An Interview with Scott Calder

New Zealander, Scott Calder, has successfully paved his way to a successful career in bloodstock. Despite studying Business Management at the University of Waikato, Scott was determined to work in the breeding side of racing.

Scott Calder is living his dream role as Sale and Nominations Manager at the beautiful Cambridge Stud in the Waipa District of the Waikato in the North Island. ‘My role is to promote our stallion roster – we currently have five stallions,’ explains Scott, ‘and sell the bloodstock our farm produces’.

Scott, 37, is married to Katelyn and together they have two young children, giving another definition of young stock - two legged instead of four and, no doubt, equally troublesome!

Did you have a horsey childhood? Yes and no. My dad is in the horse business in a sales and marketing role so I was a keen follower of racing, breeding and pedigrees. But I didn't have a pony or ride until my first year at university when I was eighteen, so I was a late starter in the hands-on side.

How did you get into the breeding industry? It started when I took a summer job at Curraghmore Stud in my university holidays. I wanted to get an appreciation for the hands-on side of raising horses in the hope that, in the future, I would be successful and own broodmares. I just wanted to know a bit more about looking after them. As my degree progressed and I spent more time working with the horses, rather than working for a bank, I applied for the Godolphin Flying Start programme. I was very fortunate to get selected for it and opened the door to making a career out of breeding.

How did the Godolphin Flying Start programme assist you in your goal? When I applied, I thought I had very little chance of being selected so actually being picked was amazing. It was a great experience. I would never have got the opportunity to do some of the things I got to do and see, or meet the people I did without going on the programme. I'm very appreciative to have been picked and know how lucky I was to do it.

Where has the breeding industry taken you worldwide? Whilst on the Flying Start, I spent time in Ireland, England, America, Australia and Dubai. When I graduated from the programme, I got a job at Coolmore Stud so I spent a year and a half living in Ireland. Then, I transferred to the American division at Ashford Stud and I spent five years working in Kentucky. From there, I had the opportunity to come back to New Zealand and start working at Cambridge Stud. Its ownership had changed and I've been here six years now.

Which stallion do you admire? Anyone who knows me knows I have a soft spot for Almanzor. His start at Cambridge Stud coincided with my start there and, when I worked for Coolmore, he was a horse I saw a lot of. He was up against Found, Highland Reel and Minding, who were real top liners at Ballydoyle, especially in that Champion Stakes when he beat them all. I was very aware of how exceptional he was on the track and then to have an association with him at stud, where he's been a real success story for us. On top of that, to look at he's an absolute beautiful animal and a real gentleman to deal with.

Do you go racing regularly? Not so much over in Australia now because I have a young family but we are very lucky that Cambridge Stud is local to quite a few racetracks in our region. When a race meet is on, I try to go as much as possible, and I’m also fortunate that the owners of Cambridge Stud Brendan and Jo Lindsey, as much as they are breeders, they also have a real passion for racing.

Favourite racecourse in New Zealand: Ellerslie, which is a premier racetrack in New Zealand.

Favourite racecourse internationally: Flemington in Australia and, whilst I was in America, racing at Keeneland and Saratoga were in a different league.

How does racing differ in New Zealand than in the UK? There are differences and similarities. The main difference is our racing is around an oval and we don't have quite the diversity in track circumference and shapes as in the UK, but in saying that we do have quite a lot of crossovers. In a breeding point of view, the breeding ground for staying grass horses (unlike Australia where they need speed) our bloodlines take time to mature and require stamina. An English racegoer would probably be surprised at how many names they recognise.

Do they have jump racing in New Zealand? As a kid, I remember thinking that I wanted to be part of racing industry when actually watching a jumps race – the Great Northern Steeplechase in 2001. I was on course with my dad that day, the winners Smart Hunter and Sir Avion dead-heated. I still remember thinking what an amazing thing to be part of.

What is your best day is racing so far? Another favourite of mine was the Triple Crown-winner American Pharoah. I wasn't there for his Belmont Cup but I was on course when he won the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Then American Pharaoh came to Ashford Stud a couple of days later. I had a lot to do with the fandom side of that – he was a genuine celebrity. TV crews, cameras and journalists came from all over the country, wanting to record footage of him and do interviews about him. We gave daily tours so people could see him. I loved American Pharaoh on the racetrack and at home, he had such a gentile demeanour and nothing fazed him. I feel very fortunate to have been there at Keeneland that day.

What is your best day in a stud so far? From Cambridge Stud’s point of view, when a horse called Dynastic won the Karaka Million, which is this country's champion two-year-old race. He was from Almanzor’s first crop so that was pretty awesome result and he was also the farm's first winner. It’s such an important race in the New Zealand calendar. It was such a surprise and we all realised we might have something special in Almanzor.

Who do you admire in the breeding industry? Gordon Cunningham. He is the owner/operator of Curraghmore Stud, who gave me my first job. If it weren’t for him, I probably wouldn't be working with horses. I was really lucky that he took me on when I was green as grass. He still helps me to this day. I greatly admire his technique in producing horses – he's bred amazing horses every year. I not only admire what he's done for me but what he's done professionally – he's a true horseman and amazing at rearing youngstock.

Please describe your calendar year: Our starting point for stallions is about April when we synch the stud fees. This kicks everything into gear, including talking to breeders, promoting the stallions and drumming up business in advance of the breeding season. In August, the shuttle stallions arrive and we’re busy with our stallion parade. In the southern hemisphere the 1st of September is when we're allowed to start breeding.

September through to December is when we're trying to attract mares to the stallions but most are booked in by then and we're trying to get them in foal. Also, we’re seeing the fruits of the previous year’s work as foals are being born on our own farm as well as away at our clients and breeders. From there, we prepare for the yearling sales during November to December, and the biggest sale is in January, the New Zealand Bloodstock at Karaka.

The mares have stopped breeding and the shuttle stallions have gone back before Christmas. Our stallions are relaxing or in the paddock, whereas the shuttle stallions are in the northern hemisphere ready to start all over again. The focus shifts to the progeny at the sales and in selling them. Before you know it it's April again!

Please describe your stallions: Our headline stallion is Almanzor, who is domiciled in New Zealand thanks to the success of his early crops. Hello Youzain, a shuttle stallion, comes back and forth from France – we’re very excited about him given what he’s done with his two-year-olds in Europe.
The big newsmaker this season is Chaldean is at our stud from Juddmonte Farm, which is a new relationship and is very exciting. To have a horse of his calibre to come into our country and then stand at our farm makes us really excited for the future.

The others two are local stallions – a son of Snitzel called Sword of State, who was a fast, precocious two-year-old over here and Embellish who is by Savabeel, a long-time champion sire in New Zealand and traces back to Zabeel.

What is the best aspect to working in a stud? I'm a breeder so my favourite part job is sitting down and going through the one hundred and fifty brood mares and seeing what stallion suits them best. Fast forward twelve months, I see the outcome and eventually see them on the track.

What is the worst aspect to working in a stud? As anyone in the horse industry knows, it's the bad luck and the heartbreak. The sadness of losing horses, be it our own or one of our client’s. I hate seeing a client have bad luck at a sale or foaling. I get close to my clients – we liaise all the time and our failure and successes are all tied in with one another. It’s amazing when they have good outcomes but, also, in this business, there's more bad than good and, at certain times, you wish that it could be going better.

Hopes and dreams for the future: One day, I would love to breed a Group 1 winner myself: that's my personal goal.

If you didn't work in a stud then what career would you have pursued? After majoring in economics, I would have gone down the business consultant route, something in economics or financially related.

Favourite food: Burger and fries.
Favourite drink: A beer.
Favourite holiday destination: Outside of horses, travelling has been one of the best experiences of my life. In particular, I loved every minute of travelling through Europe. I can't narrow it down to one place because I loved them all.
Favourite film: I'm a bit of a war history buff and enjoyed a movie called Enemy At The Gate.
Favourite music: I'm very open minded when it comes to music. At the moment, after previously not liking country or bluegrass, I feel nostalgic about Kentucky so like a band called The SteelDrivers.
Favourite book: I love reading but apart from sales catalogues, I’m hopeless on that front. The last book I was able to read cover-to-cover was called Poise and Stride, written by Joe Osborne from Kildangan Stud in Ireland.
Other hobbies and interests: I love all sports, including cricket and I play a lot of squash.