A weanling is a foal under the age of one. Foals are typically weaned off their mothers at 5-6 months of age. Once separated from their mothers, the weanlings are housed and turned out in the fields with other weanlings, where they become acclimated to the social structure of the herd. They also spend more time with people at this age. The primary objectives for weanlings at a stud farm is to foster positive interactions with humans and to meticulously nurture their growth and development. The time they spend participating in physical activities such as running and playing in the fields serves as the cornerstone for developing their competitive spirit. Furthermore, they become accustomed to interacting with humans, including their grooms, farriers, and veterinarians, establishing a sense of familiarity and trust.

From the breeding farm to the auction ring, yearlings are horses between one and two years old that have matured on from the foal stage of life. During this phase, they start to resemble racehorses and experience rapid growth. This period is crucial in a thoroughbred's development, as they transition from innocent foals to energetic adolescents. Physically robust and brimming with potential, yearlings are poised to showcase their racing prowess. At this stage, thoroughbred yearlings are either sold at public auctions or sent to training facilities to prepare for their racing careers.

The breeding objective is to produce horses with the ideal combination of traits that ensure success on the racetrack, including speed, endurance, and adaptability. Approximately 10 weeks are required to break in and acclimate a yearling to the realms of racing through a gradual introduction. Fundamental groundwork and exercises are incorporated into their routine, establishing a solid foundation for more rigorous training in the upcoming years. This sales preparation concentrates on health, physical condition, leading by hand, balance, stride at walk and behaviour. The primary objective is to develop a robust foundation, encompassing both physical and mental aspects as prep for the challenges encountered on the racetrack.

Upon reaching the age of two years, the equine athlete begins to train in preparation for racing. They learn how to get a bit in their mouth, handle a saddle and become accustomed to a jockey on their back - and how to run. The 2YO juvenile colt may be old enough to race but their physical development is still a work in progress and they need to learn balance and control when galloping at speed. From birth to the racetrack, thoroughbreds experience rapid bone and muscle development. Their skeletal structure, initially soft and growing, gradually hardens. The bones, particularly in the legs, need to develop enough strength to withstand the high-impact pressures of racing.

Scientific studies indicate that this bone development reaches its peak around the age of two, which coincidentally aligns with the onset of many racehorses’ careers. Early stages of training focus on building stamina and muscle tone, gradually introducing the young horses to the rigors of the racetrack. As the young racehorse demonstrates proficiency and confidence in its training, the challenges are gradually heightened. In essence, the early stages of a racehorse's training represent a carefully orchestrated progression from foundational exercises to more dynamic challenges.

Although many horses do not participate in races until they are three years old or older, the modern bred two-year-old can appear significantly stronger framed and more robust than in previous generations, allowing them to compete effectively at such a young age. Top trainers have the ability to condition a two-year-old to perform early in their career, but they are also aware of the physical stresses involved and may limit an initial campaign to only a few starts, depending on the overall body strength and physical versatility of the animal. Normally two-year-olds do not exceed the 1200m sprint distance at this age but lucrative 2yo feature races can extend to the mile (1600m).

Upon reaching the age of three, the typical thoroughbred will have fully developed physically and mentally, exhibiting a marked increase in strength and overall robustness. Some of the biggest races in Australasia are aimed at this age group, which sees three-year-olds improve by leaps and bounds as they mature and learn to race competitively among their own age group. They are also eligible for traditional Handicap and WFA races carrying far less weight against older horses. 1200m to 1600m are the most common distances faced at this age, however, they are able to be conditioned to compete further then middle distances, with the feature 3YO Oaks and Derby events stretching out to 2400m. They’re old enough to burn up the track, but raw enough to add the element of uncertainty that makes gambling worthwhile.

At this point in their development, many of the young male horses have been gelded to facilitate their maturity and eliminate distractions caused by female horses. This procedure also contributes to extending their professional careers. A well-bred colt that demonstrates exceptional talent on the racetrack may be identified as a potential future sire. However, this consideration often leads to a shortened racing career. Consequently, only a select few ultimately go on to serve in this capacity. Fillies can perform exceptionally well at three years of age due to their superior maturity and more evenly balanced temperament. It is also important to consider the residual value of a winning mare as a broodmare. A mare with a successful racing record and a strong pedigree often has greater breeding value than a male with a similar racing record.

The purpose of gelding a male horse is twofold: firstly, it enhances the temperament and attitude of the horse, making it more suitable for training and racing. Secondly, it reduces the heaviness and pressure on the forelegs, which can improve the horse's stamina. Colts can become less enthusiastic in their training and less sociable, while geldings tend to be more focused and easier to handle on a daily basis, leading to improved performance.

Geldings tend to have a more sociable and stress-free lifestyle with less aggressive tendencies. They can be walked to the track with other geldings and mares without the risk of confrontation, can be tethered and yarded in close proximity to other horses and are less likely to engage in dominance-related disputes with other horses, or suffer from major distractions. They are also less likely to sustain an injury, as the energetic young colt is inclined to behave in an aggressive and hostile manner and may harm itself in the paddock or on the racetrack. It is always worthwhile tracking a horse racing first up after being gelded as they often perform exceptionally well in this state.

A filly is considered a mare, an adult female equine from the age of four. All horses normally reach maximum physical maturity during their fourth year. They provide a balanced temperament and tend to be more perceptive then geldings, with a greater sense of self-preservation. Mares are often sharper and smarter than geldings and can figure things out quicker which makes them easier and faster to train. Mare's are typically more sensitive to their surroundings, environment, riders, gear changes etc. With a greater work ethic that goes above and beyond, they just try harder at the elite level. With their reproductive cycle they can be moody but they seem to trust more and respond well to a positive jockey ride with a high level of loyalty once bonded. However, preconceived ideas about horse behaviour, temperament and rideability change from animal to animal. The mare can possess a stronge attitude due to hormones and can be a bit more 'spicier' then the average gelding out on the race track. When a mare is 'in-foal' and still racing they can throw out an awesome performance and we always try to monitor this.

Some breeders believe that the mare is the more significant parent. When providing selections, we often list the dam and second dam, or go even further back to assess past performances along the maternal and grandmaternal genetic pedigree lines, sometimes mentioning the third dam. It has been observed that a good stallion generally cannot negate the hereditary influence of a poor race mare, but a good race mare can negate the hereditary influence of a poor sire. Therefore, the dams bloodline lineage does have an impact as a valuable indicator on a racehorses ability. Some of the greatest racehorses we have ever seen are mares.

An Entire is a still intact stallion four years or older, also known as a 'whole horse'. There are benefits and drawbacks to an entire, but naturally it can still produce offspring and serve at stud, however entires are very rare in the racing world as most potential sires are often retired early. Entire stallions are known for their unbelievable speed and unpredictable behaviour and temperament, so they're not easy to handle and can be highly aggressive. Additionally, stallions can appear thicker in the neck and offer a more muscular body because of the high testosterone levels, therefore they can be more difficult to keep in a peak state of racing fitness. Focus on work and burning off pent up energy is crucial. With proper training and strong management, the entire can be effective equine athletes and perform very well on the racetrack.

The male parent of a horse is referred to as a sire, while the female parent is known as a dam. The process of breeding involves the careful selection of a stallion with desirable characteristics, such as speed, endurance, strength, and temperament, with the aim of producing offspring that exhibit similar or enhanced qualities. Achieving successful breeding outcomes necessitates a thorough understanding of bloodlines and genetic traits. Breeders engage in extensive research to identify the most suitable sires in order to produce high-quality offspring that may eventually become champion racehorses. The significance of the sire in horse racing cannot be overstated, as they play a crucial role in determining the physical attributes and potential of their progeny. A sire can father hundreds of racehorses throughout their breeding lifetime, providing the quality of the breeding, the conformation of the horse, its athleticism, and its mental attitude down through it's progeny.

The definition of a broodmare is a female horse kept for breeding purposes. The dam refers to the mother of a horse. When evaluating a horse's suitability as a broodmare, three key factors must be considered: conformation, temperament, and pedigree. Race record alone is not a reliable indicator of a broodmare's ability to produce successful offspring, although a strong pedigree and a family lineage known for producing performance horses are usually important considerations. Additionally, the mare's conformation should be balanced, with sound structural correctness and proper proportions, including good feet, bone, and girth. Her soundness record is crucial, as inherent weaknesses should not be passed on. An ideal temperament is one that is classic, trainable, and willing to learn. As previously stated, we meticulously examine the sire and dam pedigree of broodmares in our selection process to ascertain the strengths and overall performance capabilities of their prior offspring.

A broodmare's reproductive capacity can vary significantly. Some may produce only one foal during their lifetime, while others have the potential to produce multiple foals every 11-month gestation period throughout their breeding life. Under optimal conditions and with proper care, a suitably healthy broodmare can produce up to 10 foals during her breeding lifetime.

Grandsire: The paternal grandfather of the horse.

Damsire: Also known as a broodmare sire, this is the maternal grandfather of the foal – the mother’s father.

Progeny: The offspring of a horse.

Full Brother or Sister: Horses that share the same sire and dam.

Half Brother or Sister: Horses that share the same dam. Horses that share only the same sire are not considered to be related, as a stallion may sire hundreds of foals every year.

Second Dam: The dam’s mother, otherwise known as the maternal grandmother.

Third Dam: The great-grandmother on the female side of the pedigree.

Pedigree: Refers to a horse's family tree, with its paternal ancestors - sire/father on the top, and its maternal ancestors - dam/mother on the bottom.