Not many people know more about the elite thoroughbreds at Emirates Park than this woman, whose passion for horses has led to a lifelong career with them.
This week we find out more about Rachael Bryce, the stud secretary at Emirates Park and owner of B Cool Bloodstock.
1/ Where are you from, and what got you in involved in the thoroughbred industry?
I was born in Gresford NSW and moved to Murrurundi with my family in 1984 after they purchased Mt Helen Station and established our 3000 head fine wool merino stud.
We had several horses over the years on the farm and from my early teens I learned to break in and educate our young station horses, after that I was hooked on our equine friends for life.
After leaving school I got my first Job at Emirates Park riding track work under Bill Farrow while also studying Vet Nursing and Advanced Horse Management at Scone Tafe under the watchful eye of Dr Bill Howie.
After finishing my Nursing and Horse Management course I decided to make the horse industry my full time job and was able to get a permanent job on the broodmare crew at Emirates, over the years there I have worked also in the Yearling barn preparing yearlings with Robyn Wise, Catherine Bird and Simon Johnson.
But the broodmares are my passion, I then spent the best part of 16years foaling mares each season for Emirates Park with the one and only Willy Lonaghan who had foaled over 2000 mares in his time and many of the greats in the industry.
2/ What does a workday in the life of Rachael Bryce look like?
My day starts with feeding and doing my morning checks on our farm B Cool Bloodstock. My son and I established a small agistment and breeding business three years ago.
Justin is oftenworking interstate as a horse transport driver, so I manage the day to day routine. So mornings are feeding, checking the current 30 plus horses we have in our care, We are a little busier at the moment with sales mares in for prep and weanlings being handled.
Then I am off to work at Emirates. This is my main Job as the Stud Secretary. After I finish at Emirates at 4.30pm its back to the farm to do the afternoon feed run and do the rounds again. before I go home to work on the ever-growing book work for the B Cool Bloodstock business.
3/ Who is your favourite horse and why?
I have many favorites but the two on the top of the list I have had the pleasure of looking after would have to be Shamekha, whom I foaled and the great broodmare Show Dancing, dam of Al Maher/ Salameh, both of which I foaled down.
Shamekha was such a feminine type from the time she was born and such a complete package I feel that is needed as an equine athlete. Show Dancing was just a lovely big mare with a great temperament and the best mum to all her foals.
4/ Tell us about the best day you had at the races or at the sales, and what made it memorable for you?
The very first group of 15 weanlings I was in charge of preparing for the Magic Millions National sale was my most memorable and rewarding, having brought most of them into the world at foaling time and seeing them grow up and go through the sales ring to start their next adventures in the world.
This would be my most memorable achievement in the industry.
5/ What is your favourite show on Netflix or TV?
This would have to be Yellowstone - what girl could go past that scenery.
6/ Now that travel has opened again where is the first place you will go?
I would love to travel up to the Daintree Far North QLD with my husband on a very overdue holiday.
7/ What is your favourite cuisine and restaurant?
Oh, my all time favorite cuisine would be Yum Cha China Town Sydney followed by Japanese.
8/ Name two things on your bucket list?
To be able to breed a winning racehorse and travel to Japan to see the Japanese gardens in spring.
9/ What’s the best advice someone has ever given you?
Be patient and less is more.
10/ Tell us one thing that not many people may know about you?
This was a hard question to answer. I would have to say I do hate clowns which I don’t tell many people.
