My love of racing began at a very young age, but my passion for the thoroughbred breeding industry went to another level when Dundeel was retired to stud at Arrowfield Stud. Dundeel wasn't just another champion racehorse. He was the horse who helped deepen my fascination with pedigrees, bloodlines, stallion selection and the long-term future of the thoroughbred. A son of High Chaparral, who stood at Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand before moving to Coolmore's Hunter Valley operation in Australia, with his stud career also taking him to Ireland, Dundeel carried a pedigree that immediately captured my imagination. His dam, Stareel, was a daughter of the legendary Zabeel. That combination of High Chaparral and Zabeel represented everything I found fascinating about breeding: generations of genetic influence coming together in one exceptional individual. Dundeel's retirement was a turning point for me. I started looking beyond the racetrack, asking questions about why certain stallions succeeded, how bloodlines complemented one another, and what separated a good sire from one capable of leaving a lasting legacy. The more I learned, the deeper my passion became. Breeding is about thinking years, sometimes generations, into the future. It requires research, commercial understanding, patience and the willingness to question conventional wisdom. There are no guarantees, and the decisions made today can shape the industry long after the horses involved have left us. That is what makes it so captivating. I had followed racing from a young age, but Dundeel helped me discover that my fascination extended far beyond the finish line. Today, my interest encompasses the entire breeding industry, from stallion economics and pedigree analysis to the decisions that will determine the future of our thoroughbred populations. I care deeply about this industry, which is precisely why I am prepared to question it when I believe something needs challenging. For me, it has never been just about watching horses race. It is about understanding where they come from, what they might produce and the legacy they could leave behind. Sometimes, one horse changes how you see an entire industry. For me, that horse was Dundeel.

Start of bowls season and the Southland weather has come to the party not…….. hope it turns up soon

🚨 ANTZ OFFICIAL | DON'T IGNORE THE DAM 🧬🏇 When analysing a horse's chances, how much attention are you paying to its female pedigree? Punters often focus heavily on the sire, looking at his racing career, the distances he excelled over and the performances of his progeny. But are we overlooking valuable information by not giving the dam's side of the pedigree the same consideration? Take Extreme Choice, a Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner over 1200 metres. His progeny include She's Extreme, a Group 1 VRC Oaks winner over 2500 metres, and Knight's Choice, a Group 1 Melbourne Cup winner over 3200 metres. These examples highlight why punters should look beyond a stallion's own racing profile when assessing the distance capabilities of his progeny. The key is understanding what the dam brings to the equation. Whether analysing a sprint, a mile race or a staying contest, the female family deserves proper investigation. The dam's breeding, the quality of her relatives and the stamina or speed present throughout the maternal line can all contribute to a broader assessment of a horse's potential. This is particularly relevant when horses step up in distance or tackle conditions they have not previously encountered. Pedigree alone will never tell the complete story, but it can help punters identify possibilities that a narrow focus on recent form or the sire's reputation might overlook. The challenge is to assess the entire pedigree, understand how its different influences might complement one another and then compare that assessment with the horse's actual racing performances and the price on offer. Don't just study the sire. Study the dam, understand the female family and make the pedigree work for you. Sometimes, the information that helps you assess a horse more accurately is sitting right there in the race book. #AntzOfficial #ThoroughbredRacing #PedigreeAnalysis #Punting

ANTZ OFFICIAL | PEDIGREE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE LOOK BEYOND DANEHILL: THE FEMALE FAMILY IS A BREEDING ASSET The thoroughbred breeding industry needs to look beyond the dominance of Danehill and give greater consideration to the genetic opportunities within established female families. Danehill's influence on international breeding is undeniable. However, commercial popularity should never replace sound pedigree analysis. Breeders must look beyond fashionable sire names and assess the mare's production record, the strength of her family and the genetic influences carried through successive generations. Cosmic Crusader provides an excellent example. By Japanese stallion Maurice, he descends from 19 successive Australian bred mares, tracing his female line back to Betty, foaled in Parramatta in 1818. His pedigree combines Japanese, American and French influences through Maurice, Street Sense and Metal Storm, backed by a female family with a substantial record of producing quality racehorses. Despite his premature death, Metal Storm's daughters have produced 28 stakes winners. His legacy demonstrates how a stallion's influence can continue through subsequent generations, with his daughters contributing to the breed long after his own career ended. Cosmic Crusader's granddam, Stormy Nova, was a four time stakes winner who produced four stakes winners herself, including Superstorm. This is the sort of female family breeders should examine closely. Stormy Nova's record demonstrates both racetrack ability and an established capacity to produce quality. While no pedigree guarantees success, a consistent record of producing stakes performers provides valuable evidence when evaluating potential matings. THE QUESTION BREEDERS NEED TO ASK Are we placing too much emphasis on the sire and not enough on the mare? The commercial marketplace naturally gravitates towards fashionable stallions. However, identifying genuine genetic compatibility requires more than reinforcing popular names. Looking beyond Danehill does not mean dismissing his contribution. It means recognising that genetic improvement can come from multiple directions, including proven female families and international bloodlines that offer alternatives to conventional mating patterns. Breeders should assess the strengths and weaknesses of their mares, the production records of their female families, the influence of previous stallions and opportunities to introduce complementary genetics. A pedigree is not simply a collection of stallion names. It is a multigenerational genetic history, and the female family is an integral part of that equation. Cosmic Crusader illustrates why that broader perspective matters. Maurice is an important component of his pedigree, but the production records of Metal Storm's daughters and the achievements of Stormy Nova add further substance to the genetic picture. The opportunity lies in recognising quality that may not receive the same commercial attention as fashionable sire lines, then identifying stallions capable of complementing those strengths. BREED FOR THE HORSE, NOT THE FASHION. Danehill has earned his place in thoroughbred history, but his influence should not become the default benchmark for every breeding decision. The objective is to make informed decisions that give each mare the best possible opportunity to produce a superior racehorse. That requires understanding the entire pedigree, recognising the mare's contribution and assessing the evidence accumulated through her female family. The breeding industry does not need less attention on stallions. It needs more intelligent attention on mares. Sometimes, the greatest opportunity is not found in the most fashionable name on a stallion roster, but in identifying a proven female family and finding the right sire to complement it. #ANTZOFFICIAL #ThoroughbredBreeding #PedigreeAnalysis #Bloodstock

🚨🇦🇺 ANTZ OFFICIAL | THE VICTORIA DERBY DISTANCE DEBATE Dropping the Victoria Derby from 2500m would be like shouting the lads a day on the beers, getting everyone on the piss, and then announcing you've got no money to pay the bill. You've already committed to the day, mate. You can't start cutting corners when it's time to pay up! 😂🍻 The VRC has just increased the prizemoney to $3 million, yet we're now questioning whether the distance needs to change to attract better quality fields. Surely, if you're prepared to invest that sort of money into the race, you should be looking at ways to strengthen its reputation rather than dismantling the very characteristics that make it unique. Three of the last five Victoria Derby winners have gone on to win further Group 1 races. That's hardly evidence of a race that has lost its relevance. If anything, it demonstrates the Derby can still produce horses capable of competing at the highest level beyond their three year old season. The Victoria Derby is a test of stamina, patience, preparation and genuine staying ability. Not every three year old is built to run 2500m, and that's precisely the point. The distance creates a different challenge from the countless shorter races available throughout the Australian racing calendar. You cannot keep increasing the prizemoney, questioning the quality of the field and then assume shortening the distance will magically solve everything. If the concern is attracting the best horses, the conversation should include programming, preparation schedules and the incentives required to encourage connections to target the race. ANTZ OFFICIAL VERDICT: Keep the 2500m. The Victoria Derby has 173 editions of history behind it. Before anyone reaches for the scissors, perhaps they should establish whether the problem is actually the distance or whether the industry is simply finding it harder to produce and prepare genuine stayers. Otherwise, the VRC risks spending $3 million to solve a problem it hasn't properly identified. And that, gentlemen, is how you end up shouting the beers, running out of money and blaming the pub for being too expensive. 🍻😂

🚨🇦🇺 ANTZ OFFICIAL | THE COX PLATE 2027 A RACECOURSE IS MORE THAN JUST A TRACK. It is all good and well for Moonee Valley Race Club CEO Michael Browell to be determined to bring the Cox Plate home in 2027, but having the track ready is only one part of the redevelopment. What about the grandstands, public facilities, viewing areas and the infrastructure required to accommodate racegoers properly? The Cox Plate is one of Australia's premier weight for age races. Its return to Moonee Valley should be about delivering a complete racing experience, not simply meeting a deadline to get horses back on the track. If the track is ready for 2027 but the grandstands and public facilities are not, what exactly is the rush? Flemington has provided a suitable home for the Cox Plate during the redevelopment. There is no reason to compromise the racegoer experience simply to meet a target date. Michael Browell and his team deserve credit for progressing the redevelopment, but the real test is delivering a finished venue that does justice to the occasion. Bring the Cox Plate home when Moonee Valley is ready to welcome both the horses and the public properly. Until then, keep it at Flemington. #AntzOfficial #CoxPlate #MooneeValley #Flemington #AustralianRacing

He’s cooked

🏇 ANTZ OFFICIAL | ARROWFIELD STUD COX PLATE SATURDAY DELIVERS A STALLION SHOWCASE Flemington & Randwick | 24 October 2026 Arrowfield Stud has winners emerging throughout the week, but yesterday delivered a result that deserves particular recognition. With the Cox Plate headlining the Flemington programme and major features at Randwick, the influence of Arrowfield's current and former stallions was on display across two premier Australian racing venues. 🏆 FLEMINGTON MAURICE Cosmic Crusader featured in the Cox Plate, bringing attention to the Australian racing legacy of the Japanese champion. CASTELVECCHIO Aeliana finished third in the Cox Plate, a significant performance for Castelvecchio's developing record at stud. Having won the Rosehill Guineas and Champagne Stakes himself, the stallion now has progeny demonstrating their ability against elite opposition. THE AUTUMN SUN Surfin' Bird captured the Group 2 Kia Ora Stud Mile, adding another feature success for the son of Redoute's Choice. 🏆 RANDWICK SNITZEL The former Arrowfield champion produced two feature winners: 🏆 Lazzura | The Invitation 🏆 Declichy Boulevard | Five Diamonds Prelude CASTELVECCHIO Verona Rose finished third in The Invitation, giving Castelvecchio another notable result on the Randwick card. 🔥 WHY SATURDAY MATTERED The breeding industry operates on long timelines. Stallions build reputations through successive crops, and breeders need evidence of quality, soundness and competitive ability when deciding where to invest. Saturday offered several valuable data points, from Maurice's Cox Plate representation to Snitzel's feature double and the performances of The Autumn Sun's and Castelvecchio's progeny. The key distinction is the occasion. Arrowfield's results across an ordinary racing week are part of its established contribution to the industry. Delivering notable performances on Cox Plate day gives those achievements a bigger platform and places its bloodlines before a global racing audience. For Antz Official, that is the story worth highlighting: not simply the number of winners, but the significance of the races in which they compete. A major Saturday at the track, with the Cox Plate providing the headline and Arrowfield's stallion influence contributing to the wider story. 🏇 ANTZ OFFICIAL | BLOODSTOCK. BREEDING. PERFORMANCE.

📰 ANTZ OFFICIAL | THE RACING INDUSTRY UNDER THE MICROSCOPE 🚨 THE V’LANDYS COSTS ORDER: WILL PVL PAY PERSONALLY, OR WILL RACING NSW FOOT THE BILL? OPINION | GOVERNANCE | ACCOUNTABILITY Peter V’landys has suffered another legal setback after the NSW Supreme Court dismissed his bid to overturn a costs order in favour of The Thoroughbred Report and its co defendants in ongoing defamation proceedings. On September 23, 2026, the defendants successfully sought permission to amend their defence, with costs awarded in their favour. V’landys subsequently challenged the costs ruling, but Justice Campbell rejected his application, finding that the proposed amendments raised a genuine issue. The defamation proceedings themselves remain ongoing. However, the latest development raises a question that deserves a straightforward answer. WILL PETER V’LANDYS PAY THE COSTS PERSONALLY, OR WILL RACING NSW PICK UP THE TAB? Let's be clear. There is no suggestion here that Racing NSW is paying these costs. That has not been established. But given V’landys' influential position within Australian racing, it is entirely reasonable to ask who is financially responsible for the legal expenses associated with this dispute. There is a fundamental difference between an individual meeting the costs of personal litigation and an industry organisation using its resources to support legal proceedings involving its chief executive. If V’landys is paying personally, that answers one question. If Racing NSW is contributing, the industry deserves to understand the basis for that decision, the extent of any financial commitment and the governance arrangements surrounding it. RACING NSW IS AN INDUSTRY ORGANISATION, NOT A PERSONAL LEGAL WAR CHEST. Its financial decisions should serve legitimate organisational interests and withstand scrutiny from the people whose participation and investment help sustain the industry. Owners, trainers, breeders and other participants have every right to expect responsible financial management. They should not have to guess whether industry funds are being used to meet expenses arising from a dispute involving one of racing's most powerful figures. This is not about prejudging the defamation case or suggesting that V’landys has done anything improper. The court's latest ruling concerns the costs issue, not the ultimate merits of the underlying proceedings. It is about transparency. Racing administrators cannot demand accountability from participants while expecting questions about their own financial arrangements to go unanswered. The higher the position, the greater the responsibility to explain decisions that could affect the organisation being led. THE QUESTION RACING NSW NEEDS TO ANSWER Will Peter V’landys meet the costs personally, or is Racing NSW paying, or contributing, to the bill? If the organisation is not involved financially, clarification should put the matter to rest. If it is contributing, the reasons and authority for doing so should be transparent. The racing industry deserves facts, not speculation, particularly when the question concerns who pays the legal bills. Because this is ultimately about more than one costs order. It is about the standards of financial accountability expected from the people entrusted with running one of Australia's most influential racing organisations. ANTZ OFFICIAL | When it comes to accountability, no position should be above scrutiny.

📰 ANTZ OFFICIAL | THE RACING INDUSTRY UNDER THE MICROSCOPE 🚨 THE V’LANDYS COSTS ORDER: WILL PVL PAY PERSONALLY, OR WILL RACING NSW FOOT THE BILL? OPINION | GOVERNANCE | ACCOUNTABILITY Peter V’landys has suffered another legal setback after the NSW Supreme Court dismissed his bid to overturn a costs order in favour of The Thoroughbred Report and its co defendants in ongoing defamation proceedings. On September 23, 2026, the defendants successfully sought permission to amend their defence, with costs awarded in their favour. V’landys subsequently challenged the costs ruling, but Justice Campbell rejected his application, finding that the proposed amendments raised a genuine issue. The defamation proceedings themselves remain ongoing. However, the latest development raises a question that deserves a straightforward answer. WILL PETER V’LANDYS PAY THE COSTS PERSONALLY, OR WILL RACING NSW PICK UP THE TAB? Let's be clear. There is no suggestion here that Racing NSW is paying these costs. That has not been established. But given V’landys' influential position within Australian racing, it is entirely reasonable to ask who is financially responsible for the legal expenses associated with this dispute. There is a fundamental difference between an individual meeting the costs of personal litigation and an industry organisation using its resources to support legal proceedings involving its chief executive. If V’landys is paying personally, that answers one question. If Racing NSW is contributing, the industry deserves to understand the basis for that decision, the extent of any financial commitment and the governance arrangements surrounding it. RACING NSW IS AN INDUSTRY ORGANISATION, NOT A PERSONAL LEGAL WAR CHEST. Its financial decisions should serve legitimate organisational interests and withstand scrutiny from the people whose participation and investment help sustain the industry. Owners, trainers, breeders and other participants have every right to expect responsible financial management. They should not have to guess whether industry funds are being used to meet expenses arising from a dispute involving one of racing's most powerful figures. This is not about prejudging the defamation case or suggesting that V’landys has done anything improper. The court's latest ruling concerns the costs issue, not the ultimate merits of the underlying proceedings. It is about transparency. Racing administrators cannot demand accountability from participants while expecting questions about their own financial arrangements to go unanswered. The higher the position, the greater the responsibility to explain decisions that could affect the organisation being led. THE QUESTION RACING NSW NEEDS TO ANSWER Will Peter V’landys meet the costs personally, or is Racing NSW paying, or contributing, to the bill? If the organisation is not involved financially, clarification should put the matter to rest. If it is contributing, the reasons and authority for doing so should be transparent. The racing industry deserves facts, not speculation, particularly when the question concerns who pays the legal bills. Because this is ultimately about more than one costs order. It is about the standards of financial accountability expected from the people entrusted with running one of Australia's most influential racing organisations. ANTZ OFFICIAL | When it comes to accountability, no position should be above scrutiny.

🚨🏇 PUNTERS' CHRISTMAS | THE MORNING AFTER 🏇🚨 🎅 ROUND 1 OF 5: IT WASN'T A FUCKING DREAM! 🍻🤣 WAKE THE FUCK UP, YOU DEGENERATE BASTARDS! Cox Plate Day wasn't a nightmare. It wasn't a drunken hallucination. And no, your betting account hasn't magically recovered overnight! YOU REALLY DID GET YOUR FUCKING ARSE HANDED TO YOU! 💸😂 The multis are dead, the bank balances are bleeding, and the bookies are waking up richer than a bastard who's just won the lottery! Meanwhile, some poor sod is still looking for his imaginary $20,000, blaming the jockey, the barrier and everything except his own fucking selections! 🧙‍♂️ AND THE WIZARD FROM THE WEST? That magical bastard conquered the Cox Plate while the rest of us got financially sodomised by the form guide! PACK YOUR BROOM, YOU BEAUTIFUL BASTARD! YOU'VE CAUSED ENOUGH FUCKING DAMAGE! 🤣🍻 📋 THE MORNING AFTER REPORT 🏇 Winners: Missing in action. 💸 Money: Gone fucking walkabout. 🧠 Common sense: Never arrived. 🍺 Hangovers: Under investigation. 🎅 Santa Claus: Still wanted for fucking treachery. 🚨 ROUND 2 IS COMING NEXT SATURDAY! Have we learned anything? HAVE WE FUCKING HELL! We'll be back studying form, building multis and talking absolute shit like we're professional punters instead of financially irresponsible idiots with a gambling app! THE BOOKIES HAVE THE MONEY. THE WIZARD HAS THE GLORY. AND WE'VE GOT FUCK ALL TO SHOW FOR IT! 🤣🏇🍻