nsw racehorse owners

WORDS: SHARON HUNT [Executive Officer NSWROA]

Max Whitby is a man on a

mission
WHEN IT COMES TO A LOVE OF THE THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY FEW WOULD BE ABLE TO
COMPETE WITH THE PASSION AND ENTHUSIASM OF MAX WHITBY

A
part from his wife Jennifer and daughters, measures as far as Max is concerned he is a man who
thoroughbreds are the greatest love in Max speaks his mind and goes for it. His enthusiasm and
Whitbys life. passion together with his wisdom and knowledge will be
of tremendous value to the STC and racing generally.
After some 35 years in the business you would think
that he would have seen it all! Not true, according to So where did it all start with Maxs obsession with the
Max who is a NSW Racehorse Owners Association thoroughbred industry, you may well ask?
committee member and recently appointed Sydney Turf
Club director. Max was born in the country hamlet of Bangalow and
raised by his grandparents and he remembers sitting
There are always new issues that arise and things to in the back of his grandfathers bread truck making
learn in our wonderful industry and I am a great believer deliveries to the rural community. He soon became
in the value of knowledge, he said. addicted to country life and was employed as a
jackeroo at Willow Tree.
Having been involved in all facets of the industry racing,
a syndicate member, breeding and punting Max has He came to the big smoke in 1967 bringing stock to
a great understanding of the operational, business, the Royal Easter Show; he saw the city lights and never
regulatory and gaming components required to succeed. went back.

So what drives him to constantly want more for the It soon became apparent that he had flair, not only in
industry that he loves with a passion? the hospitality industry where he was employed at the
Texas Tavern in Kings Cross, but also in the financial
Our main concern at the moment would surely have sector, where he was employed by Nicholls, a rural
to be funding for the industry. It is essential that all race commodity firm.
fields fees levied are paid, for without them distribution
monies will decrease and some clubs may have to close It is amazing and ironic at times how things worked out
their doors. with former co-worker at Nicholls, Michael Kenny, again
working with Max, this time at Sydney Turf Club.
Those who know Max Whitby will confirm that his
enthusiasm for the industry has no bounds. In 1991 Max established L Quay Futures Brokers and
was its founding managing director. His innovative
A long time associate remarked: There are no half thinking, well managed risk and strong management

68 www.racingnsw.com.au
 allowed him to develop L Quay into a highly successful
futures trading firm.

It was the first of its kind in Australasia, offering

specialist broking services to high net worth
professional traders. The company was sold in 2005 to
ABN Amro.

Following the successful sale of L Quay Futures Brokers

in 2005, Max set up Propex Derivatives as a privately-
owned company and a member of the Australian
Securities Exchange (ASX).

Propex provides capital for experienced derivatives

traders and training for prospective graduates to trade
ABOVE: Max Whitby (centre) with wife Jennifer and Brother Dan Stafford at the the domestic and global derivatives markets.
2009 NSWROA Sydney Cup Day Luncheon
TOP: Savabeel wins the 2004 W S Cox Plate. Picture by Steve Hart The education programs offer a six-month paid training
course which is used as an incubator to provide
successful traders to utilise the Propex capital for
returns to the business.

This concept is recognised within the industry as

the foundation for successful derivatives traders. At
present, Propex has 80 traders and a training group of
40 graduates.

Those who know Max

Whitby will confirm that
At the same time as he was conquering the futures
market, Max was introduced to leading trainers

his enthusiasm for the at Randwick which resulted in many successful

partnerships. His recalls his first winner was at
industry has no bounds. Newcastle and it was trained by Ken Lantry.

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 nsw racehorse owners

Over the years Max has raced many successful Max retained his holding
gallopers with the late Bruce Reid (who he describes in Savabeel when he was
as one the great gentlemen of the industry), but without retired to Waikato Stud in
doubt the best was the Group 1-MVRC W S Cox Plate
New Zealand in 2005 which
winner Savabeel (Zabeel (NZ)-Savannah Success).
was another prudent move
Savabeel faced the starter 14 times for 3 wins, 3 as Savabeel is proving to
seconds and a third for $2.76million in stakes. He was be quite an impressive and
successful in the Gr 1-Cox Plate (defeating the likes of popular young sire.
Fields of Omagh, who won the race on two occasions)
and Starcraft (a multiple Group 1 winner in Australia,
New Zealand and France).
NSWROA president, Ray McDowell, and leading trainer
He was second on three occasions in the Gr 1-C F Orr Kevin Moses) in the two seasons he has stood to date.
Stakes (behind Elvstroem), the Gr 1-VRC Derby (behind
Plastered) and the Gr 2-STC Gloaming Stakes (behind Another successful partnership Max has had is with the
Al Maher). legendary Sir Patrick Hogan who, together with trainer
Graeme Rogerson, currently race Penrickson (NZ) who
His only third (Gr 1-AJC Champagne Stakes) was to Dance has recorded 7 wins, 2 seconds and 5 thirds from his 37
Hero who was unstoppable in his two-year-old season, race starts.
taking the 2YO Triple Crown and the Magic Millions in Qld.
His best win to date was in the STC Lord Mayors Cup
Max retained his holding in Savabeel when he was (defeating Prince Arthur, Keepin the Dream (NZ), Ready
retired to Waikato Stud in New Zealand in 2005 which to Lift, etc) and he has been Stakes-placed on three
was another prudent move as Savabeel is proving to be occasions.
quite an impressive and popular young sire.
Max is renowned for having a heart as big as himself
Already Savabeel has had three Black Type winners and he has raised extensive funding of behalf of many
My Emotion (Gr 3-VRC Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes), charities including St Vincent de Paul, the Matthew
Queen Sabeel (Listed-Northland Breeders Stakes) Talbot Hostel, Redkite, Bravehearts and the Kings Cross
and Warrentherooster (Listed-Wanganui Guineas and Bed Race, to name but a few.
second in the Listed-ARC Champagne Stakes.
He is also a past president and member of the Rotary
Savabeel is fully booked for the 2009 breeding season. Club of Kings Cross (where he was honoured with
the Paul Harris Fellowship Award); a past president
Max said there are exciting times ahead with the & committee person of the Kings Cross Community
progeny of Savabeel and he is backing his stallion with Centre for the Aged; a member of the Kings Cross
his mares. He currently has 11 Savabeels in work and Chamber of Commerce; a director and past president
if their potential is realised, we will probably see them in of the Sydney Aussie Rules Club (now know as Club
the Whitby colours racing in Australia. Swans) and a Justice of the Peace.

Econsul (NZ) (Pins-Gypsy Soul (NZ)) was another When asked what best describes his time in the racing
Group 1 winner for Max and Bruce Reid, this time in the industry to date Max replied: I have experienced the
Caulfield Guineas defeating the likes of Fastnet Rock, highs and lows of the game; from owning a Cox Plate and
Dane Shadow and Charge Forward all of whom have Caulfield Guineas winner, to seeing one of my horses run
made impressive starts to their breeding careers. last at a dusty western NSW country racetrack.

Econsul recorded three wins (including the Gr Racing is a great leveller and I love it. I am also
1-Caulfield Guineas and Listed-Widden Stakes), a honoured to be a Life Member of and to serve on the
second placing and three thirds (including the Gr 1-VRC NSWROA Committee as well as my recent appointment
Cadbury Guineas and Gr 3-STC Skyline Stakes) for to the committee of the Sydney Turf Club.
some $884,600 in prizemoney from his 28 race starts.
He retired to stud in 2007 and now calls Woodside Park If you are interested if participating in the wonderful
in Victoria home. world of thoroughbred racing and would like to become
a member of the NSW Racehorse Owners Association,
Although he no longer owns Econsul, Max has simply visit our website - www.nswroa.com.au - or
supported the stallion sending a mare (in conjunction with telephone NSWROA on (02) 9299 4299

70 www.racingnsw.com.au