Paul Renwick Just Loves His Breeding and Racing

Canterbury identity Paul Renwick has long treasured a piece of advice given to him by his great friend Wayne Francis, the co-founder of Nevele R Stud, when he began his breeding and racing enterprise more than 30 years ago.

“Wayne told me: top mare, top stallion, top trainer, top driver,” Renwick recalled.

“Over the years, we’ve had a lot of fun. I’ve put a lot of money into the game, but I’ve still got the same philosophy – I go top to top.”

A prime example of Renwick’s unswerving belief in his late friend’s breeding strategy is the exceptional matron Adore To Our Dreams.

“I bought some horses from Wayne’s estate through Peter O’Rourke, and one of them was Enchanter Franco. I sent her to the top stallion Christian Cullen, and then I did the golden cross and went to Bettor’s Delight,” Paul said.

The result of that mating was none other than the seven-time Group 1 winner and NZ 2YO, 3YO and 4YO of the Year, Akuta, now on the comeback trail after being sidelined for 16 months due to a tendon injury.

“Akuta is No. 1 among the horses I’ve bred. He’s won over a million dollars. If he stays sound, he’s not finished,” Paul said.

A half-brother to Akuta, Aroda (by Art Major), is currently one of Queensland’s top pacers. The winner of last year’s Redcliffe Gold Cup and the Queensland Sun, the five-year-old led home four fellow NZ-breds—Madrigal, Miracle Moose, Mossdale Terry, and Always Smokin—in the feature race at Albion Park on May 17.

“I sold a full brother to Akuta to Josh Davine’s N40 Racing for $130,000 at the Christchurch yearling sales in February,” Renwick added.

“I’ve got a Captaintreacherous colt out of Adore To Our Dreams for the yearling sales next year, and he’s a bloody beauty.

“We’ll be breeding a dozen mares this season with an eye on their progeny going to the sales.”

Paul and his wife Pauline have bred more than 150 individual winners worldwide.

Renwick’s association with the sport began in the early 1980s—and it began on a winning note.

“Wayne gave me a half share in my first horse, called Nostradamus,” he said.

Nostradamus won seven races, including the Group 1 Messenger, the Group 3 Orari Challenge Stakes, and was named NZ 4YO of the Year in 1984.

Among other smart performers bred or raced by the Renwicks are:

- King Charlie, a 15-race-winning trotter including the Great Northern Derby and several Free-for-Alls
- Aloka, winner of the Diamond Creek Farm Classic
- Nicky’s Falcon, a 62-race winner with $411,000 in earnings including the Redcliffe Cup
- Howard Hughes (1:49.8) and Sir Artsplace, both Listed winners in Western Australia
- Luksam, Listed winner at Menangle
- Samhara, winner of the Motukarara Cup
- Regional Bromac (Rotorua Cup)
- Allura (NZ Sales Graduette)
- Vandanta (1:50)
- Lady Avana, Group 3 winner in Queensland

The Renwicks have long been supporters of the yearling sales, both as vendors and buyers.

“We buy four or five yearlings each year. We break them in, get them going, and then sell them—mostly to Australia.”

Paul’s grandson Darren Keast, a successful trainer-driver, is the racing manager of Renwick Farms. Darren’s Melbourne-born wife, Ashleigh Stuart, oversees the farm’s breeding arm.

The couple are based at separate, state-of-the-art training and breeding complexes in Weedons, on the southern outskirts of Christchurch.

Paul is a former president and director of the Metropolitan Trotting Club, and through Paul Renwick Joinery, has been a major sponsor at Addington for 45 years.

“At 42, I was the youngest ever president of the three clubs then racing at Addington,” Paul said.