Grassroots: Michael Christian from Longwood Thoroughbred Farm

Above: Michael and Siobhan after Eloping won the Blue Sapphire Stakes

It would be fair to say that the owner of Victoria’s Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, Michael Christian, did not have the most conventional entry into the world of breeding. A Chartered Accountant and an AFL premiership player with Collingwood, Michael had invested in some small shares in horses with colleagues during his stockbroking days in the mid 1990’s. In keeping with his interest in racing he purchased “A Lunch With Gai Waterhouse” at a charity auction with the thought that it would be something his clients would enjoy.

‘We had twenty of our best clients to lunch on the Wednesday before the 1997 Melbourne Cup. Gai was fashionably late but when she did arrive she had an aura about her that captivated the entire room. She entertained us through a great lunch and as I was escorting her to the lift, Gai enquired if I had any horses running? I quickly replied ‘I have a share in a two-year-old running next week on Cup day’, and as the lift doors closed I managed to spit out the horse was called True Blonde not thinking that she had even heard me.’

True Blonde duly saluted on Melbourne Cup Day and after arriving to work the following day, Michael was surprised to find a fax (remember those) on his desk from Gai congratulating him on True Blondes win. He hadn’t thought she’d even heard the horses name! Gai also invited Michael to visit her Tulloch Lodge stables if he was ever in Sydney which he did the following January. Before he knew it, he was attending yearling sales with Gai and investing in horses with her.

The first horse Michael purchased with Gai was Phoenix Park, who started favourite in the Magic Millions, ran 4^th in the Golden Slipper and went on to win the T J Smith Stakes – the first time Gai won the race named in honour of her father. ‘I absolutely loved racing and was spending three days a week in Sydney with my broking job so would go and visit Gai and see my horses whilst enjoying lunch at Tulloch Lodge.’

Following Michael’s departure from the stockbroking world, he embarked on a media career working with Channel 10 and Triple M commentating on AFL football and hosting breakfast radio on RSN, Melbourne’s racing station. He continued his racing involvement in Melbourne with trainer, Peter Morgan after being introduced by a friend. The pair formed a strong bond and Michael credits Morgan with not only fueling his passion for horses but teaching him about the thoroughbred. 

So much so that Michael enrolled and completed (as the only mature aged student) a Diploma in Horse Breeding at the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE in the early 2000’s. The Diploma included several out placements (including with Christoph Bruechert at Bombora Downs) where Michael gained some valuable practical experience and knowledge. The course and experience gained just deepened his passion and interest for thoroughbreds. ‘The course and experience gained was incredible and it made me more determined to increase my involvement in the thoroughbred industry.’ 

It was almost a natural progression that in 2007, Michael purchased a forty-acre property in Whittlesea next to Morgan’s training property, Talwood Park. Starting with one mare he gradually built a niche broodmare band which he personally cared for and managed. With only a handful of broodmares he has enjoyed success breeding stakes winners, Hallowell Belle, Fuddle Dee Duddle, Eloping, Unpretentious, Of The Brave and Fuhryk.

Michael and his wife Siobhan predictably out grew their small Whittlesea property and in December 2018, together with Michael’s brother Brad and his wife Pauline, purchased the property which is now known as Longwood Thoroughbred Farm in Longwood East. The property was formerly Roselands, part of the Vinery Stud operation in Victoria’s thoroughbred breeding heartland.

Above: A view of the paddocks at Longwood Thoroughbred Farm

‘Growing up I never really had any close association with horses. My interest started with the excitement of racing but developed quickly into something a lot deeper. I still enjoy racing but now my real passion is the thoroughbred itself. With my first property in Whittlesea it was just me working with the horses with my friend Bill Birch helping out. I find it so rewarding. There is no better feeling than personally raising a foal, seeing it develop into a yearling and then watching it race to stakes glory. My favourite time is just standing in a paddock with a group of weanlings and just admiring and hanging out with them. It is all about the horse now.’

On his Whittlesea property, due to his media commitments, Michael outsourced the foaling down of his mares and yearling sales preparation was outsourced to his friend and former breakfast radio colleague, Anthony Mithen from Rosemont Stud. Now with his new property, Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, he not only foals down his own mares and prepares his yearlings for sale but offers a full range of breeding and agistment services to clients including a dedicated 24/7 foal watch team. ‘Initially the intention was to be a hobby breeder but my love of the thoroughbred industry means my hobby and passion has turned into a business which is a dream come true”.

In such a short time Longwood Thoroughbred Farm has built a reputation for excellent service. Michael credits his wonderful staff for creating an immediate impression on the Victorian breeding landscape. ‘We have been very lucky that we have been able to assemble a great team at LTF including recently appointed Farm Manager, Lelaina Vennemeyer who is doing an amazing job”.

Above: The Longwood Thoroughbred team with Lot 402, I Am Invincible x Runaway Jesse Colt at the Inglis Premier yearling sales

Michael and his family have been involved with some wonderful racehorses. When asked who his favourite was he nominated, Eloping. Michael bred and raced Eloping who was trained by Peter Morgan. She won five stakes races including two as a 2YO and won $1.23 million in prize money. ‘She was born on Siobhan’s birthday and to watch her grow from a foal and develop into a multiple stakes winner was so exciting and rewarding. We had so much fun travelling to watch her race”.

When asked what advice he would give to anyone looking at starting out in the industry Michael responded by saying, ‘Don’t take any shortcuts. If you try and take shortcuts in this industry, you will get caught out. You need to have good, passionate people, great facilities, invest in quality mares and send them to highly commercial stallions. If you do that, you’ll have a lot of fun and hopefully enjoy some success along the journey.”