Staff Profile
ADAM WHITE - Nominations and Sales.
1) How long have you been at Vinery?
I have been with Vinery almost 10 years. When I started the farm was owned entirely by Tommy Simon and I was based at the Victorian farm which is now the pre-training property Rockmount. I moved to Vinery in Scone 7 years ago and really enjoy working for the current ownership group which still includes Tommy.
2) What is your role?
Bloodstock and sales. A big part of my role is the stallion's bookings which I enjoy. Helping clients selecting the right horse for their mares is something I have enjoyed doing for some time now. This includes the mares which are owned by those Vinery partners who reside their mares at the stud. We have quite a few clients that board their mares at Vinery also and assisting those people with their bloodstock needs including everything involved with the management and marketing of their stock.
3) What were you doing before joining Vinery?
Before I started with Vinery I worked at ABCOS (Australian Breeders Co-operative Society) for 11 years. While I was at high school I went to ABCOS for work experience, and then went back during my school holidays. When an opening came up in their pedigree department I jumped at it. I continued in the pedigree department and also did some private selling while I was there. In 1999 when Magic Millions purchased the company I decided I wanted to work a bit more closely with the horses again and that's when the opportunity at Vinery came up.
I have been lucky enough to work alongside some great people in my 20 years working in the industry. While I was at ABCOS I worked under Mr Coles who is so highly regarded and has been a great mentor to a lot of successful people within the industry.
While there I also worked under Adrian Hancock who taught me a lot. The way they treat and manage their long lasting clients is something I have tried to bring into my work place. Working with Peter over the last 10 years has no doubt extended my knowledge. He is obviously a well respected horseman and rightly so. But the day to day business of running a major racing and breeding operation, and making it a successful one takes a lot of skill in different areas. Peter covers a all of these areas well. You never stop learning in this game, the more you can take from people like this the more you will benefit.
4) What have been your career highlights so far?
While I was at ABCOS I was helping a few breeders with their stallion selections of which a few resulted in stakes winners like Group 1 winner Blevvo and Gr.1 placed sprinter Grand Duels. These were also off $5,000 and $2,000 service fees.
Being involved with the stud careers of More Than Ready and Red Ransom from when they first came into Australia has been a real highlight also. And certainly seeing some of the stock come off the farm such as Benicio, Forensics, Perfectly Ready, Typhoon Tracy is always exciting as well.
In fact Benicio in particular has been interesting to watch. My first stud season here at Vinery he was the first foal born of the season, he was actually the first More Than Ready born in Australia. Watching him come up as a foal, then onto the
Easter sales, then onto the track and winning the Derby, and now back here at stud great to be part of. His first runner's are due run this season.
5) Do you have a family background in the thoroughbred industry?
My father was a jockey and my mother a trainer. So I was pretty much born into the industry. Although I rode a lot as a kid I never had any great ambition to become a Jockey. I had some interest in the training side of things but I took a greater interest in the breeding.
6) Are you able to go racing often?
I try to when I can. Certainly when we are away at yearling sales it's always good to get to the carnivals that co-inside with them. I do enjoy heading to Melbourne for the Spring carnival as well. I like to go when Vinery has a runner or a good client.
7) Do you have time for any activities or hobbies outside the Industry?
I'm lucky I have a good number of close mates here in the Hunter Valley and we do a few hunting and fishing trips when we can. We all played a bit of AFL together previously and a bit of golf as well so enjoy those types of activities.