Nestled in a secluded cul-de-sac and cradled between the escarpment and the sea only 5 minutes from Berry in NSW, Sunninghill Park absolutely embodies its name. It’s 1100 acres bound by natural rain forest, with undulating hills and stretches of flats all fed by natural spring water which allows a fertile, improved pasture mix and green paddocks in every direction.
The farm is also blessed with reliable rainfall and a beautifully temperate climate. And it just happens to also be only 10 minutes from the beach, allowing further serenity as a backdrop and an invaluable access in pre-training and rehabilitation programs.
A boutique spelling, pre-training and breeding farm, the Sunninghill Park ideology is very much about speciality and individual care, and in this regard numbers are restricted to ensure each horse thrives. This containment of numbers also crucially ensures that pasture health and quality is maintained. Horses really enjoy their spell at Sunninghill Park. It’s a period of both physical and mental rejuvenation. Central to this goal are a variety of large spelling yards, all with individual group or solo shelters.
Both city and provincial trainers spell their horses at the farm, with a host of Listed and Group winners winding down and pre-training for successful campaigns. These include Listed Magic Millions Cup winner Velrosso, Listed winner and Gr3 runner-up My Country, Gr2 Hobartville Stakes winner Man From Uncle and dynamic Gr1 winning mare Silent Sedition.
Sunninghill Park also offers a host of rehabilitation services post-surgery or injury and is backed by a skilled team of vets and staff from nearby Illawarra Equine (a branch of Randwick Equine).
The ability to offer a complete breeding package for a mare, from pre-breeding work and scanning, to walking on to studs in the Hunter Valley or Victoria, to foaling down and postnatal care is a central component to annual operations at Sunninghill Park. Importantly, the breeding package, in all its facets, is controlled by a dedicated staff with an in-depth knowledge of, and practical experience in, both breeding and foaling. The farm then has the capacity to progress foals through the weanling phase and either on to an appropriate yearling sale or alternatively to breaking, pre-training and the race track.
Key ‘on farm’ facilities include an all-weather walker, arenas for horses to have a professional education in flat work and movement, as well as bush trails, beach gallops and a grass cantering track. Other than shelters in all paddocks, Sunninghill Park’s stables are light and airy with easy access to day yards.
Stud Manager Karen Keighley offers a high level of professionalism, knowledge and insight, “My aim is that every horse at every stage of its career and development will have the very best in physical care and nutrition, education and relaxation while with us, no matter how long or short term they are at Sunninghill.”