Retired Heathcote builder and beef cattle farmer John Gilmore is embracing his passion for breeding, steadily increasing his broodmare numbers in retirement.
“I started out with only one or two mares, but since retiring I have developed a bigger passion for breeding,” Gilmore said.
He is now breeding from six broodmares, including three he has leased off well-known central Victorian identity David Sheppard.
The headline acts are the Australian Oaks and Bathurst Gold Tiara winner Shake It Mama and the Group 2 winner Fususi.
“I’ve got a King Of Swing yearling colt out of Fususi who looks really promising, and a Poster Boy weanling colt,” Gilmore said.
The other members of his broodmare herd are the Life Sign mare Genazzano and her Four Starzzz Shark daughter Fashion Shark, Mama’s Gold Charm, a full sister to Shake It Mama, Golden Mile, a half-sister to the exported Keep On Rocking ($594,430), and the trotter Golden Spurs.
Earlier this month, Gilmore bred three winners in the space of four days in three different states with Dessie Gee (Menangle) and Alot Like Jeannie (Shepparton) winning on May 19 and Alot Like Pendles (Launceston) on May 15.
Gilmore began his association with the sport in the late 1990s.
“My great mate ‘Sheppy’ introduced me to trainer Bill Morgan,” Gilmore said. “The first winner Bill and I bred was Your Sisters Next, who won seven races, including six at Mildura and one at Gloucester Park.”
The pair raced and later bred from the successful Sundon mare Golden Wahine.
One of her progeny, Golden Sunset, won seven races for Avenel horsewoman Juanita Breen and a further 14 in Queensland, including the 2025 Christmas Trotters Cup and a heat of the Inter Dominion.
“I’m now breeding from Golden Sunset’s half-sister Golden Spurs with Juanita. Her first foal, Little Miss Morgan, has a bit of ability,” John said.
“I breed them mainly to race. It’s a big thrill when you breed one that gets to the races and wins,” he said.
“To win a Group 1, that’s the aim.”
Gilmore is quick to heap praise on the work of Bill Morgan’s brother Graeme for breeding the mares and weaning the foals, Sheppard for spelling his racehorses and young stock, and Byrneside conditioners Laura and Damian Wilson.
The Wilson husband-and-wife team prepare promising three-year-old filly Alot Like Jeannie and the smart gelding Alot Like Louie for Gilmore.
• Bounced, who broke maiden ranks at the Bendigo midweek meeting, was bred by Alabar Bloodstock’s office manager Sally-Ann Burgess and is raced by her with former Shepparton club secretary Ian McDonald.
• The three-year-old Most Exciting, a runaway winner in open company at Melton, is another descendant of the celebrated matron Larrakeyah Lady.
• King Saint, who won in restricted company at Kilmore on Thursday, is the latest smart performer brought out by Swan Hill breeder-owner Noel Watson.
