It is with a heavy heart that we advise that Gooree Park Holdings Principal Mr Eduardo ”Danding” Cojuangco Jr has passed away peacefully yesterday aged 85. Mr Cojuangco was the Chairman and CEO of San Miguel Corporation, the largest food and beverage corporation in the Philippines and Asia
In 1979 he purchased Gooree Stud in Mudgee NSW off the Foyster family, themselves great thoroughbred racehorse breeders. He then proceeded to develop a world class horse racing and breeding establishment .
Gooree is an aboriginal term that means “Hunting For Game” . And thoroughbred racing and breeding is itself a hunt in one of the most elusive games of all. Mr Cojuangco loved the challenge of the game and enjoyed the highs and looked on the lows as character building!
Mr Cojuangco bred hundreds of high class winners and a multitude of stakes winners over four generations. He had that uncanny ability to not only breed tough horses like Desert War and Tempest Morn but to also breed a string of high class commercial stallions such as Northern Meteor, Smart Missile, Hallowed Crown, Your Song and Prized Icon.
Gooree’s Red and Black Striped silks were famous worldwide . One of his most famous achievements in the northern hemisphere is breeding the 1987 US Turf Horse Of The Year and Breeders Cup winner Manila .
His achievements were recognized by the Australian Racing and Breeding Industry when he was inducted into the 2015 Racing Hall Of Fame, an award Mr Cojuangco found extremely humbling.
His contribution to the Industry has been amazing as was his contribution to his beloved second home - the NSW Central Western Town of Mudgee.
His passing marks an end of an era both in his homeland of the Philippines and his self -pronounced second home of Australia. He had an amazing love and passion for both countries.
There has never been or never will be someone of the like of Mr Eduardo “Danding”Cojuangco Jr.
Sad news from Gooree Park
He will be forever missed and loved!
