Local Filly Just What the Doctor Ordered...

To breed and race a thoroughbred is one thing, to have it win a Listed or Group race is quite another. Local breeders, Ray & Marilyn Willis have recently enjoyed such success when their 3-year old filly, Dottoressa (Italian for Doctor) won the AJC Adrian Knox Stakes at Randwick on Doncaster Day. Trained by Steve Englebrecht and ridden by Jim Cassidy, it was the filly's most important win.

"We weren't even there," says Ray with a shake of his head..."we had to attend a friend's wedding and while we thought she would do well, we were not really prepared for the win. It was fantastic, really great fun."

Dottoressa is owned by a syndicate of six, but she was bred by Ray for the Rheinwood Pastoral Company, which is based at Currockbilly on Wombeyan Caves Road, Mittagong, which is managed by Peter Beauman. Currockbilly is 110 acres of rolling horse heaven. Dottoressa is by the deceased Dr Grace out of Sweet Refrain, a Biscay mare. She has now come home for a spell and will head to Victoria for the Spring races.

It's the second big race win Ray has experienced in his career. In 1997 he bred Arkady who won the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill.

Ray & Marilyn came to the Southern Highlands 8 years ago, having agisted their horses in the Hunter Valley for 10 years. They feel the cool climate is perfect for breeding thoroughbreds and currently have 7 of their own mares in foal to various stallions. They also use Currockbilly as a commercial agistment property for outside clients, can take up to 40 mares at a time and walk mares on to various studs in the Hunter Valley. "We have purposely stayed small so we can provide a really hands on service to our clients", explains Ray. "We are trying to be very focused about what type of horse we are breeding. In an industry that regularly talks in lottery figures, it's easy for the small breeder to go out backwards. But we feel there are many people who want to experience the thrill of owning a racehorse who don't have millions to throw around. We are aiming at this market...well-bred horses that will sell in the $40,000 to $100,000 price range. We are looking at putting our mares to stallions such as Grand Lodge, Canny Lad, Fasliyev (USA), Catbird and Spectrum."

To make sure all this racing business does not go to his head, Ray is Managing Director of Wilburtins Insurance Brokers with offices in Sydney and Adelaide with 30 staff to look after. "We are in the Corporate and Financial Services area, and also have a Rural Division that does Bloodstock, Livestock and Farms," Ray says. "With the Stud and the business we are always flat out, but watching one of our horses flash past the finishing post first makes it all worthwhile."