Page 20 - March 2008 The Game

20 The Game, February 2008
HWis Farm is his Oasis
Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
TAhe Next Generation at Colebrook pair of photos contained in a frame hang proudly on the wall of John’s of ce at his
farm in Uxbridge.
The top photo is a win picture from 1985 at
Woodbine which shows John’s then 3 year-old daughter Ashlee, in the saddle with jockey Jack Lauzon after winning aboard the horses Johnny Valentine. Below it is another Woodbine win photo, this one from last October 2007, of the horse Believable Ashlee with Ashlee standing beside the horse as trainer with Jack Lauzon, the winning jockey.
“I am really excited about Ashlee showing interest in the horses and having a family member in the business. 2007 was her rst year training for Colebrook and she did a great job saddling
20 winners.” says John who is a father of four daughters, “Eventually she’ll have to deal with the whole operation.”
hen racing nishes and the weather son of the world class sire Mr. Prospector out of becomes downright frigid, many people Sam-Son Farm’s Champion Mare, Dance Smartly.
begin migrating to warmer climates to escape the cold, if only for a week or two.
He is from one of the most important families in North American Racing. He is a graded stakes placed winner of 3 races in his 4 career starts and is the half brother to Champion Dancethruthedawn.
This is not the case for John Brnjas, his thoroughbred breeding farm, Colebrook Farms Stallion Station, is his retreat when he wants to get away from it all.
“He books 40 to 50 mares each year after having close to 60 mares his rst season.” comments John, “We have some great looking two-year-old home- breds.”
“I enjoy spending time on the farm with the horses or getting on a tractor moving hay around,” smiled the smart business man who has more than 200 people in his employment throughout his various companies. “I used to travel a lot for my business so the desire to travel is gone. I am very hands-on at the farm. That’s why I am into the horses as much as I am because I enjoy the hands-on aspect and being with the horses.”
stRut tHe stAGe
Born in Croatia, John moved to the Huntsville area with his family in 1946.
Strut the Stage is a multiple graded stakes
winner of 10 of his 28 starts, placing in 6 others from distances of 7 furlongs to 1 1/2 miles.
John had an interest in xing cars and while working as a mechanic he began refurbishing used automotive parts. This eventually grew into the manufacturing of new automotive components for the after market automobile industry and the start of his now highly successful ATL Industries in Uxbridge.
“He bred 48 mares last year and is the
opposite outcross to Dance to Destiny attracting Mr. Prospector type mares.” mentioned John.
ATL supplies new components to automotive retail giants such as Canadian Tire and many smaller automotive chains across North and South America and Mexico.
“He is a welcome addition.” says John, “He’s a nice horse with a great pedigree and his babies are doing very well at the track.”
His venture into the horse racing industry took
a similar route by starting small with claiming a horse with a friend in the 1970’s and eventually growing into the large scale breeding operation that it is today.
Tethra entered stud in 1997 and his progeny earnings have exceeded the $10,000,000 mark. He has sired Multiple Stakes Winners, Kissed by a Prince, Mighty Quinn, Biddy’s Lad, Pyramid Park and last year’s 2-year-old Simcoe Stakes winner, Don’s Folly, who also set the track record for 5 furlongs in 0:57.28 in his rst career start.
“I started out with a friend and then I went on my own for the most part and was doing my own thing.” explained John about his plunge into the racing industry. “Then I got into the broodmares and raising and buying younger horses.”
MR. JesteR
Today John owns a newly renovated 300 acre farm in Uxbridge which is also home to 8 thoroughbred stallions standing for various clients.
Entered stud in 2006 and his foals are yearlings of 2008.
The new facilities which were completed in 2005 include a private training centre, the stallion barn as well as a separate broodmare barn and paddocks for his private band of 65 mares and their foals.
Mr. Jester was a great 2-year-old Graded Stakes winner of 5 of his 15 starts defeating The Cliff’s Edge in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile and Judith’s Wild Rush in the Boyd Gamin’s Delta Jackpot Stakes.
two-year-old of 2007, Simple Sister along with 20 other winners with earnings of more than $834,000 in 2007 alone.
John and his wife Carole, reside in their home of 14 years on the site of the original 35 acre Colebrook Farms, which has a barn and plenty of paddocks occupied by his constantly expanding group of weanlings and yearlings.
“He’s being received very well.” remarked John, “He’s a great looking individual and his babies are great looking too. We are looking for his babies to bring early results when they start racing at 2.” Also mentioning that his sire, Silver Deputy, is the sire of Posse, the top juvenile sire in North America.
FOxtRAiL
Gail Bosscher is the farm’s Broodmare and Stallion Co-ordinator; Trainer Tom Bowden oversees the training duties at the farm; while John’s daughter Ashlee Brnjas is the trainer at the racetrack. John Clow looks after the weanlings and yearlings while Larry Smeltser handles and cares for the Stallions.
“Mr. Jester is the best son of Silver Deputy standing in Ontario at an affordable price. He offers breeders a great opportunity for the Ontario Sire Program.” notes John.
Foxtrail has sired multiple stakes winners Wholelottabourbon, Trailthefox, and Copper Trail. His progeny have earned more than $6.7 million. “He always has steady performers at the races.” says John.
The stallions at Colebrook Farms Stallion Station:
He entered stud in 2004. His rst crop are three year olds this year.
NiiGON
“I am looking forward to having his babies perform this year.” says John, “He has a number of late 2 year olds. I didn’t really start on them at 2 so I am looking forward to seeing them on the racetrack this year.”
(Unbridled - Savethelastdance, by Nureyev)
John is proud of the fact that he can offer a good choice of stallions for Ontario breeders big and small and feels that the stallions are reasonably priced and of the best quality available in Ontario.
He entered stud in 2007 and his rst foal was born this year at Colebrook on January 5. Niigon was the winner of the 2004 Queen’s Plate and has been a popular stallion with a full book of 90 mares last season. “He is getting a good cross section of mares.” says John, “Northern Dancer and Relaunch type mares. He already has quite a few mares booked for this season.”
cOMPADRe
“The Ontario Sire Program and the Ontario-bred Program are one of the best in North America.” John emphasized, “The selection of stallions here offer Ontario breeders a opportunity to breed to better quality stallions than what has been available in the past.
DANce tO DestiNY
In stud since 1997, Compadre has proven to be a steady producer of runners that can perform on polytrack and turf going long or short.
I hope to breed a good quality horse that can compete not only here, but anywhere in North America. That’s what will keep the future of Ontario breeding moving forward.”
(Mr. Prospector - Dance Smartly, by Danzig)
“He is consistently in the top rankings for Canadian sires.” notes John.
He entered stud in 2005 and his rst foals are 2-year-olds this year. Dance to Destiny is the
Compadre is the sire of Multiple Stakes winning
(Theatrical - Ruby Ransom, by Red Ransom)
Entered stud in 2007 and his rst foals are due to arrive this year.
tetHRA
(Cure the Blues - Ada Prospect, by New Prospect)
Tethra is new to Colebrook Farms Stallion Station for 2008.
(Silver Deputy - Future Pretense, by Fappiano)
VALiD N BOLD
Both Randy Regent and I Can’t Believe have
left the stallion barn at Colebrook Farms Stallion Station. Randy Regent was retired and the 20-year- old I Can’t Believe was pensioned.
(Valid Appeal - Little Bold Lookin, by John Alden)
(El Gran Senor - Natania, by Naskra)
(Heading Back Home - Foxy Ladino, by Sauce Boat)
He entered stud in 1997 and is also a consistent producer of runners year after year.
The Game February 2008.indd 20
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