Page 12 - August 2005 The Game

12 The Game, August 2005 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Wendover Stables - A Dream Come True
Welcome to Wendover Stables, a thoroughbred farm which is dedicated to raising and developing high calibre racehorses.
The barn doors are open for business and owner operators Eric MacDonald, Melanie MacDonald and Paul O’Sullivan are excited about their new venture.
Nestled on 50 quiet and secluded acres in King, Wendover Stables, is a new facility which was built in 2003 and boasts 22 stalls in two professionally turned out barns. Each stall is 12 x 10 or larger and is fitted with rubber matting and fully ventilated with plenty of natural light.
There are twelve paddocks of varying sizes for individual turn-out or lay-ups along with round pens for breaking and training. The paddocks are equipped with all-weather water troughs as well as large run-in sheds.
A six-horse Odyssey Performance Trainer with a built-in sprinkler system is currently operational with plans for a 5/8 mile training track and Indoor arena to be added in the near future.
The philosophy at Wendover Stables is Quality over Quantity and making sure that they provide a “special place” for the horses along with personal management and hands-on attention for the sales prep, breaking, training and lay-ups of thorough- bred racehorses.
Working with thoroughbreds is nothing new for Melanie and Paul, in fact both have made careers out of galloping horses
at Woodbine. The first tell-tale sign of their experience is in the name they chose for the farm, Wendover Stables, as in Wendover Lad, the first horse that (then apprentice jockey) Paul rode in Stockton on Tee in England in 1979.
Paul was born in Liverpool, England and enrolled in apprentice school in 1978 at age 15, serving his four year apprentice- ship with ex-jockey/trainer Harry Wragg in Newmarket before becoming a work rider for Henry Cecil for 10 years where he galloped the likes of Indian Skimmer, Old Vic and Diesis.
In 1992 he crossed the pond to the US to work for Jimmy Baker in Kentucky, at which time he had galloped Kentucky Derby winner Mahogany Hall.
After 3 years Paul began working with the babies for pinhooker Morris Miller and during their six year span together they produced the first million dollar sale topper as well as the first 2-year-old in training to go ten flat.
He then spent a half dozen years with trainer Bob Baffert on the Kentucky circuit while galloping and breaking babies as well as running horses for other trainers such as Neil Drysdale and Roger Attfield before jetting off to Brazil to break and train two-year-olds for Stud TNT.
In 2002 Paul came to Canada to work for trainer Roger Attfield and was the exclusive exercise rider for millionaire Perfect Soul.
It was through Perfect Soul that sparks
ignited between Melanie and Paul.
Melanie was born in the rural area of Mount Albert near Edmonton, Alberta and not long after the family moved to Mississauga, she began show jumping at the age of eight.
Melanie excelled in the sport and she went on to train with coach John Pearce, a former member of the Canadian Olympic team. It was through John that Melanie began importing show jumpers from Belgium & Germany and training and competing with them at the A circuit level across the US and Canada.
At age sixteen Melanie began training under the guidance of coach Chris Delia in Oakville where she continued to import young horses and travel to competitions.
Melanie also worked with thoroughbreds in the show ring,
the most successful of which
was an ex-racehorse, who
showed under the name, All That Glitters, and had qualified and finished in the top five at the Royal Agricultural Fair in the hunter division for the last three consecutive years.
Melanie also won the CET (Canadian Equestrian Team) medal for equitation
aboard Chris’ ex-grand prix horse Harley at York Equestrian.
To support her show costs Melanie had started working for trainer Roger Attfield in 2002 as a hotwalker and then a groom.
CONTINUED PAGE 38 - SEE WENDOVER
Equine Chill for Yearlings
CHILL
You spend a fortune on your yearlings. Their early lessons will influence their attitude for the rest of their racing career.
Make early lessons a comfortable and less terrifying experience with Equine CHILL.
CHILL will not make a horse lethargic it just helps the animal to not waste valuable energy fighting unnecessary battles thus reducing the risk of panic related injuries for both the horse and the handler.
Equine CHILL will make daily stresses less frightening for your young horses
and will increase their focus for whatever task needs to be accomplished by reducing the instinct to panic.
We have seen many behavioral problems corrected with Equine CHILL including stall walking and trailering issues.
Helping Equine Athletes Reach Their Full Potential
TRY EQUINE CHILL TODAY!
Melanie MacDonald (Co-owner, Assistant and Office Manager), and Paul O’Sullivan (Co-owner and Head Manager) along with their friendly boxer, Tyson, outside of one of the two immaculate barns at their new Wendover Stables in King Township south of Hwy 9 just west of Hwy 27.
For information call 905-939-2625
Richard Hogan, Agent
Consignor of 2005 Prince of Wales winner, Ablo ($500,000)...
....is pleased to offer the following Select yearlings at the CTHS Yearling Sale September 6, 2005:
Hip No. 17....dk.b./br. colt by Foxtrail - Alligator Belly
Hip No. 28....ch filly by Stravinsky - Bandore
Hip No. 44....ch filly by Peaks and Valleys - Canadian Cream
Hip No. 60....bay filly by Tale of the Cat - Cozzall
Hip No. 76....dk.b./br filly by Sweetsouthernsaint - Flip the Trip Hip No. 82....bay filly by Silver Charm - Galaxy Girl
Hip No. 95....bay colt by Pikepass - Hope’s Hope
Hip No. 115....bay colt by Tejano Run - Lady Gretchen
Hip No. 159....Valley Rocket, dk.b./br filly by Peaks and Valleys
- Power Rocket
Hip No. 161....Cinematography, ch filly by Foxtrail - Princess Nita Hip No. 172....dk.b./br by Tethra - Refreshing Too
Hip No. 196....bay colt by Glitterman - Sister Nena
Hip No. 209....bay colt by Pete’s Sake - Swing Boldly
Richard Hogan, Agent for Errol and Merlett Bailey
Hip No. 68....Sayitloud, bay colt by Kinshasa - Double Survivor
Richard Hogan, Agent for Rise n’ Shine Stables
Hip No. 204....Future Friendly, dk.b./br filly by With Approval - Sunday Knight Gal
Preferred Yearlings - September 9 & 10, 2005
Hip No. 421....ch colt by Bold Executive - Seventy Two Below Hip No. 426....dk.b./br by Bold Executive - Silver and Bronze Hip No. 427....bay filly by Trajectory - Silvretta
Richard Hogan, Agent for Rise n’ Shine Stables
Hip No. 385....dk.b./br colt by Bold n’ Flashy - No Sugar Tonight
Call today about our full line of products or visit us on line at www.macleod-equine.com
MacLeod Equine • John MacLeod • 1-888-395-0006 Patti Hanco • 416-995-7940 • E-mail: pattihanco@aol.com
Also Available at: Merrills Tack & Supply; Greenhawk; Minor Bros.; McCarron Feeds; Shirley & Steve Wells; Dr. Steve Smith, Assiniboia Downs
Dealer inquiries welcome
For Information & Inspection Contact Richard at 416-881-4550