Weanlings by Major Secret
The famed South Australian breeding establishment Allenby Lodge Stud is celebrating its 70th year of continuous operation this year.
Whilst renowned for its long tradition under the state’s legendary Norman family, modernisation and professionalism is not ignored and is part of the reason for the nursery’s continuing success.
Allenby Lodge’s royally bred and performed sire Major Secret was in fact the first stallion registered this season under HRA’s new stud book regime, which will partly fund the world’s richest harness race – the $2.1 million The Eureka.
Current proprietor Stephen Norman is keen to continue to take the stud forward.
“Allenby Lodge is an established ‘brand’ which signifies strength, reliability and success in South Australia,” said Norman. “In the 70’s and 80’s though, it had a higher national profile and that’s where I want to take it back to. We’ve bought a number of high quality mares over the past couple of seasons, which have pedigrees that would be competitive in Eastern state sales.”
“We in fact have only one broodmare left from what I term our ‘old breeds’, which were good for us back in the day, but are not so strong in today’s racing. We are in a significant upswing in focus to the higher levels of the breeding side of the industry, and I expect Major Secret to be a big part of that.”
From the prescient Larrakeyah Lady family, Major Secret had a huge impact from only 53 starts, winning over $460 000. After winning the 2yo Vicbred Final over super horses Hector Jay Jay and Messini, his highlight came the following season in winning the 2014 NSW Derby in a then World Record for 3yo colts over the 2400m trip against one of the best Derby fields ever assembled.
In the beaten brigade were genuine stars like Bling It On, Isaiah NZ, Major Crocker, I Am Mr Brightside NZ, etc. Ironically, that was his eighth and last start as a 3yo, with a niggling injury sending him for a spell. Major Secret came back well though, with record breaking wins in the Tasmanian Cup and Horsham Cup among others.
In its time, Allenby Lodge has seen many other studs in the industry come and go. Despite the length of operation though, it could be said that it is a new beginning and Steve Norman agrees, but he is looking well into the future.
“With a number of other initiatives, I have in the pipeline, I’d like to see Allenby Lodge going strong into it to its 100th year! We are seeing some glimmers that the South Australian industry has bottomed and with our current administration we are poised to make a rise. I have confidence in that process and will be in there supporting and riding with it all the way.”
