John Tapp and Sean Driver Remember Carael Boy

0:00 John Tapp introduces Carael Boy

Guest 1 0:00 Only a handful of racehorse owners and trainers dare dream that a champion will one day come into their lives. Most can only hope they'll find a horse capable of winning a race or two out of town. It comes as a rare treat to win a race or two on city tracks. Some enjoy the privilege of having a horse like Carael Boy, who died just a short time ago at age 27. This old warrior raced 86 times over eight years for 20 wins, 11 placings and just under $1 million. The horse of a lifetime for connections and one that most owners can only dream about. Following his final race in 2008, Carael Boy, or Henry as he was known to all, found himself a post racing paradise at Sean Driver's Kurrinda Stud, in the Hunter Valley. Things haven't been quite the same at Kurrinda since Henry slipped away in November. Sean Driver, he had a huge presence in your life, didn't he?

1:10 Sean on breeding Henry and growing up with him

Sean 1:10 Yeah, massive way. Like I was privileged. We bred the horse, we stood free flyer and you know, that's his dad and I was there the night he was born. So he was, I'm 37 myself. So I was only what, 10 year old when he was born. So it was a big part of my life.

Guest 1 1:26 Is it fair to say he had the run of the place?

Sean 1:33 Oh, definitely. And, and he deserved it too, didn't he? Like when, when they give you these experiences and you're traveling to state with them and, um, and at that time, the highways weren't built like they are now. Like Taree to Sydney was a long, a long way. And he was there most fortnights and, and, um, and, you know, Brisbane and back to, back to Taree. And, uh, look, he was a very, very tough animal. And, um, look, I only hope to only, you know, get one hug. I hope to only, you know, get one half as good one day.

2:04 Henry's temperament, arrogant but polite

Guest 1 2:04 Yeah. How do you describe his temperament, Sean? Did he have any quirks?

Sean 2:09 Uh, arrogant. Was he? The, uh, the older he got, he, um, he knew he was, he, he just, he still knew he was good. Like I think, I think the good ones know when they're good. Um, he knew he was the boss, but he knew his place with the yearlings as well. And that was his job. He was a nanny mare and he, he taught them manners and he taught them what to do, what not to do. And, but just dealing with us, mate, he was, he was arrogant, but polite. Like he, he wasn't, he wasn't rude, but he, when he, you know, he didn't want to be patted. If he didn't want to be patted, he'd push you away with his head. And, and if he wanted a pat, he'd walk up to you.

2:48 Ken Silverside and the move to a smaller Kurrinda

Guest 1 2:48 He was bred and raced by your late grandfather, Ken Silverside, founder of the original Kurrinda Stud. You sold that property following Ken's passing and you developed a smaller version near broke in the Hunter.

Sean 3:06 Yes, that's correct. Um, it wasn't just too big of an operation. Um, you know, there was 670 acres and 190 horse. And we sort of bred 28 to 33 each year. And a lot of the mayors were getting old, um, older and they weren't performing. And it was just with pops passing, it was just a really good time to sit down, reset, rethink, uh, what's the future here. And we, we thought my wife, like being a solicitor, we thought, look, let's get our license. We'll get our, it's just a license. We'll become a syndicator. I think this is the future. And we basically just got a smaller 40 acre property and, and now we syndicate horses.

3:46 Open days and the horses Henry raced against

Guest 1 3:46 I presume Corail Boy was a headline act whenever visitors called into the place. After all, he was a multiple stakes winner.

Sean 3:55 He was like every open day, you might be showing yearlings and, um, everyone just asked about Henry, you know, like everyone just wanted to see him and, and what he achieved. Not many horses win 20 races and, um, you know, 12, 12 at the top level. He was, it was some horse and I think just the horses he raced against, mate, like the likes of Lonro and Defire and Grand Army and take over target, beat him in the, uh, the big race, the Ramon at Grafton. And like when you, when you, when you're, when you're racing in the likes of these, they, they do become, I guess, infamous, you would say, you know.

4:35 The jockeys who rode Henry

Guest 1 4:35 Several jockeys won on Henry and the now retired Brad Pengeli holds the record with nine wins.

Sean 4:42 Brad loved him, loved him, loved him, loved him. Yeah. He was, Brad just clicked with him and another, another jockey that seemed to really click with him was Larry Cassidy later in his career as well. Um, but look, very honest, very, very tough. That's probably the word I can remember. Like back in those days, John, like they, they'd race on a Saturday and Bob would still gallop on a Tuesday. Yeah, like there was never, you know, like these days, they might race on a Saturday and have an easy week, but they were just so tough back then.

5:18 Private Harry carries the family colours

Guest 1 5:18 Good to see grandfather's colors going around currently on the very promising private Harry. As we speak, he's unbeaten in three runs. Now you acquired him for $115,000. You syndicated him among friends and existing clients. He looks the real deal.

Sean 5:39 He does, mate. Like we're just enjoying the ride day by day and, um, things can change by the minute. So you've got to enjoy the good times and, but look on data, he's showing us he's the real deal. Um, and more importantly on the racetrack, he, he's showing us how impressive he actually is. So for a cult, he's got a beautiful attitude. Uh, you wouldn't really, like he knows he's a boy, but he doesn't act out on it too much. So you wouldn't really know during the race. It's mainly just, you know, around the track, he will, he'll have a look at a few of the girls walking around, but he won't, he won't act on it.

Guest 1 6:18 Nothing too serious.

Sean 6:20 Nothing too serious. He's very manageable at this age.

Guest 1 6:23 Tell you what he has got, Sean, a beautiful way of going, as we say, lovely action.

Sean 6:29 Yeah, like his action is just incredible to watch. And I think that's, he just, he moves over the ground beautifully. And I think that when you've got a horse, John, as you know, when, when he can cruise, when you've got horses that can cruise up on the bit, still on the bridle at the 300 and you've got them off the bridle. I think that's when you know that they're just that next level.

6:49 How Kurrinda buys, educates and syndicates yearlings

Guest 1 6:49 Your charter nowadays is to buy well-credentialed yearlings at the right price. You syndicate them as you did Private Harry before offering breaking in, pre-training and spelling services for syndicate members. And the business is humming along sweetly.

Sean 7:09 It's doing well. Yeah, we've got our systems in place. And look, we buy the yearling, we educate them. And having our own property is a big asset because we can control their nutritional requirements. And we've got like probably 50 on our books. We don't plan to get too big. We probably only want to get to around that 80 to 90 mark and just focus on quality. And all of our trainers are doing a wonderful job. And yeah, that's just been great when we decide things.

7:37 Ken Silverside and the Magic Millions Sunlight

Guest 1 7:37 Grandfather Ken would be a very proud old horseman. Were he to see his white, pale blue star, pale blue striped sleeves and dark blue cap going around in the $3 million sunlight next month?

Sean 7:53 Yeah, it'd be a dream. Yeah, when you say it like that, John, it would mean a lot. And I know he was. He didn't show it. He was very old school. He was very tough, a very tough man. But I'm sure he'd be proud, that's for sure.

Guest 1 8:13 Well, you've got a rapidly emerging little operation there, Sean, with yourself, your wife, Genevieve, Shane Freer and Steve McMahon. Keep up the good work and good luck going forward. And I'll certainly be giving Private Harry a big cheer in the TAB Magic Millions Sunlight on the Gold Coast. Thanks, John. Really appreciate it.