Jonah Croese on Owning a Share in Private Harry

0:00 Private Harry's second trial at Rosehill

Sean 0:00 Alright, we're here today for episode 28 of the podcast Off N Racing. I thought I'd just do a really quick podcast. We're at Rosehill Racecourse. Private Harry's just had his second trial. His action looked good and we're on track. By the time this comes out, he's probably already had his exhibition gallop at Canterbury and not too far off his first run in the shorts. So fingers crossed for the horse, Nathan and all the connections. But I'd like to present Jonah. How are you going, mate? Good, mate. Yourself? Good. Thanks for joining us, mate. No worries. You're a shareholder in Private Harry. You happy with what you're seeing? Yeah, very happy, mate. Yeah, definitely can't complain. He looks good, doesn't he? He looks outstanding. Nathan's done a fantastic job with him and Brady's handler does a great job with him as well. So yeah, couldn't be up here. Good stuff. Mate, first of all, I just want people to know a bit about you.

0:59 Jonah's work: conveyor belt maintenance and FIFO

Jonah Croese 0:59 What do you do for work and how long have you been doing it? Yeah, so I just do conveyor belt maintenance. I do both local and FIFO work. I've been doing that for about, I'd say, six years now. So yeah. Yeah, enjoy it? Yeah, well, pays the bills. Pays for Harry to get to the races and whatnot. So it's good.

Sean 1:18 And with your work, mate, what sort of locations has it taken you to?

Jonah Croese 1:22 South Australia at the moment. So just inland South Australia. A place called Olympic Dam. So yeah.

Sean 1:29 That's the main location? Yeah, that's pretty much where I'll go at the moment. Yeah. And shift-wise, so the audience knows, what sort of shift work do you do?

Jonah Croese 1:37 So 12-hour shifts, six till six. Yeah, that's the minimum. So long days, long nights. 12 on, 14 on, what do you sort of do? Usually two weeks on and yeah, one week off.

Sean 1:50 Yeah. So would you recommend it to anyone? FIFO work?

Jonah Croese 1:53 Yeah, if you don't mind a bit of physical work. Yeah. It's not for someone that, you know, um, is not up to doing physical, uh, work on your body and stuff like that. So, yeah.

2:05 How Jonah got into racing and then ownership

Sean 2:05 Yeah. Good stuff, mate. So what got you into horse racing?

Jonah Croese 2:13 Uh, I'd probably say my father. He, um, used to manage jockeys. Uh, ever since I could walk, I've always been around horses and, you know, uh, accompanying him to stables and stuff like that on race day and just always had a passion for the animal. And I think as I've got older, my passion's grown into wanting to be more involved in the industry. So, um, I've found racehorse ownership as that avenue to get more involved. So, yeah, that's

Sean 2:41 been fantastic. No, cool. And what is it you like about horse racing?

Jonah Croese 2:45 And I think first and foremost, just the animal, mate, I think horses are such beautiful animals. Um, they're very well natured and they're all unique in their own way. They're like humans. So, um, but also just the, the atmosphere on race day, um, especially as an owner, like, you know, there's certain things you see on TV and, uh, when you become an owner, it's just opens up the world of it, to be honest. And, um, yeah, it's a little bit different, but

Sean 3:17 it's very exciting. In the birdcage, in the members?

Jonah Croese 3:19 Yeah. Just, you know, in the higher ups and everything like that.

Sean 3:23 Yeah. Ah, it's good, mate. And what made you take the leap into racehorse ownership?

Jonah Croese 3:30 Um, I think personally for me, it was just how do I get more in touch with something that I care so much about? So, um, yeah, just as I got older, my passion grew from, you know, sitting at home watching the races to actually wanting to be track side and be more hands on and involved with everything. So, um, yeah, met yourself on a race day and, uh, went down to your open day and from there I just got the bug.

Sean 3:59 Yep. Fair point. What do you most like about Kurrinda Bloodstock?

4:04 What Jonah values about Kurrinda

Jonah Croese 4:04 Um, probably the transparency, um, just straight up honesty, you know, um, if you, if you guys think a horse is not trending the right way or, um, so be it, well, you let the owners know first and foremost and, um, you just keep them in the loop all the time. You're never wondering what's going on with a horse. You're always up to date with everything and, um, and also, I just like the way you purchase your animals as well. Like, you just buy within your means and, um, with your industry in the, with your experience in the industry as well, um, yes, you always buy astute animals and no, really enjoying it, mate.

Sean 4:47 Oh, that's good. What would you say to someone if they were on the fence of race horse ownership with us? Uh, they've been quiet with us. They're sort of 50, 50, they're thinking about it. Um, what would you say to someone that's on the fence looking to invest with Kurrinda Bloodstock?

Jonah Croese 5:05 I'd say just, well, you've got to experience it. So just take that leap first and foremost, but also, yeah, just, I can't recommend the transparency enough and just genuine people. Like, you're, you're dealing with genuine people. So, um, yeah, couldn't recommend it.

Sean 5:23 Yep. Um, what's your best memory on a racetrack so far?

5:32 Best racetrack memory: the Group 1 Galaxy

Jonah Croese 5:32 Oh, it has to be the Group 1 Galaxy earlier on in the year. That was, uh, uh, that was definitely the best day of my life so far. That's a big statement. I can't put that into words, uh, how good it was. And night. Oh yeah, big night, big night. And week.

Sean 5:49 I think I had a few sickies that week. Yeah. God help, uh, Sydney and Australia if, uh, he happens to, uh, do well in the Everest. Yeah. Just ring work and I think there's a 28 day RDO.

Jonah Croese 6:03 I'll be very concerned for my own well-being after that.

6:08 Jonah on his relationship with Kurrinda

Sean 6:08 Um, no, so what makes you, a lot of owners probably want to hear you, you've reinvested with us quite heavily each and every year. What makes you reinvest with us each year? Um, I think because you guys

Jonah Croese 6:25 have been getting a lot of success, um, yeah, the success definitely helps but also like just becoming more than an owner now. It's like, you know, we've got a relationship outside of, you know, a syndicated manager and an owner. We actually can, you know, go out on race days and have that good time together as, as mates. So, um, that's one thing and the other thing success and, um, yeah, just the type of animal you guys purchase. Um, I can't, yeah, I can't fault you. Oh, cool. Thanks mate. You've been to Magic

6:56 Magic Millions week on the Gold Coast

Sean 6:56 Millions sale two years in a row now. Um, I'm not sure if you remember the week that you attend that, uh, that much, but if someone was looking to come up to the Magic Millions and spend one night with us, three nights or five nights, uh, what would you say to them? Um, be prepared to drink.

Jonah Croese 7:22 Not with me of course. No, no, no. No, just getting involved with all the other owners that are up there for the same reason. Um, yeah, it's, it's a great week away at the Gold Coast. The sales, you can't speak wholly enough of the sales. It's probably, um, the best sale I've ever been to in terms of

Sean 7:39 quality of the animal and stuff like that. It's just such a, you can't explain the vibe. Everyone is just go, go, go, go, go all day. But then as soon as you have that first beer, it's like, go,

Jonah Croese 7:51 go, go until 7am. Well, you just get to see both sides of it. Like, for example, it's flat out for the syndicators and the trainers and all that buying the animals. But then after all the chaos is done, you get to experience, you know, the other side of it. Work hard, play hard. Yeah. We'll play harder.

Sean 8:08 Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I always say like, I try and train seven months of the year to prep myself because you put on so much weight in the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide or whatever. And then you get to like Easter and you're like, I am, ***, I'm fat. And then you just go back to the gym and you're like, get ready for January again. That's what it's like. Yeah. You got to give

Jonah Croese 8:33 yourself that time. You know, you know, it's coming up. So you've got to give yourself that time to prepare yourself. And yeah, after it, it's all about recovery and straight back into it.

Sean 8:42 No, it's good. It's a, it's a really, all jokes aside, it's just, it's such a good experience. We get a good table there and beautiful food, drinks and good people. And if you're thinking about coming, definitely we'll send it. Yeah. We'll send an invite out syndicate update and just get amongst it. Um, yeah, we'll sort that out later, but, um, mate, that's it. Well, thanks for coming on. Is there anything else you wanted to touch base on? Um, no, I think, you know, just look forward to the

9:16 Looking ahead to the Everest

Jonah Croese 9:16 coming months ahead. And I think it's exciting for everyone involved, you know, just to have a runner in the Everest, let alone someone who can, well, a horse that can actually probably win the, win it. So, um, respectfully, just, just, just, just a genuine chance, you know? Yeah. Yeah. Like all 12

Sean 9:33 horses are genuine chances and just the buildup. And, um, it is, it's, it's, I wouldn't say it's probably, oh, for you with private Harry and, and, um, you know, the deal that we've done with Yulong, it is life changing and the unicorn moments. Um, we don't promise this, um, at all, but it's, the, what Joan has experienced, um, it, it can happen to you. And this is what it's about racehorse ownership. We all dream. We all buy shares to, to dream. And, um, this can be you and, um, that's it. Episode 28, make sure you share it on Spotify, like it, watch it, YouTube, anything. Um, yeah. Thanks for coming, mate. No worries, mate. Thanks for having me.