John Messara

In the wake of increasing disquiet at the impasse between Racing Australia and the Asian Racing Federation in the prolonged absence of proper oversight of Australia's black-type programme, the newly formed Australian Racing Industry Alliance (ARIA) released a statement on Thursday outlining plans for the restoration of an Australian Pattern Committee. Chaired by major owner-breeder Jonathan Munz, and with the backing of one of the most respected figures in international breeding in Arrowfield Stud's John Messara, ARIA represents many of the country's major industry bodies, including Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, Thoroughbred...

Peter Orton will leave his position as general manager of Vinery Stud and pursue his own endeavors in the Thoroughbred industry. Arriving at Dr. Thomas Simon's Vinery Stud in 2000, Orton would go on to shuttle influential dual hemisphere stallions More Than Ready and Southern Halo. Over time, Vinery would also stand prominent sires Red Ransom, Mossman, All Too Hard, and Testa Rossa. The stud also has young stallions Exceedance, Hawaii Five Oh and Ole Kirk to look forward to. Orton told the TTR AusNZ, "I've thought about it for...

Leading sire Snitzel (Aus) will stand for an unchanged fee of A$247,500, Arrowfield Stud announced on Tuesday. Responsible for his third G1 Golden Slipper winner and his career-best yearling sale results, the multiple champion sire already has 16 stakes winners this season. This year alone, he has sired Group 1 winners Lady Shenandoah (Aus), Marhoona (Aus), Return To Conquer (Aus) and Switzerland (Aus), while his total yearling sales have reached A$45.2 million, with 11 seven-figure yearlings. Also standing at Arrowfield for unchanged fees are Group 1 sires Dundeel (NZ) at...

by Josh Spasaro Greg Nichols and Vin Cox have called for a more thorough classification process to Group and Listed races after reports on Friday revealed the Golden Eagle and The Shorts were soon set for Group 1 status. News began circulating on Friday that the Golden Eagle and G2 The Shorts would be lifted to Group 1 status after being reported on News Corp publication Racenet. Other Sydney races mentioned to be boosted to Group 1 billing include The Everest and Victoria's The All-Star Mile, however it is understood...

Arrowfield Stud founder and chairman John Messara has long taken a global view when it comes to breeding and has formed strong strategic links with fellow major breeders in Europe and Japan. He recently spoke with our colleagues at The Thoroughbred Report on the perceived stagnation of the Australian Pattern race programme and now shares with Emma Berry his wider views on racing and breeding in various jurisdictions and the decision to send a special mare to be based in Europe. EB: You have had associations with European entities before,...

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to tell us their favorite moment of the year. Send your favorite moment to suefinley@thetdn.com. "My favorite moment of 2023 was when Paul and Alice Messara and family made me a birthday cake, sang loudly and got me a gift on 4/8 when my birthday is 8/4. Surprise to everyone! Thank goodness America switches the numbers on the dates!" --Case Clay

by Jessica Owers and Oz Wedmore, TDNAusNZ Case Clay was in the headlines last month with his announcement that, after 20 years with Three Chimneys Farm, he was going solo. This week he finds himself on the Gold Coast, and we caught up with him to learn a little more about the next chapter of his career. Nearly 20 years ago, American bloodstock agent Case Clay did an interview with a local Kentucky newspaper. He said that succession, complicated as it was when it came to family business, didn't always...

by TDN AusNZ Racing Australia has had its second high-profile resignation this week, with John Messara stepping down as the Chair of the embattled body, just a day after it was announced CEO Myles Foreman would be leaving. Messara was appointed the first Independent Chairman in June last year replacing Greg Nichols and was charged with the task of breaking the state-based deadlock which has plagued the organisation for several years. However, he was not able to reconcile the differences between the major state bodies, chiefly Racing New South Wales...

While 2021 marks the end of an era for Australia's Arrowfield Stud, with the last yearlings by its breed-shaping sire Redoute's Choice (Aus) going through the ring, it has likewise signaled the start of another, with young shuttler Shalaa (Ire) getting off to a bright start with his first Southern Hemisphere-bred crop headed by the Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Shaquero (Aus). Arrowfield will offer yearlings by both at the upcoming Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale on Apr. 6 and 7, and we caught up with Arrowfield's John Messara to...

The 67th Annual Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing, held at the Gideon Putnam Resort in Saratoga Springs, New York Aug. 11, will feature international perspectives as well as communications strategies in times of crisis, The Jockey Club announced on Thursday. The Jockey Club Chairman Stuart Janney, III will preside over the conference, which begins at 10 a.m. EST and will be aired on TVG2, www.tvg.com and live streamed on www.jockeyclub.com. A Q&A session with Arrowfield Stud's John Messara will be conducted by The Jockey Club's President and...