For so long in the Sunshine State, Kevin and Kay Seymour, trading under their banner of Solid Earth, have dominated the owners’ ranks.
While their 2024 was, yet again, brilliant owing to the deeds of superstar pacer Leap To Fame while the support cast of Free Thinker and Air Express more than paid their way, plus juvenile jets like Fate Awaits, Fire Raiser and Cool And Classy - among many others - gave them plenty of hope for the future, which only added to their cracking season.
More than 100 wins were registered for the leviathan couple while earnings topped $3 million for the season only underlines their dominance.
Ironically, Leap To Fame amassed more than $1 million for the second straight season while Fate Awaits ($394,000) was the highest earning 2YO pacer throughout the country.
But another name within the owners ranks also had a standout season: Craig Whiteoak.
The enthusiastic owner hails from the finance industry but devotes plenty of his spare time to buying and racing horses in Queensland, and 2024 was by far his biggest and best season to date.
Whiteoak, 47, has made an art form of buying stock from New Zealand before placing them in the care of extremely gifted young couple Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen at their Somerset Farms property west of Brisbane.
Pacers and trotters, male or female and young or old, Whiteoak reaped the rewards throughout the year.
His team had 342 starts throughout the year for 72 winners and 72 minor placings (35 seconds and 37 thirds) while earnings went above $743,000.
“Best season for me and by some way; I’d like to take all the credit but as most are aware, it’s such a huge team effort. My New Zealand-based agent has been tremendous while I can’t say enough about Pete and Chantal plus their entire staff. It was such a thrilling year in so many ways,” Whiteoak said.
The biggest thrill for Whiteoak came via the final Metropolitan meeting of the year - December 28 - when his giant striding pacer Duke Of Scotland broke the Albion Park track record following his thumping victory in a time of 1:49.1, which eclipsed the previous mark of 1:49.2 set by Blacksadance.
Incidentally, both Duke Of Scotland and Blacksadance are stablemates, both under the care of Turpin/McMullen Racing stables.
Given the huge numbers posted by Whiteoak in 2024, it’s only sharpened his focus of bettering his numbers this year while ultimately, he’s keen to contest more feature events and win his maiden Group 1 event.
And he believes Duke Of Scotland might be the horse to achieve that dream.
“Without doubt he’s the most exciting within my team, from the moment he arrived he showed he’s better than average and he’s just kept improving,” Whiteoak said.
“Breaking the Albion Park track record was the absolute highlight for me. It was just a normal race but the way he did it and looking at the sectionals; I was completely gobsmacked.
“I’m convinced he’s the best in my team and I believe he can win a big race somewhere. Look, it’s not easy with Leap To Fame based in the same state, but dreams are free and I’m hoping Duke can do it for me.”
Arriving mid-way through 2024, Duke Of Scotland has won eight of his 12 starts while banking just under $100,000 to date, but connections are aiming high and following his track record romp, the country’s biggest speed test, the Group 1 Miracle Mile at Menangle in March, is now the target while the Inter Dominion at Albion Park in July is another focus.
His biggest wins to date include the $31,160 J.C McMullen during the Constellations in July while also triumphant in the $31,160 Bill Dixon during the Summer Carnival in November.
Naturally, Whiteoak has fielded several lucrative offers from North American interests for Duke Of Scotland in recent times, but the “Not for Sale” sign has gone up.
Another standout performer for Whiteoak has been fellow sub 1:50 winner Always Smokin. The Always B Miki gelding recorded a career best time of 1:49.6 back on October 19 at Albion Park.
A winner of six races last year, Always Smokin was responsible for some giant efforts throughout last year including his second placing behind Blazing Home in the Group 3 4YO Championship during the Constellations in July.
Horses that finished behind him includes the likes of Free Thinker, Wisper A Secret, Regazzo Di Tilly, Captains Knock, Sire Thing Captain, Frankie Ferocious and Duke Of Scotland among others.
“He’s such a game horse. He tries so hard every time he steps onto the track, so he’s a real pleasure to be involved with. The night he went 1:49.6 was another highlight for the year,” Whiteoak said.
“Hopefully, between him and Duke, they can fly the flag proudly for Queensland this year in many of the bigger races.”
Some of the other quality performers for Whiteoak last year included The Janitor (eight wins), Shes Fullofspirit (six wins), Top Of The Moment (six wins), Betterthanarocket (six wins), Alta Magacian (five wins), Robyn X (five wins), Checknoutthetalent (five wins), Shackouttheback (five wins) and My Rocky Romance (four wins).
Both The Beauden Blues (three wins) and Alta Revelry (one win) raced well before being sold to North American interests throughout the year.
The lightly raced Waikaka Magic (winner on debut on December 28) could be one to keep tabs on throughout 2025. The Raging Bull three-year-old scored at Wyndham in 1:55.3 before winning first-up in the same time at Albion Park.
“Unbelievable year, and the bulk of those wins came via the Saturday night metro level which is just awesome. Winning the Albion Park Owners Premiership is so surreal. It’s not something you set out to do, but it just underlines the efforts of so many people throughout the season,” Whiteoak said.
“That would have to be the highlight of the year followed by the Track Record and while Always Smokin going 1:49.6 completes my Top 3 moments for 2024.
“Bring on 2025, it’s such a thrill to be involved.”
But with owners, sometimes it’s not all about the cheque book, sometimes it’s about the scrapbook.
