The hardworking Denning family have built Burwood Stud into one of the biggest standardbred nurseries in Australia and they play a big role in the success of the sport in Queensland.
Noel and Christine Denning developed their Pittsworth property as an agistment centre in the 1980s and it has grown into a one-stop-shop for harness breeders, with 400 horses in 2025.
The Dennings stand NZ-bred stallion Changeover, offer artificial insemination breeding services, foal down up to 150 mares, raise the youngsters and prepare them for yearling sales.
They will take 17 yearlings to the 2025 APG Ipswich Yearling Sale on February 9, four of their own and 13 for clients.
Family patriarch Noel Denning, 69, said it was hard work but also very rewarding. And they had amazingly loyal clients.
“We have about 200 broodmares, some with foals, some dry. There are about 100 yearlings,” he said.
“I have great support from the family. My son Jonathon and grandson Caleb work with the horses and my daughter-in-law Megan looks after the office and social media.
“Last year we foaled down 120 mares. It was a busy season but we have had up to 150 foals born some years.
“Each of us is rostered two nights on and four nights off during the foaling season. We have up to 12 mares with foaling alarms and can have five foals a day born during the peak period.
“Everyone still has to work throughout the day. It is hard but rewarding to have three generations working the operation and to see the yearlings go on to successful careers.
“I am not going to slow down any time soon but the boys are going to take on a bit more of the operation in the next few years.”
Burwood Stud will prepare 50 yearlings for various Queensland sales this year.
Denning said the Wandary Splash colt by Tiger Tara (Lot 141) was a real standout among the stud’s Ipswich yearlings.
“We are pretty excited about him,” Denning said.
“He isn’t a giant but he is really well muscled and he is going to develop into a really nice colt.
“He does half an hour on the walker and he just plays the whole time.”
Wandary Splash (1.52.7, $158K) was an outstanding race mare and has produced winners from her first three foals and all three won as 2YOs.
She is the dam of Toro Loco (P21.55.6, $75K) who won the 2YO colts Sunshine Stars sales classic last year.
Her son by Changeover, Splashndash (P2,1.56.4) won the consolation of the Qbred 2YO colts Breeders Classic in 2023.
Burwood Stud will offer the first yearling in the sale, a striking chestnut filly (Lot 101) by Ride High from six-time winner Baroness Laroche.
The filly’s grandam is a half sister to NZ 2YO Te Awamutu Stakes (G2) winner High Calibre (1.52.2, $679K), who went on to win 64 races in America.
Denning said Burwood’s client draft was strong. He suggested buyers check out the three Huntsville youngsters – two colts and filly.
For full details of these or any other yearlings in the 2025 Ipswich Yearling Sale please visit APG’s Online Sales Catalogue or Register as a Buyer today!
