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Rheinwood Pastoral Co commenced when Ray Willis purchased two mares at the 1981 Brian Maher dispersal sale on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The mares were agisted at Dalama Stud, Muswellbrook and the band was gradually enlarged to seven.
Major shareholding was purchased in two stallions to stand at stud, Swift Gun and Mighty Avalanche, the former dying after making a promising start to his stud career. The Group 1 winning Mighty Avalanche could be called an ideal bread and butter stallion and enjoyed some success with his progeny.
The mares moved to Yarraman Park, Scone owned by Arthur and Harry Mitchell. One mare 'Briscay' foaled the Group 1 winner 'Arkady'. Another mare 'Daughters Charm', who we regretfully sold, later gained notoriety as the dam of 'Scenic Blast' and 'Gilded Venom'. Several winners were bred at Yarraman Park from the brood mare band.
Ray realized his long-standing dream and moved his family to Mittagong in 1990, to the beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW. Ray and Marilyn bought 'Currockbilly', a then very run down cattle property and set about the transformation into the boutique thoroughbred stud it is today.
Several stakes performers have been bred at 'Currockbilly' namely Final Fantasy, Dotteressa, Palais de Louvre, Padfoot Charlie, Danebar, Insistence and Captain Chaos. More recently So Anyway won the 2010 Yarraman Park Dark Jewel Classic at Scone, together with Albert the Fat saluting the judge in the 2010 Group 1 BTC Cup.
In September 2007, the year of equine influenza, Tony Scott joined Rheinwood Pastoral Co as Stud Manager after 20 years at Vinery. Tony, with his wealth of experience, brought his ideas in raising the thoroughbred athlete and the results are flowing through weekly on the track (see News section).
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