A Wonderful History

While new thoroughbred operations arrive on the breeding and racing landscape each season, ready to write their chapter in history, Cityview Farm already has a rich and prosperous past.

Recently established and ideally located in Gisborne South, Cityview Farm is the combination of two famous breeding/racing operations; Trevor and Monica Gluck’s Tremon Stud and VRC Committeeman Doug Reid’s St Johns Lane. 

Established over 30 years ago, Tremon Stud had produced generations of successful gallopers on the track, while St John’s Lane, was Reid’s passion, having bred and raced the champion mare Maybe Mahal. Remembered as a visionary, Reid’s legacy lives on through VOBIS, a scheme he helped establish back in the 1980s.

The highly respected racing industry journalist, breeder and owner, Kristen Manning, recalls a part of that precious thoroughbred history fondly.

“My first foal was bred at Tremon Stud called Phar Star out of St John Lady, and only just down the road, my first racehorse was bred at St John’s Lane called Much Ado.”

Catching the racing bug in her teens, thanks to the success of her dad’s first racehorse, Manning has been part of Victorian thoroughbred fabric ever since.

“Our first racehorse Expected Journey won nine races, so how could I not be hooked. I rang around and found out his dam was at St John’s Lane, so Doug Reid let us come over and visit Good Chance. She had a colt foal, Much Ado at foot and I remember seeing him and thinking he would make a lovely little show horse, which later in life he did.”

However, Much Ado had a very successful career on the track first, with 62 starts, victorious in seven, and a runner-up to St Shannon in the 1996 VRC St Ledger.

While Manning’s first broodmare was St John’s Lady, bred at St John’s Lane, who her family leased to race with the late George Ledger.

“She was exceptionally fast, and George said we would have a lot of fun with her, but after travelling all the way up to Wangaratta one day to watch her trial, she was galloped on so badly, her leg was torn to shreds. “

“It was horrible, and the owner didn’t want to pay for the vet, so George Ledger said, “the people who lease her will save her, give her to them”. She became my first broodmare.”

“My 151-1 winner Cooter Cha Cha, who has received a Bendigo Middle Distance Horse of the Year nomination is incredibly her grandson, so St John’s Lady is still repaying us today.”

As Kristen points out, undoubtedly, the advantage Cityview Farm has over other broodmare farms is their ideal proximity to Melbourne.

“I remember on my days off I would go up to Tremon and sit in the paddocks with the mares and foals. I developed my love and appreciation of horses by just spending countless hours watching their behaviour and antics. It was so peaceful and serene.”

“Foals are wonderful time-wasters, and it was hard to believe that I was only 20 minutes from my home. Whenever I had a few hours to spare, I could come up in the morning and see my foal, and be back in the city before lunch.”

“Interestingly, many of my first memories of horses are from this pocket of the world. It was the premier thoroughbred breeding region before Nagambie took off, with arguably the most famous Victorian stud, Stockwell, home of the mighty Showdown close by and Cornwell Park, known for a time as the Independent Stallion Station just down the road.  I remember studying the Goulburn Valley Equine Course in their paddocks.”

“Tremon Stud was beautifully appointed by Trevor Gluck, and it is wonderful to see that Cityview Farm has improved and restored the property to its former glory.”

As well as the long-shot Cooter Cha Cha, some of Manning’s recent industry successes include the successful mating plan of progressive juvenile, Jonker, her recent winner Supergrass as owner, the exciting Geodesic who has won three in a row and current pin-up girl, the Group 3 winner Quilate.

A property steeped in tradition, the fertile volcanic soil of the area have raised and grazed many champions, and the team at Cityview farm are dedicated to ensuring that tradition continues for many generations to come.