Fairview Park Stud

Arthur Streeton, the prince of the so called Heidelberg School of painting, produced some of his finest work in the Hawkesbury Valley on the western outskirts of greater Sydney. Paintings such “Grey Day On The Hawkesbury” and “The Purple Noon’s Transparent Might” conveyed the rustic beauty of the countryside adjoining the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers, where Linda Duckworth’s Fairview Park breeds and rears quality thoroughbreds at Grose Wold . If Streeton could revisit the area today, he would marvel at the greenery, after a year of consistent rainfall the district has never looked better or more verdant. Fairview Park covers 200 acres in this picturesque setting on the banks of the Grose River adjoining North Richmond and Agnes Banks, and is home to around 50 mares owned by Fairview, clients and partners.

Linda Duckworth approaches the 2022 Inglis Classic in buoyant mood, “We’ve had probably our best season ever, plenty of feed for the horses, beautiful and green everywhere, the place looks amazing. Our mares, foals and yearlings have all thrived in these ideal conditions and I’m confident it will be evident in the 19 strong draft I’m taking to the Classic sale.”

The Fairview Park yearlings are always in strong demand, Linda Duckworth is very much hands on, her enthusiasm for the industry clearly evident in all she does. Her husband Ian is a widely respected veterinary surgeon who, naturally enough, is “on call” for anything required on the farm. Linda takes up the story, “ Ian went out on his own four years ago as Grose Valley Equine, having been a founding partner in the Agnes Banks Equine Clinic. He has really enjoyed the new challenge which includes attending to local thoroughbred farms, doing some work for local trainers and also with various performance horses in the district. It’s a great asset to have him involved. My sister Heather does the accounts for both Fairview and Grose Valley Equine as well as helping on the farm, and I’m lucky to have a small and loyal team that have been with me for years.”

“ There are some very nice yearlings in this draft, most by proven winner producing sires. Only three are by a freshman, two by Written By, who as a Gr1 Blue Diamond winning son of Australia’s Champion sire, I feel is a decent prospect and the other by quadruple Champion sire Snitzel’s son Showtime.

We have something for a wide range of buyers, a pair by So You Think, who is an excellent sire, colts by Dundeel, Merchant Navy and Headwater, and fillies by American Pharoah, Flying Artie and Hellbent just to name a few.”

I asked Linda to comment on the pedigrees and she mentioned a few to follow.

Lot 76 is a filly by Written By from the 100% winner producing Fastnet Rock mare Miskish.

Lot 80 is a colt by proven Gr1 sire Dundeel from a Snitzel half-sister to Gr2 winner Star Rolling.

Lot 95 is a filly by proven Gr1 filly sire So You Think from a winning daughter of Gr1 AJC Oaks winner and Champion Australian 3YO filly Heavenly Glow.

Lot 403 is a filly by Written By from the same family, and bred on a similar cross to Gr1 Stradbroke H winner Tyzone.

Lot 658 is a bay filly by Rubick from SW Kishkat, an excellent producer from the prolific black type family of Our Quivira, Panipique, Glenall etc, with a pedigree worth a closer look.

Lot 794 is a bay filly by USA Triple Crown winner American Pharoah from a winning Tavistock mare whose third dam is multiple Gr1 winner Euphoria. This is the peerless Denise’s Joy family,nice fillies are very sought after.

Fairview Park has always punched above its weight, selling well reared, beautifully prepared yearlings that have built a fine reputation for the farm on Australia’s racetracks. Golden Slipper winner Mossfun was a headline act, but the supporting cast has ensured that buyers know they will be able to buy a nice horse at a realistic price from the farm.

If only Arthur Streeton could return to paint the scene again today, when the Hawkesbury Valley is bright green, with its lush pastures and contented horses.