Peter Orton To Leave Vinery After Quarter Century Tenure

[Wandering Eyes]

Peter Orton will leave his position as general manager of Vinery Stud and pursue his own endeavors in the Thoroughbred industry.

Arriving at Dr. Thomas Simon's Vinery Stud in 2000, Orton would go on to shuttle influential dual hemisphere stallions More Than Ready and Southern Halo. Over time, Vinery would also stand prominent sires Red Ransom, Mossman, All Too Hard, and Testa Rossa. The stud also has young stallions Exceedance, Hawaii Five Oh and Ole Kirk to look forward to.

Orton told the TTR AusNZ, “I've thought about it for a while now, and now is the right time. “Now that the sale of Vinery Stud has been finalised, it's an appropriate time to take the opportunity to step away and focus on my own thoroughbred farm and bloodstock portfolio.

“This is something that I'm very keen to do, however, it was most important that I leave at a time when the Vinery Stud operation is in a great place, with exciting young stallions coming through and a robust client base with strong broodmare portfolios to ensure the continued success and growth of the business.

“I have about 200 acres between Newgate and Darley, and it's time to enjoy the farm and everything else that comes with it. I've been very fortunate with the people I've worked with, with Arrowfield and the Messaras, and Tom Simon at Vinery.”

“Peter was instrumental in helping us develop the first Arrowfield, which was at Jerry's Plains, what later became Coolmore, and then the second Arrowfield, where we currently reside,” said Arrowfield's John Messara. “In the early days, he was also instrumental in that property.”

Orton was also involved in the career of shuttle stallion Danehill at one point, as well.

“Those stallions have made a huge impact. I remember Danehill stopping off the truck for the first time, and seeing More Than Ready in the tie-up stalls in New York,” Orton recalled. “To go back to that level, you do really connect with them big time, personally and physically. I have great memories of those two stallions and what stallions they were.”

Vinery is now comprised of an ownership group of including Ananda Krishnan, Gerry Harvey, Steve McCann and Alan Green.

Current Vinery Stud shareholders Katie Page and Steve McCann also paid tribute to Orton.

“Over his 25 years leading Vinery, Gerry [Harvey] and I have been the beneficiaries of Peter Orton's peerless expertise, wise counsel and vision, both personally and professionally,” said Page.

“Peter, to say we are so grateful to you and to Adele is such an understatement. Our great friendship and mutual respect continue beyond the farm, and we look forward to seeing you in January.”

McCann added, “Peter has for many years been one of the most respected thoroughbred experts in the country and has made a tremendous contribution to both Vinery and the broader industry. I would like to thank Peter personally and on behalf of all of our clients and current and past shareholders.”

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