John Kenneally isn’t a self-promoter – the style of which there is no shortage of in life.
He doesn’t bask in the many (very) successful achievements and the longevity of his business which he and his wife Crystle have achieved over 28 years since establishing Erinvale Thoroughbreds at Romsey (Vic) in 1996.
Now based outside Geelong after purchasing their current 200-acre property in 2011, Erinvale Thoroughbreds has established themselves as a well-respected brand in the breeding industry.
Kenneally is a great survivor. He is an outstanding horseman and a very forward thinker. Likewise Crystle has an outstanding skill-set. She oversees and manages the foaling of around 70 mares each season. In the wide commercial world where family-run and smaller economies-of-scale business are forever dwindling, Erinvale Thoroughbreds provides a great example of how a business based around bloodstock nous, hands-on skills and prudent management can succeed and remain viable.
Erinvale has always been a solid supporter at the Adelaide Yearling Sale.
“We’ve been selling in Adelaide every year for about nearly 26 years I think,” Kenneally said.
That goes back to the days before Magic Millions took over the Adelaide Yearling Sale from ABCOS in 1999 – a period over which Erinvale have been annual supporters.
“I like Adelaide - it’s been a good place for us and we’ve has some good results here,” Kenneally enthuses.
In 2007, Erinvale topped the sale at $320,000 with a Fusaichi Pegasus colt who would go on to race as Tipungwuti – winning both the Adelaide Guineas and the Tulloch Stakes as a three-year-old.
“The market is fine,” Kenneally says with a firm degree of conviction about the wider issue of demand in the current climate. “There’s still plenty of people who want to buy a good horse. But you have to be open to change and be prepared to try new things when there is a need to do so.”
Likewise Adrian Hancock has been a part of the Adelaide Yearling Sale for as long as most can remember. “We (Magic Millions) always look forward to having Erinvale selling here”. “They have been very staunch supporters of Magic Millions, present quality horses and have a respected brand. “They have stuck by us. They could have taken a few of their very nice horses elsewhere but they have been very loyal to us for many years” Hancock said noting that Erinvale will offer three yearlings by Alabama Express who is one of the main attractions at this year’s Adelaide Yearling Sale.
“This is one of our best drafts that we have taken to Adelaide” Crystle Kenneally says. “They are all up there with anything we’ve sold at Adelaide over the years”
Kicking off Erinvale’s 2024 Adelaide draft on Monday will be Lot 23 – a “smashing” Dundeel colt from the Encosta de Lago mare Inyanga - a half sister to a New Zealand Oaks winner.
Dundeel is a sire proven at getting Group 1 winners. He did it again just over a week ago when he sired the first two placegetters in the Randwick Guineas in Celestial Legend and Militarize.
Lot 148 is the first of three yearlings by Alabama Express offered by Erinvale.
Alabama Express currently sits second on the first season sires table courtesy of SW Karavas (VRC Ottawa Stks Grp 3), Shangri la Express - a fancied runner in next week's Golden Slipper Stakes and the promising SP Express Yo'Self. This filly from Promptness (USA) is a lovely individual - tall with plenty of scope and strength, a very athletic filly with a beautiful head.
Lot 181 Colt Alabama Express x Rowdy Belle (Bel Esprit)
A beautiful horse with size, scope and plenty of quality. His dam is a multiple winning Bel Esprit mare - herself a half-sister to the SP city winner Tigresque.
Lot 350 Colt Merchant Navy x Blonde Humor (Distorted Humor)
A very well grown strong colt from a deep American pedigree. His dam Blonde Humor has produced four winners including the speedy dual city-winning Chosen Blonde His sire Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock) won the Grp 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and has sired Grp 1 winner Royal Merchant.
Lot 361 Colt Tagaloa x Carry on Beauty (More Than Ready)
A very good-looking first-crop colt by the exciting sire TAGALOA. He's a lovely moving colt with with plenty of scope and good leg. TAGALOA is one of the most exciting young sires at stud being the fastest active Grp 1 Blue Diamond winner at stud in the Australia himself being by the superstar sprinter Lord Kanola - sire of Horse of the Year Almond Eye.
Lot 379 Filly Tagaloa x Costanera (Encosta De Lago)
The second (of two) TAGALOA's at this sale and she is a very clean, strong and well-grown filly. She moves elegantly and effortlessly and looks a ready-made two-year-old. Her half-sister RIO DEL MAR (Magnus) is a two-year-old Group 3 winner and the family is a well-established quality black type family with numerous Stakes winners. She's a filly you can inspect with plenty of confidence.
Lot 448 Colt Alabama Express x Greenmount Belle (Magic Albert)
This is a quality colt by the hottest first season sire in Alabama Express who is currently sitting a very close second on the first season sires table with five individual winners inc the SW Karavas and Shangri La Express who is a decent Golden Slipper chance on March 23rd. This filly's dam has produced five foals to race - all winners including SP Sizzling Belle who ran 2nd in the Black Opal Stakes. This filly is also a half sister to Sizzle Minizzle who - last season, won the half-million dollar ATC Newhaven Park Country Championship Final.
