

“That said, we are fortunate to have just completed one of our most successful yearling sales in recent years, thanks in no small part to the efforts of David Houston and Magic Millions.  Their massive investment in our State and the new Swan Valley sales complex is a positive signal for our breeders to have the faith and foresight to reinvest in the industry.”

Born and bred in Perth, Fiona loved horses from the outset despite not having a family background in the industry.  She left school at 16 to pursue a career with trainers like Greg Harper, Lou Luciani and Paul Jordan.

“I took out a trainers licence for a brief period prior to returning to school and then completing a veterinary degree.  After graduation,  I worked in racetrack practice before discovering a love of equine reproduction that took me around the world.”

Returning to Perth in 2005, she met Colin and they started a family as well as launching Mogumber Park from very humble beginnings.  Starting out with 50 acres of weeds, the Bullsbrook couple have developed the property into one of the larger stud farms in WA.