When it comes to Australian stud farms, Newgate stands out for its strong Golden Slipper influence.
The Hunter Valley operation is one of only two in Australia, alongside Coolmore, that is home to two winners of the world’s premier juvenile race.
Capitalist, the 2016 Golden Slipper champion, stands at Newgate alongside 2021 winner Stay Inside, while the farm also houses the latter’s sire, Extreme Choice.
Under the leadership of Henry Field, Newgate is the only stud farm to boast both a Slipper winner and a Slipper-winning sire on its roster.
Despite this impressive lineup, the farm is eager to add even more Golden Slipper influence, with North England and Quietly Arrogant set to compete in this Saturday’s $5 million Group 1 race.
“As a breeder, it defines what we do every day,” Field said. “We’re trying to breed the best, the fastest, the most mature horses that we can.”
“Australia breeds the best two-year-olds, our juveniles are the best anywhere in the world, and if you breed or you race the Golden Slipper winner, you’ve got the best two-year-old on the planet. It’s a very special thing.”
North England and Quietly Arrogant are aiming to give their sires the distinction of becoming the first Golden Slipper winner to also sire a winner of the race since Stratum, the 2005 champion who produced 2010 victor Crystal Lily.
Quietly Arrogant is by Capitalist, while North England is from the first crop of 2020 Golden Slipper hero Farnan.
Newgate acquired North England in partnership with China Horse Club, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy Racing for $280,000 at last year’s Inglis Classic Sale.
The same group paid $400,000 for Quietly Arrogant a few weeks earlier at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Together, Newgate, China Horse Club, Trilogy, and Go Bloodstock spent $16,365,000 across 24 yearlings at Magic Millions and Inglis yearling sales last year, with most purchased with Golden Slipper aspirations.
“Not only do you need an incredibly talented horse to win the race, you need a horse that is mentally very tough, physically very tough, and all those attributes are the key attributes that stallions throw through to their progeny,” Field said.
“That’s why, if you look at the Golden Slipper honour roll, it’s such a key race for future champion stallions, and that’s why they are so valuable if they win.”
“Our partners in these two colts are really excited, I’m excited, it’s one of the most exciting weeks, so much goes into it.”
North England and Quietly Arrogant are among 11 colts in this year’s Slipper, with King Of Pop and Farcited also by Farnan, making him the equal most heavily represented sire in the race.
Written Tycoon also has three contenders aiming for a third Slipper success: Tycoon Star, Skyhook, and Victorian filly Military Tycoon.
Yulong-based Written Tycoon is one of three Slipper-winning sires represented in this year’s race, alongside Extreme Choice, the sire of Blue Diamond-winning colt Devil Night, and Arrowfield Stud’s Snitzel, who has filly Marhoona engaged.
Written Tycoon, Snitzel, and Extreme Choice are among only five active Australian stallions who have sired a Golden Slipper winner, joined by Widden’s Rebel Dane and Manhattan Rain, who stands at Giesel Park in Western Australia.
Coolmore’s Wootton Bassett, who has two runners including favourite Wodeton, Darley trio Bivouac, Street Boss, and Too Darn Hot, Lucky Vega, and Zousain are the other sires represented in this year’s Golden Slipper 2025.
