Steparty Racing Photos
Victorian breeder Greg Baldwin may only have a handful of broodmares, but within that handful include the dams of Group 1 Caulfield Guineas place getter Steparty and Country Discovery winner In The Boat.
Baldwin, who bred Steparty, is from a farming background, living in rural Victoria and always being involved in the breeding and racing game.
With a father who was a breeder himself, Baldwin was destined to follow in those footsteps.
“I have been a farmer for all of my life,” Baldwin said.
“I am on a generational farm out at Gre Gre near St Arnaud and have looked after horses at agistment for some big trainers.
“My old man was a breeder and just over the last few years, I started breeding a few myself.”
Steparty is a winner of five races from six starts and over $800,000 in prizemoney for his connections which includes well-known Victorian race caller Ric McIntosh.
Keeping a 10 percent share in three-year-old, Baldwin touched on the colt’s third placing in the $2 million feature and what may be to come for his star colt, which will likely include another run at some point this Spring Carnival.
“That one (Steparty) has been pretty good, there’s no doubt about that,” Baldwin said.
“The Caulfield Guineas was always his Grand Final. As they cornered into the straight, I was pretty excited.
“As for where he heads next, we will just let the dust settle. It is highly likely he stays in work for another spring run.”
Steparty is the third foal from the broodmare Watch Your Step, and is certainly not the only talented galloper to have been produced out of her.
The Caulfield Guineas place getter is a half-brother to stakes performer Scissor Step, a winner of four races and over $450,000 in career earnings.
“The mare is shaping up well too. She’s had two to the track and the other (Scissor Step) is a stakes place getter,” Baldwin said.
“She has a filly-foal on the ground by Fierce Impact. The jury is currently out on the stallion with his first yearlings about to go through the ring, but they are nice types and they are a massive chance.”
The second of Baldwin’s quality mares is Almost Crystal, the dam of speedster In The Boat. She is a mare out of Diamond Darling, a daughter of the grandam of champion galloper Humidor, Baldwin is aiming to draw from this bloodline.
“She’s a Snitzel mare. She comes from a line that we are chasing… I have her dam as well who is out of the granddam of Humidor, so we are trying to tap into some of that blood,” Baldwin said.
“Gerry Ryan has just taken 65 percent of one of the foals from this mare. He gave me a caravan for the share… I was pretty happy with the deal.”
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