THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN: WHEN GOOD PEOPLE DO GOOD THINGS FOR GOOD PEOPLE

By Graham Potter | Saturday, June 1, 2019

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

The racing industry is a particular beast and it can be its own enemy on occasions when different sectors of the industry pull in different directions … but, equally, what cannot be denied, is the fact that when industry participants unite behind a cause and set out to do good, they shine a bright light on the positive side of the industry by mobilising an effort of which everybody can be proud.

Take the case of what the Magic Millions company and leading breeding establishments and their associates have done for Tye Angland, a top jockey and top bloke, who so sadly ended up a quadriplegic after a fall from a horse coming out of the starting gates in Hong Kong back in November.

At the opening day of the Magic Millions National Broodmare sale this week services to eight stallions, offered by leading breeders, went to auction with all proceeds going to aid the Angland family.

The generosity of the various stud farms and the willingness of the purchasers to participate saw the auction realise a grand total of $283 500 … a great result which, once again, emphasised how close the racing family becomes when supporting one of their own.

For the record … and a pat on the back goes to all of these identities … the organisations involved in offering the services were Arrowfield, Australian Bloodstock, Coolmore, Eureka Stud, Darley, Magic Millions, Newgate Farm, Telemon Thoroughbreds, Vinery Stud and Yarraman Park.

It was obviously as important that the buyers came to the party.

The list of stallions offered with the buyers of each service reads:

Capitalist - $55,000 (donated by Newgate farm, bought by Widden Stud);
Dundeel - $100,000 (Donated by Arrowfield stud, bought by Musk Creek Farm);
Encryption - $12,000 (Donated by Darley and Eureka Stud, bought by Andrew Bowcock);
Hellbent - $32,500 (Donated by Yarraman Park Stud, bought by Valiant Stud);
Press Statement - $17,000 (Donated by Vinery Stud, bought David Raphael);
Mendelssohn - $27,000 (Donated by Coolmore Stud, bought by Jayven See/UHC);
Sidestep - $25,000 (Donated by Darley and Telemon Thoroughbreds, bought by Suffolk Vale & Co);
Tosen Stardom - $15,000 (Donated by Australian Bloodstock, bought by Andrew Williams).

It was a particularly moving moment when Tye Angland’s daughter Lexi brought the hammer down on the last of the stallion services.

Shortly after that Tye’s wife Erin tweeted, ‘Tye and I are beyond grateful for the generosity shown by everyone involved. We are so humbled to have the support shown to our family. The simple words of ‘thank you’ just aren’t enough.’

Kudos to all concerned for a great outcome for a most worthy cause and for reaffirming that there are still a lot of good people in the world.

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