A love of breeding spawned by a friendship between Bendigo identity Ian Carmichael and Alabar Bloodstock owner Alan Galloway and his late father Alan more than 30 years ago continues to be as strong as ever today.
Two pacers bred by Carmichael and both by Alabar stallions out of his homebred mare Quick Jet won on either side of the equator last week. Long Weekend emerged successful in 1:56.6 at Monticello Raceway, New York and Quick Crunch notched her third victory at Cranbourne on Sunday.
The pair are part of a long list of winners bred, raced or trained by Carmichael over the years. They include the Victoria Ladyship Cup winner Quick Draft, the Tatlow Memorial winner Composed, Hy Leinvincible, Catch A Moment (SA Southern Cross), Quick Timer, Deliberator, Final Draft and Luvthisone.
He also raced the successful galloper Hi Stranger, the winner of the 2021 Echuca Cup.
Though Ian has carved out a name for himself on the racetracks, he is equally well known for his work as an auctioneer and stock and station agent at various locations around Victoria and NSW.
He was the branch manager of Dalgety Farmers and Landmark in Ouyen and Finley and was the branch manager at Bendigo when it was rebranded as Nutrien Ag Solutions in 2019 up until Ian’s departure in 2025.
Furthermore, Carmichael was one of the driving forces behind the formation of the Nutrien Equine Standardbred division which has conducted horse sales around the country since 2021.
“Dad was one of the driving forces behind bringing the Nutrien Equine brand back into the Harness Racing industry alongside Mark Barton. He helped Mark truly understand the standardbred community and its connections,” Ian’s daughter Melitta Carmichael, a former Bendigo Harness Racing Club committee member, said.
“Dad’s passion for Harness Racing began in Ouyen where he owned and trained his first horse Nonchalant. When we later moved to Finley, he did some pre-training and that’s where he started his affiliation with the late Don Guy,” Melitta said.
“Dad also introduced Ashley Haynes to the sport and together they co-owned Deliberator.”
Sadly, Ian has had to scale down his involvement in the sport over the past 12 months due to a debilitating injury.
However, his grandson Sebastian is dedicated to maintaining the family’s association with harness racing.
A graduate of the pony trots, Seb founded a love for breeding through his grandfather and Alabar from the Nutrien sales in 2025. He began working at Alabar initially as a volunteer and later as a staff member, working at the sales and on the farm during school holidays and long weekends.
Seb, 13, a Year 8 student at Catherine McAuley College, Junortoun, is aspiring to become an equine reproduction vet.
“Alan Galloway, Brett Coffey and the team at Alabar have taken Seb under their wing. He just loves every minute working at Alabar,” Melitta, the Corporate Manager of a leading national company, said.
“Seb wants to make his pop proud and keep his legacy alive through the industry with the breeding side.
- Western districts breeder-owner Ian Stanley enjoyed a golden weekend with Ubetcha Tigerpie winning the Free-for-all at Menangle and Exotic Chester scoring his maiden success at Ballarat
- Owen The Saints, a winner at Charlton on Monday, was bred by Swan Hill identity Noel Watson out of the grand producer Torridon, the dam of 10 winners from 13 foals
- Yabby Dam Farms’ principal Pat Driscoll bred a winner at Addington, New Zealand on Sunday in the trotter Val Thorens, who took his stake earnings to beyond $100,000
