Dynamic duo makes spotting a future champion look easy
- Fran Cleland
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
THERE’S an old saying, "he's got a good eye for a horse".
It means someone is skilled at recognising all-round quality and that undefinable “something” that is a combination of conformation, temperament and suitability for a specific purpose, such as racing or riding.
Greg Gerry and Darren Telford, who run Whitmere Stud, certainly know how to do that.
They started the stud 25 years ago in northern NSW, breeding three foals in their first season before relocating to Victoria in 2010 and establishing a base at Ballan.
Focusing on Riding Ponies, the stallions that have stood at stud include Pendley Gold Cup (imp), Turberry Tom Kitten (imp), Whitmere Prince of Pop, Beckworth Rising Command, Rosedale Tempting, Rosedale Cambridge, Whitmere Secret Agent, Kolbeach Holly’s Gold and more recently Whitmere Espionage.
Darren says working with successful studs such as Beckworth and Rosedale and sharing bloodlines has helped form Whitmere’s mare lines.
“The addition of Holly’s Gold from Kolbeach Stud has been very successful as he has crossed so well with our mares,” he said.
“We treasure our favourite mare lines and continue to focus on breeding from them.
“We have always tried to breed from successful show mares that had ridden careers. As we are now breeding an increasing number of galloways from thoroughbred mares, we are continuing to apply the same principle of having stock from proven show mares.”
Away from the Riding Ponies, the ability to spot a good horse has meant Darren and Greg have found some exceptional Thoroughbred show horses from the racetrack.
The current Sydney champion hack, Regalia, is one. She raced as Aunt Bridge, trained by Bjorn Baker in Sydney and then Donna Scott at Albury.
Owned by her breeder, “Brigitte” had 11 starts for three seconds but finished as a maiden in 2023 with her owner frustrated that she couldn’t notch up a win to help bump her statistics to be a brood mare.
Naturally talented and with a great temperament, Brigitte’s first show was Pakenham Ag in August 2023, with Ali Kent as her rider.
Since then, it’s probably easier to say what she hasn’t won than what she has, with wins at Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney royals.
At Sydney, she won the Crane Trophy for mares in 2024 and 2025 and was champion led Thoroughbred mare this year.
“She is a great mare to show so we will keep showing her for now,” Darren said.
“She’s got a very level temperament, is sound, eats everything and enjoys the job. She will be kept as a brood mare.”
Regalia is not the only former racehorse that the Whitmere pair have found and either showed themselves or sold on to others.
These stars all began their show careers at the Ballan property:
Coronation (champion hack at Adelaide and Melbourne royals, supreme Thoroughbred Canberra Royal and Barastoc Horse of the Year (HOTY) small hack winner)
Royal Consort (runner up small hack at Barastoc HOTY)
Concerto (Barastoc HOTY hack winner and reserve champion hack Sydney Royal)
Taittinger (EA national hack, champion hack Melbourne Royal)
Royal Fair (Pope Cup winner Melbourne Royal and reserve champion hack Adelaide Royal)
Royal Blu (Pope Cup and champion hack winner Sydney Royal and Grand National large hack winner)
“Winning the champion hack award at Sydney (with Royal Blu) meant we have now had champion hack, galloway, large pony and small pony winners at Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra Royals,” Darren said.
The stud also bred the champion Riding Pony at Sydney Royal this year with Whitmere Heavenly, who is owned by Dianne Godfrey.
“We have always enjoyed starting young horses and new faces, rather than showing tried horses with prolonged careers, it isn’t where our passion lies,” Darren said.
Judging by the young New Zealand-bred gelding by Proisir now being worked by Greg at the stud, their name is sure to continue to feature in the winning lineups.
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