UQ Gatton debuts at Magic Millions

The University of Queensland’s Gatton campus will share in the excitement of the nation’s richest thoroughbred sale — the Magic Millions.

About 1800 pedigree horses worth $50 million will be auctioned at the Gold Coast this week.

UQ Gatton equine and livestock health coordinator Dr Judy Cawdell-Smith said UQ Gatton had prepared 13 weanlings, which will be sold this morning.

Dr Cawdell-Smith said UQ had prepared the 8-10 month old horses for horseselling agent Bob Wood of Oakwood Farm.

She said this was the first time UQ had teamed up with a horse seller for a major auction but she hoped there would be more.

“Bob prepares about 100 horses for this sale. He’s given us this group of 13 and our students are doing all the general care and upkeep of them under Bob’s guidance,” Dr Cawdell-Smith said.

“This is a very valuable learning experience.”
She said the breeding base of UQ Gatton’s stockhorse stud was also being expanded.

UQ Gatton’s push into horse selling and breeding comes after a $1.2 million upgrade of its equine precinct.

The refit included two new dressage arenas, refurbished stallion yards, round yards, teasing lanes and a horse breeding complex.

UQ School of Animal Studies senior lecturer Mark Hohenhaus said the new dressage arenas were one of the busiest riding centres in the country with about 250 rides a week.

Media: Dr Cawdell-Smith (0418 631 646, 07 5460 1166, j.cawdellsmith@uq.edu.au) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (3365 2619)